Now, as for “Matter of Trust” – what is wrong with this tune? You could point at many rock greats and call much of their 80’s work crap, but “Matter of Trust” and the album that spawned it is decent. Sonically it may not have worn as well as his more piano based records (this one has lots of synth), but the writing is inspired, and in all its a fine album.

I don’t know much about Ed Champion, but I’d like to hear his songs, or know what kind of an authority he is on music before I give his criticisms any credence.

I’m kind of sick of Billy Joel bashing. Even DownBeat Magazine has done it recently. 100 million BJ fans can’t be wrong..

KEEP GOING BILLY! GIVE US SOME NEW MUSIC.. MAY THE SCREAMING FANS DROWN OUT THESE ASSHOLES!

D Yoel

But at the end of it all, we get to read WM Joel’s personal reaction (which may yet feature in an unauthorised biography) and we get to see that the writer here can be pretty funny when he steps out of the ring.

J.A.P.

He’s a very very very good singer. Of all the people in “the business”, he doesn’t need to “fix” his voice. I never really cared for his music, but come on, the man has some serious skills.

As for selling out, I think that Billy has kept a pretty low profile in this capacity. Where is his album that you can only buy in certain megastores? Where is “Tell Her About It” in the herpes awareness ads?

Get off his back.

I am a dangerous person who has been reported in three states. The newspapers publish my writing not because it is any good, but because my baroque manipulative methods are known throughout the country.

The only person who was wise enough to avoid these tactics was James Marcus, who I have fenced with on numerous occasions and who is responsible for the glass eye I now wear.

In four years, I have never once changed my mind about a person or a topic. I have never once had a kind word to say about anyone. And I shave my pubic hair daily to John Philip Sousa marches, which explains why I am so familiar with patriotic music.

Consider these dire conditions, Mr. Joel, before accepting my humble and entirely uninquisitive offer.

Aside from any debate about technologically sweetened voices, to which I am unqualified to add, I want to say that I got my Rolling Stone 100 Greatest Singers Of All Time issue the other day. Notice, not “the best voice” but “the greatest” in terms of being able to “sell” a song. Aretha is #1, Joel’s hero, Ray Charles #2 etc. But no Billy. Huh?

Now on the list we’ve got Lou Reed, Patty Smith, Neil Young, Dylan, Lennon, McCartney, etc. No Billy. Personally, I think that it is ridiculous for a tunesmith/singer on the order of Mr. Joel to not be on that list. As only one example of many, I think of his song “Until The Night” from his album 52nd Street, where he manages to create a Righteous Brothers vibe — and he sings just as well as not one, but both Brothers, taking the highs as well as the lows! Was he channeling them when he wrote and recorded the song? Who cares, it’s a great song.

And by the way, The Righteous Brothers didn’t make the list either. WTF?

Jann Wenner should hang his head in shame.

Certainly, for *racists* it has.

An explanation was all that was required, instead of your extraordinary defensiveness and ridiculous swagger. Nevertheless, I thank you for your clarification. But consider this, Billy, if the television people are fucking you over, has it ever occurred to you that transparency directed to alternative media would have quelled the considerable speculation from many with good ears inside and outside the industry?

I’m certainly not the first to suggest that you’ve sold out. And I’m hardly a dilettante. If you’re so joyful about it, why do you keep coming back? Why did you spend more than a decade not writing or recording any new material? I won’t take the cheap shot of delving into your personal life, Billy, because I’m not about that. But judging from the slivers we’ve seen through the wall, it seems that honesty remains a lonely word for you. Which is a shame. Because your best work has always been predicated upon being honest, as opposed to being Robert Palmer or somebody else who you’re not.

We all recognize that the national anthem, with a range of an octave and a half, is difficult to sing. But who do you think you’re fooling, Billy?

And Robert Palmer? Don’t even begin to tell me that mimicking Robert Palmer is your way of standing out like fucking Paul Robeson or Enrico Caruso. You write for YOU, you say? Just be honest, Billy. You did it for the cash. The guy who wrote the sardonic anti-yuppie song “My Life” is gone. (Indeed, you’ve BECOME that yuppie.) Just come clean. We’d totally respect you for that. And after all, this little exchange is all about respect in the end, isn’t it?

It’s brilliances like this that makes me read American blogs!