Billy Joel has released “And So It Goes,” a comprehensive seven-hour, 155-track soundtrack accompanying the HBO documentary of the same name.
The collection became available on streaming platforms Saturday morning, July 26. It features many previously unreleased tracks, including rare radio performances and special mixes of Joel’s songs crafted specifically for the documentary. Just as “And So It Goes” highlights Joel’s career on stage, the accompanying soundtrack is rich with concert recordings spanning his extensive career. Commentary and anecdotes from Joel, as featured in the film, are interwoven throughout the album to provide additional context.
“And So It Goes” includes all of Joel’s big hits as well as lesser-known gems. Highlights include tracks from Joel’s early bands like The Hassles and his short-lived heavy metal band, Attila. The collection also offers new mixes of songs from his 1971 debut album, “Cold Spring Harbor,” which suffered from production issues with the final tracks mastered at an incorrect speed. A standout track is the debut performance of “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant,” recorded during a May 1977 concert at C.W. Post in Greenvale, N.Y. This performance was broadcast on WLIR-FM, offering fans an early listen to music from Joel’s forthcoming album “The Stranger,” four months prior to its release.
The soundtrack was produced by Joel’s associates Steve Cohen, Bradshaw Leigh, and John Jackson. Cohen, who joined Joel’s team in 1974 as a lighting director, noted the importance of Joel’s decision to use his road band in the studio. This choice underscored Joel’s commitment to a consistent live sound, a fact highlighted in the documentary. “Billy would write a song, they’d go in the studio, play the song, record it, and then perform it live,” Cohen explained on the UCR Podcast. “It would sound just like the record because there was no disconnect.”
Cohen and Jackson, Joel’s archivist, indicated that the soundtrack is the first of many releases. Fans can anticipate further archival material releases through various platforms, including YouTube. A performance of “Piano Man” recorded in 1975 on “The Old Grey Whistle Test” will debut on YouTube on Monday morning, July 28.
“His team was proactive in collecting audio and video, including screen cams,” Jackson told the UCR Podcast. “Having a sound man [Brian Ruggles] with him since 1972 and a visual staging and lighting guy [Cohen] since 1974 was instrumental. They had the foresight to capture these performances with proper audio.”
Jackson further noted, “At a certain point, he was financially capable, which allowed them to invest in capturing this content. This diligence has resulted in a substantial archive, fueled by Joel’s nonstop touring from 1971 until now. There is a wealth of material in both his personal and Sony’s vaults, with little overlap. We are committed to exploring both in the coming years.”