It’s been more than 20 years since Billy Joel released his last album of original songs, River of Dreams, but that hasn’t stopped the singer-songwriter from remaining a top concert draw and a vital creative force. And just because he hasn’t put out a new pop album doesn’t mean he hasn’t been making music; Joel has released recordings of his classical compositions and performed them with full orchestras, and he’s released a couple of singles that indicate that he might still be writing songs and just not sharing them with his fans yet.
But even if Joel never releases another original song, he’ll still have enough material for concerts for the rest of his life. There isn’t nearly enough room here to list all of Joel’s hits, but a partial sampling includes “Piano Man,” “Uptown Girl,” “Only the Good Die Young” and “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Joel’s catalog is so extensive that in 2002 it was adapted into a successful Broadway show, Movin’ Out, featuring more than 25 of his compositions in the story of young people coming of age in Joel’s native Long Island in the 1960s.
At his June 7 concert at MGM Grand, Joel is just as likely to break out some deep cuts from his numerous albums as he is to rely on those many hits, so longtime fans and casual listeners will be equally rewarded. The piano man may not have any new songs to play, but he still has plenty of passion left for the old ones.
MGM Grand, 8 p.m. June 7, starting at $84.50 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
