Editorial Reviews

Anybody who has spent any length of time with Billy Joel's music knows that it is ideally suited for the Broadway stage, so it was no big surprise when a selection of his songs formed the basis of a production in 2002. What was a surprise is that it was conceived, directed, and choreographed by Twyla Tharp, who was better known for her avant-garde work, including a collaboration with David Byrne on The Catherine Wheel. Tharp, however, proved to be a good choice, at least musically, since she and musical supervisor Stuart Malina helped keep the songs stripped-down and lean. They're not sung by the cast; they're sung by Michael Cavanaugh who, as the piano man, narrates the proceedings from the side. This is a sharp move musically, although it does have a side effect on record of occasionally seeming like a Billy Joel tribute, sung by a guy with Broadway chops. Still, it's a good listen, one that's not nearly as flashy as a Broadway connotation would suggest, but it's hard to imagine listening to this in the confines of your own home if you already have Billy Joel's albums, since those are better realized as recordings than this. (Ironically, his albums laid back to back have a better narrative flow, too, telling the story of the baby boom generation with more momentum than this.) Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

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