Billy Joel Unveils 155-Track Companion to New Documentary
A significant release of previously unheard material from Billy Joel coincided with the premiere of his documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes. The film debuted on HBO on July 18, 2023, with its concluding part airing on July 25, 2023. Following the documentary’s conclusion, a comprehensive 155-track “musical companion” was made available across streaming platforms. This extensive collection features six-and-a-half hours of unreleased tracks and live performances from Joel’s extensive career.
The musical companion includes early recordings from his time with groups such as The Hassles and The Lost Souls. In total, it comprises 115 songs, supplemented by audio clips where Joel and others introduce various selections. Among the highlights are live recordings from significant performances, including Joel’s participation in The Old Grey Whistle Test and recordings from the day he signed with Columbia Records. A unique feature of the collection is the debut rendition of “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant,” recorded on May 6, 1977, at C.W. Post College in Long Island.
Joel reflected on the song, stating, “I always wanted to write a cinematic type of song about the lives of people I knew in high school—people who peaked too early.” Although it was never released as a single, the nearly eight-minute track later appeared on his acclaimed album The Stranger that same year, becoming one of his most beloved and frequently played songs.
This new collection, produced by Steve Cohen, Bradshaw Leigh, and John Jackson, hints at the potential for further releases of previously unreleased material. Jackson mentioned in an interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, “There’s a ton of stuff that’s in his personal vault and there’s a ton of stuff that’s in Sony’s vault, with not a ton of overlap. We are determined to go through both things in the coming years.”
The documentary’s premiere closely follows Joel’s announcement that he had canceled all his upcoming shows due to a diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus. He expressed his regret in a statement, saying, “I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding.” Joel’s team noted that he would be undergoing “specific physical therapy” to manage the disorder, which has impacted his hearing, vision, balance, and performance capabilities.
During a recent appearance on Bill Maher’s Club Random Podcast, Joel provided an update on his health. “I feel good,” he said, addressing the condition. “They keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder, so it sounds a lot worse than what I’m feeling.”
With the release of the documentary and the musical companion, fans of Billy Joel have much to celebrate, as they gain deeper insights into the life and work of one of music’s most enduring figures.
