Billy Joel commemorates 40 years as a solo artist on Nov. 8 with two historic releases. Sony / Legacy will issue a limited edition boxed set entitled ‘Billy Joel – The Complete Albums Collection,’ as well as a deluxe double-disc version of his 1973 ‘Piano Man’ album.

‘Billy Joel - The Complete Albums Collection’ is packaged in an elegantly designed box and houses Joel’s complete catalog from 1971’s ‘Cold Spring Harbor through 2001’s ‘Fantasy & Delusions.'

All the albums have been recently remastered in 24-bit audio and the cardboard jackets replicate the original album covers and sleeves. Also included are two 60-page booklets, printed lyrics to every song and a new Q&A with Joel. The cherry here, is the bonus disc of 17 rare and non-album recordings, including everything from B-sides to outtakes, soundtrack tunes, cover songs and last but not least, the 2007 single ‘All My Life’ (Joel’s first newly-written song since 1993) now making it’s first appearance on an album.

"I'd never seen them all together in one place until I got the box set," Joel says of the collection. "It represents a lot of work! It's a little overwhelming, actually, looking at each individual album and remembering how much writing and recording, the time spent arranging and producing everything that went into each album."

‘Piano Man’ was Joel’s 1973 debut on Columbia Records. The Legacy edition includes the 10 song original album in its entirety, remastered for this release, plus a second disc which features Joel’s performance at Philadelphia Sigma Sound Studio in 1972, a year prior to his signing with Columbia.

This edition of ‘Piano Man’ marks the first time this full Sigma Sound performance has been officially available. Highlights of that show include three songs which do not appear on any of his albums plus the live performance of ‘Captain Jack’, which helped launched Joel’s career by becoming an FM radio hit.

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