Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
We all have that one gig we wish we could have attended, the type that falls into folklore, the one that is amongst the defining memories of all who attended, and which sows desire amongst those left out to make the next concert even more legendary, even more musically explosive. That one moment in time is rarely repeated, but if you are fortunate, if the performer finds it possible, then it might well become a physical bond that does not rely on other’s recollection that you insert yourself between, instead it becomes your own night of pleasure lived.
Whilst a live album does not normally compare to a concert, it can do justice to your belief, the sound of the crowd singing along to a few lines of a lyric that resonates around a stadium, the harmony of the band, or even a fractious moment caught, the smell of a new t shirt, the feeling of kinship and love with all in attendance, it does mean that you can concentrate on the music with a greater sense of authority than that by being in a crowd and losing at times the message and the performance because you are gripped by the scene, not the music itself.
Recorded over two nights in June 1990, Billy Joel’s Live At The Yankee Stadium is sure to be seen as an iconic album for the fan and onlooker alike. The showcasing of a decade and beyond of music that had captured the imagination of the MTV generation, the sheer scope that was detailed in the albums Innocent Man and Storm Front, as well as huge classics from the 70’s, all combining to make this one of the most memorable examples of Billy Joel captured live, and in which must be hoped that in time to come that will be the enormous cause for celebration for anyone unable to have had the pleasure of seeing his long running performances at Madison Square Gardens.
Seek pleasure and you will find in abundance, for as songs flow, as the piano purrs and snarls like an angel caught between minds and emotions, and as a crowd sings passionately along, moments of pure genius are caught forever, and as the brutal truth of Allentown, of the reminisce of New York State Of Mind, the solitude cool of My Life, the fierce nature of Pressure, the beauty and longing of Uptown Girl and Innocent Man, and the finale of dreams to be shared in the exquisite Piano Man, pleasure is found, honoured, and resplendent in its drama.
Billy Joel has always been at the top of his game, not one album could be considered a step back, and whilst there have not been any new studio releases for more than a generation, this particular live album release is a timely reminder of the power of the musician and of the writer in one gigantic three album disc release.
It is only when the lights go out, that the live crowd understands they have memories left to hold, for the ones who missed out initially, the live album is there as a constant reminder that they should always embrace the thought that one day they too will see the light that is Billy Joel shine on stage.
Ian D. Hall