Let me tell you about an album that is been the soundtrack to countless road trips, breakups, and celebrations across America. Billy Joel’s “Greatest Hits Volume I & II” isn’t just a compilation—it’s a cultural monument that captures the Piano Man at his commercial and artistic peak.

Released in the summer of ’85, this double-album masterpiece has since moved a staggering 23 million copies (this is Double Diamond and then some), making it one of the best-selling compilations of all time. But numbers don’t tell the whole story.

If you’ve somehow managed to avoid Billy Joel’s music all these years, this collection offers the perfect entry point into his world of sharp storytelling and melodic craftsmanship. From the wistful nostalgia of “Piano Man” to the Cold War commentary of “Allentown,” Joel demonstrates why he became the voice of suburban America’s hopes and disappointments.

What strikes me most about these tracks is how Joel manages to sound both timeless and distinctly of his era. “Just the Way You Are” remains one of the most sincere love songs ever recorded, while “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” captures the exact moment when the old guard was processing the arrival of new wave and punk.

The collection also includes two gems that were new at the time: “You’re Only Human (Second Wind)”—a song Joel wrote specifically to address teenage suicide after receiving a fan letter that deeply affected him—and “The Night Is Still Young,” which showcases his often-overlooked talent for crafting atmosphere.

I’ve always found it fascinating that Joel, despite becoming one of the defining voices of American pop music, has always carried a chip on his shoulder about being dismissed by certain critics. This tension fueled some of his best work, including “Big Shot” and “Pressure,” both included here. The man wrote with something to prove, and you can hear that fire throughout this collection.

The sequencing is particularly brilliant, not strictly chronological but paced like a well-thought-out concert setlist. It takes you through various phases of Joel’s career while maintaining an emotional through-line that builds and releases tension with expert precision.

You might think you don’t need these songs in your collection—they’ve been radio staples for decades, after all. But there’s something about hearing them in this context, one after another, that reveals the remarkable consistency and evolution of Joel’s songcraft. From the Tin Pan Alley influences of his early work to the harder-edged rock of the early ’80s, the progression tells a story of an artist constantly pushing himself.

I remember interviewing Joel back in the ’90s, and he told me something that stuck with me: “I never wrote a song thinking it would be a hit. I wrote songs about things that pissed me off or broke my heart.” That authenticity is what makes these tracks resonate decades later.

Whether you are a longtime fan looking to replace your worn-out copy or someone who’s only familiar with Joel through cultural osmosis, “Greatest Hits Volume I & II” delivers the goods. It’s the kind of album that reminds us why we fell in love with rock and roll in the first place—honest stories told through melodies you can’t get out of your head.

And next time someone dismisses Billy Joel as mere commercial pop, just put on “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” and watch them try to resist that seven-minute mini-opera about Brenda and Eddie. This is the power of the Piano Man at his best.