Billy Joel: River of Dreams (1993)

10 August 1993 saw the release of the twelfth and what would be the last studio album of mainstream songs written and performed by Billy Joel. The album was called "River of Dreams" and was produced by Billy with Danny Kortchmar, along with Joe Nicolo and David Thoener co-producing. It was Billy's first album after "Storm Front" released four years prior which had marked a sea change in his musical career.

"Storm Front" had been the first time since before 1977 that Billy would not work with producer Phil Ramone on a studio album. It also saw a change in line-up for Billy's band with the departure of Russell Javors on rhythm guitar and bassist Doug Stegmeyer. "Storm Front" had been produced by Billy with Mick Jones from the band Foreigner. The new album would bring in Danny Kortchmar, although it had originally begun with Billy himself.

Seven songs were written and recorded as demos in 1992, which have been referred to as "The Shelter Island Sessions", including the songs: "No Man's Land", "Blonde over Blue", "Great Wall of China", "A Minor Variation", "Shades of Grey", "You Picked a Real Bad Time" and "Lullabye/River of Dreams". Although these demos have never been officially released, they can all be found on YouTube. Just search "The Shelter Island Sessions".

According to "Billy Joel: The Definitive Biography" from Fred Schruers, Billy was dissatisfied with the recordings and on the advice of Don Henley from the Eagles brought in producer Danny Kortchmar. The results are what we hear, give or take a couple songs. Crucially, for me anyway, "All about Soul" and "Two Thousand Years" have been added into the mix, while "You Picked a Real Bad Time" has been subtracted. The song was released as a B-side on the single for "All about Soul". "Famous Last Words" is written last and becomes one of the last mainstream songs that Billy ever recorded.

The album's release was supported by four singles including: "The River of Dreams" which peaked at Number 1 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart, 3 on Billboard Hot 100, and 3 in the UK and Australia, while it managed 1 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary charts and 2 on their Top Singles. This doesn't really surprise me, the amount of times I've heard it. An alternate mix is included on the Billy Joel "My Lives" box set which I probably enjoy even more. If you haven't heard it, I won't spoil it, but it's great.

"All about Soul" followed, landing at Number 6 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart, 29 on the Billboard Hot 100, 34 in Australia and 22 in New Zealand. What happened, Australia?

"No Man's Land" followed after that, coming in at Number 18 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, while reaching 11 in the Netherlands. I would have liked to have seen it do better myself, but I can't complain really.

The final single "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)" came in at Number 18 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart while reaching 77 on the Billboard Hot 100. It reaches Number 27 in Canada. Looking at the Wikipedia page, the number of covers listed there obviously shows what a great life this song has gone on to have.

Album wise, "River of Dreams" hits a massive Number 1 on the US Billboard 200, while coming in at 3 on the UK Albums chart, with a simultaneous Number 1 in Australia and New Zealand. Its success continues to varying degrees all around the world.

Billy received four Grammy Award nominations in 1994: Album of the Year, Song of the Year for "The River of Dreams", Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance-Male. Put all of this together and it really, really isn't very bad at all.

I first came across the album sometime around 1993 or 1994. "All about Soul" was one of my first singles, along with Meat Loaf "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" written and produced by Jim Steinman and taken from "Bat out of Hell II: Back into Hell". Intriguingly for me, David Thoener worked on both. He mixed "Bat II". You've just got to love these kinds of connections.

It was only in the last ten years or so that I really heard this album from beginning to end. I had to warm to parts of it, which is what happened with "Storm Front" as well (which I neglected to mention in my earlier review), but mark my words. If I had to choose, this would be among some of my favourite albums. As far as Billy's output, it's right up there for me. Some of this is probably coloured by my personal experience and I wasn't around at the time "The Stranger" and other albums were made, but nevertheless. This is how I now feel.

Let's take a look at the songs. I also want to mention the awesome artwork by Christie Brinkley. The colours and vivid imagery illustrating the songs stood out to me more or less from the very beginning. It would give me the shivers actually seeing the original painting. The design of the album in general is pretty neat all round.

"No Man's Land" --- the lyrics alone are magnificent. This whole thing is majestic.

"The Great Wall of China" --- I love it. There's a rumour that this and "A Minor Variation" are inspired by Billy's experience with his ex-manager and brother-in-law who had embezzled from him. I can hear it in the lyrics. "We could have gone all the way to the great wall of China if you only had a little more faith in me" is a great line in general.

"Blonde over Blue" --- really like this one. The first three songs here make this a great beginning. Is it going to drop off?

"A Minor Variation" --- yeah, it sort of does drop off with this song. This is probably my least favourite here but it's not a bad song.

"Shades of Grey" --- this sort of loses me as well. This and "A Minor Variation" actually are probably about equal.

"All about Soul" --- I loved it as a kid hearing it for the first times. I love it now. If it wasn't for the next three songs, I would have chosen this as my favourite. The line: "under the love is a stronger emotion" is magnificent.

"Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)" --- Billy wrote this for his daughter who is about the same age as me. It's one of his most beautiful songs ever. If it wasn't for "Two Thousand Years", this would be the highlight for me making "All about Soul" my second favourite.

"The River of Dreams" --- yes, this is the big one. You've really got to check out that alternate version though.

"Two Thousand Years" --- a triumphant song. If you've never heard it, you're missing out. To me, it's simply one of the best ones he's ever done.

"Famous Last Words" --- Billy wraps up the album and his mainstream recording career. It would have been nice to hear this as a single. I'm not sure if he's ever played it live but I imagine it would be powerful if he ever did.

So that brings us to the end, folks. Oh there's still a couple more to look at which I will get around to. Now for the big question: will Billy ever make another album of mainstream songs? I doubt it but personally, I'd love to see him re-record "Cold Spring Harbor".

Thank you for reading,

Ryan.