Billy Joel - Greatest Hits - Vol. III
Columbia Records  (1997)
Rock, Soft Rock

In Collection
#367

0*
CD  76:17
17 tracks
Keeping the Faith 01             04:39
An Innocent Man 02             05:19
A Matter of Trust 03             04:12
Baby Grand (duet w/ Ray Charles) 04   Billy Joel & Ray Charles           04:06
This is the Time 05             05:01
Leningrad 06             04:05
We Didn't Start the Fire 07             04:49
I Go to Extremes 08             04:25
And So It Goes 09             03:38
The Downeaster "Alexa" 10             03:44
Shameless 11             04:28
All About Soul (remix) 12             06:01
Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) 13             03:35
The River of Dreams 14             04:11
To Make You Feel My Love 15             03:54
Hey Girl 16             03:57
Light as the Breeze 17             06:13
Personal Details
Location Home
Details
Spars DDD
Sound Stereo
Notes
Date of US Release October 14, 1997

August,1997 Sony Music Personnel includes: Billy Joel (vocals, harpsichord, harmonica, accordion, piano, Fender Rhodes, clavinet, Hammond B-3 organ, synthesizer, percussion); Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Mac McAnally(acoustic guitar); David Brown, Russell Javors, Dann Huff, Dean Parks (guitar); Paul Franklin (pedal steel); Clint Black (harmonica); Mark Rivera(alto & tenor saxophones, percussion); Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone); Ronnie Cuber (baritone saxophone); Everette Harp (saxophone); Jim Horn,Paul Litteral (horns); John Gatchell, Joe Shepley (trumpet); Matt Rollings (piano); Steve Nathan (organ); Neil Stubenhaus, Doug Stegmeyer (bass);Willie Weeks, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Color Me Badd, Trisha Yearwood. Chris Rodriguez (background vocals). Producers include: Phil Ramone, MickJones, Billy Joel, Danny Kortchmar, Peter Asher, Steve Lindsey.Engineersinclude: Jim Boyer, Jay Healy, Niko Bolas, Joe Nicolo, Phil Nicolo.Recordedat Right Track and Sony Studios, New York City, New York; Andora, Capitol and Conway Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California.

Billy Joel could have made a great box set, compiling not only his hits, but significant album tracks, his handful of non-LP B-sides, demos, live tracks and assorted rarities. Instead, he settled for the four-disc The Complete Hits Collection, 1973-1997: Limited Edition, which merely reissues his three Greatest Hits collections and adds a live rarities collection previously released on a limited-edition Australian box set to commemorate the River of Dreams tour. Who this set is for is anyone's guess. Anyone who wants the hits will already own Greatest Hits, Vols. 1-3 (or they should purchase those three discs individually, since it's much cheaper), and any hardcore Billy collector will also own the fourth disc, rendering this collection without purpose. Granted, the songs on Greatest Hits, Vols. 1 & 2 have been restored to their album length and have been subjected to fine 20-bit remastering, and there is a 44-page booklet with handwritten lyrics, an essay, and unseen photographs, but if the discs themselves are necessary, all this window-dressing is superflurous as well.�