My Lives
Billy Joel · 2005
362 min · 81 tracks · pop rock
A reflective collection of demos and live performances showcasing the breadth of Billy Joel's songwriting and his evolution as an artist.
Top tracks — play these first
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My Journey’s End Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Piano Man — The demo version captures the raw emotion and simplicity that defined Joel’s breakthrough hit, illustrating his storytelling prowess before it became iconic.
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Goodnight Saigon — This Vietnam Veterans version emphasizes the song’s poignant narrative about camaraderie and loss, showcasing Joel's ability to address historical themes through music.
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I Go to Extremes — The live rendition brings an energetic performance style that highlights Joel's dynamic vocal delivery and the song's emotional highs and lows.
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Only a Man — As a demo never before released, this track reveals the intimate songwriting process behind Joel’s reflective lyrics on human vulnerability.
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She's Got a Way — This version showcases the tenderness of Joel’s composition, providing insight into his romantic lyricism that resonates across generations.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- reflective moments of nostalgia
- dynamic journey with peaks
- soulful melodies for contemplation
- evening listening with friends
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification
- prefer standalone singles only
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — A reflective collection for fans, showcasing unreleased material and live performances.
- Themes
- Vietnam War narratives· New York City storytelling· personal reflection
- Career context
- Released in 2005, My Lives arrived shortly after Billy Joel's extensive career had seen him transition from a pop superstar to a beloved elder statesman of music. This album serves as both a retrospective and a personal archive, featuring unreleased demos alongside live recordings, marking Joel's re-engagement with his past work and artistry after years of limited output since his last studio album in 1993.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Elton John· Carole King· James Taylor
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 My Journey’s End Start here 2:07
- 2 Time and Time Again 2:01
- 3 Every Step I Take (Every Move I Make) 2:28
- 4 You’ve Got Me Hummin’ 2:27
- 5 Amplifier Fire 3:06
- 6 Only a Man (demo, never released) 3:16
- 7 She’s Got a Way (album version) 2:55
- 8 Oyster Bay (demo, never released) 3:45
- 9 Piano Man (demo, never released) 2:52
- 10 The Siegfried Line (demo, never released) 2:36
- 11 New Mexico (demo, never released, Became “Worse Comes to Worst”) 2:37
- 12 Cross to Bear (demo, never released) 4:19
- 13 Miami 2017 (demo, never released) 4:50
- 14 These Rhinestone Days (demo, never released, Became “I Loved These Days”) 3:00
- 15 Everybody Has a Dream 4:36
- 16 Only the Good Die Young (alternate version, never released) 3:39
- 17 Until the Night (album version) 6:37
- 18 Zanzibar (album version, unfaded) 6:47
- 19 It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me (album version) 2:56
Disc 2
- 1 Captain Jack (live) 7:20
- 2 The End of the World 3:23
- 3 The Prime of Your Life 3:44
- 4 She’s Right on Time 4:14
- 5 Elvis Presley Blvd. 3:16
- 6 Nobody Knows but Me 2:55
- 7 An Innocent Man 5:19
- 8 Christie Lee 4:03
- 9 Easy Money 4:06
- 10 And So It Goes 3:14
- 11 I’ll Cry Instead (live) 2:24
- 12 Keeping the Faith (12″ version) 4:53
- 13 Modern Woman 3:51
- 14 Baby Grand 4:05
- 15 Getting Closer 5:38
- 16 House of Blue Light 4:44
- 17 Money or Love 4:02
- 18 The Times They Are a Changin’ (live) 2:54
Disc 3
- 1 The Downeaster “Alexa” (album version) 3:44
- 2 I Go to Extremes (live) 4:51
- 3 Shout 5:49
- 4 All Shook Up 2:09
- 5 Heartbreak Hotel 3:20
- 6 When You Wish Upon a Star 3:42
- 7 In a Sentimental Mood 4:02
- 8 Motorcycle Song (demo) 4:19
- 9 You Picked a Real Bad Time 4:55
- 10 The River of Dreams (alternate version) 5:49
- 11 A Hard Day’s Night 2:46
- 12 Light as the Breeze 6:13
- 13 To Make You Feel My Love 3:52
- 14 Hey Girl 3:57
- 15 Why Should I Worry 3:33
- 16 Where Were You (on Our Wedding Day)? (album version) 1:58
- 17 Highway 61 Revisited (demo) 5:09
Disc 4
- 1 Movin’ Out 3:44
- 2 You May Be Right (live) 4:49
- 3 Big Shot 4:45
- 4 Don’t Worry Baby 3:26
- 5 Goodnight Saigon (Vietnam Veterans version) 6:30
- 6 Los Angelenos 3:55
- 7 New York State of Mind 6:01
- 8 Opus 1. Soliloquy (On a Separation) 11:23
- 9 Opus 8. Suite for Piano (Star‐Crossed): I. Innamorato 7:47
- 10 Opus 8. Suite for Piano (Star‐Crossed): II. Sorbetto 1:31
- 11 Opus 8. Suite for Piano (Star‐Crossed): III. Delusion 3:36
- 12 Elegy: The Great Peconic 6:50
- 13 “Glass Houses” Promotional Spot 8:57
Disc 5
- 1 No Man’s Land 5:52
- 2 Pressure 5:30
- 3 Ballad of Billy the Kid 5:52
- 4 Leningrad 4:46
- 5 Allentown 5:00
- 6 My Life 6:21
- 7 I Go to Extremes 5:00
- 8 Shades of Grey 4:30
- 9 The River of Dreams 5:18
- 10 Goodnight Saigon 7:22
- 11 We Didn’t Start the Fire 5:24
- 12 A Hard Day’s Night 3:12
- 13 Big Shot 5:00
- 14 Piano Man 8:27
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Songs from the West Coast
Elton John
Both feature introspective songwriting and a blend of pop rock with emotional storytelling.
October Road
James Taylor
Shares a reflective tone and personal narratives, rooted in folk-rock traditions and lyrical depth.
Surprise
Paul Simon
Explores themes of personal reflection and urban storytelling with a mix of contemporary sounds.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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