This beautifully packaged four-CD boxed set, complete with extensive liner notes, biographical information, and comprehensive lyric sheets, is an essential collection for any Billy Joel fan. The chronologically arranged material on Complete Hits Collection unfolds like a historical survey of the past 25 years, underscoring Joel's acute social awareness, which is especially evident on songs like "Leningrad" and "Allentown": "Every child had a pretty good shot/To get at least as far as their old man got/But something happened on the way to that place/They threw an American flag in our face." Also prevalent are Joel's matchless romantic ballads, including "She's Got a Way" and "She's Always a Woman," and his unshakable pop hits like "Uptown Girl," and "Keeping the Faith." Joel's songs are so consistently familiar that it's easy to forget how groundbreaking and distinctive his dynamic, piano-led arrangements were when he began his career; this collection accentuates the timeless, lasting nature of Joel's accomplishments.|
Rovi