What makes Keeping the Faith by Billy Joel notable?

The album is notable for its title track, which became a hit single, reaching number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. This success further solidified Joel's position in the contemporary pop landscape of the 1980s and highlighted his ability to blend catchy hooks with meaningful lyrics. Released in January 1984, Keeping the Faith was a pivotal moment in Billy Joel's career, following his commercial peak with 1982's The Nylon Curtain. At this time, Joel was transitioning into more reflective songwriting, establishing himself as a mature artist capable of addressing deeper themes while maintaining broad appeal.

How many songs are on Keeping the Faith?

Keeping the Faith has 2 tracks, running approximately 8 minutes.

Keeping the Faith

Billy Joel · 1984

8 min · 2 tracks · pop rock

A vibrant blend of pop rock and soft rock, featuring energetic melodies and introspective lyrics that explore themes of faith and personal growth.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Keeping the Faith — This title track encapsulates the album's exploration of resilience and optimism, driven by its infectious melody and anthemic chorus that invites listener participation.
→
She’s Right on Time — This track showcases Joel's knack for storytelling, combining a catchy piano riff with lyrics that delve into the complexities of relationships and timing.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

42 /100

Lowland

Higher than 1% of albums we've rated

The single showcases solid songwriting and production but lacks depth for lasting engagement.

What we noticed

The title track features a prominent piano riff that drives the melody, accompanied by layered backing vocals throughout.
The second track employs a more subdued arrangement with a focus on the lead vocals and minimal instrumentation.
Both tracks maintain a consistent mid-tempo pace, with 'Keeping the Faith' incorporating a gospel-like chorus.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 5/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 4/10

Influence 2/10

Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — Solidified Joel's position in pop, following his commercial peak.
Themes: personal resilience· 1980s optimism· complex relationships
Career context: Released in January 1984, Keeping the Faith was a pivotal moment in Billy Joel's career, following his commercial peak with 1982's The Nylon Curtain. At this time, Joel was transitioning into more reflective songwriting, establishing himself as a mature artist capable of addressing deeper themes while maintaining broad appeal.
Stylistic neighbors: Elton John· Carole King· James Taylor