Billy Joel - Everybody Has A Dream (Version #2, 1976)

Recorded in studio in 1976 with Elton John's band. This version is slower than the one he recorded during the Cold Spring Harbor sessions in 1971, but still retains the original's sound. Billy would record the song again in 1977 for The Stranger album, that time as a gospel track.

[@ronatopaz2793]

I really like this arrangement-the song itself is strong enough to be played acoustically. Lyrically this is my favourite song of his along with Summer, Highland Falls. And I will tell anyone that wants to know that the conversation we had when I met him (41 years ago! Sheesh) was the BEST therapy I ever had from anyone. Including professional therapists…. What a gift.

[@chazamatazz_music]

That's cool, I met him at a softball game held by Phil ramone in Pound Ridge NY about that many years ago.well it was summer 81 '. I had recorded at A&R earlier that summer anyway thought I'd share.

[@linwood2005]

Didn’t know that the Manhattan’s version was a cover. I like this original also just a totally different vibe.

[@Jaxrus1]

Enjoying these, Louis. Thank you

[@louiscolli]

My pleasure!

[@06dreamliner]

God Bless you Louis!! Many thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@riccardoangeli802]

Sempre talento Piano Man .... Tutto quello che fa e oro

[@JohnBrad-zg3qs]

I always preferred this version. The piano outro is very nostalgic sounding and just absolutely gorgeous.

[@williammartinjoel1]

Love this version. Thank you for sharing. ❤❤❤

[@elton1111]

I like this version better than the final version. I think the chorus is a bit overwrought in the final version, while with this, the piano is a bit brighter and prettier and having Elton's rhythm section of Nigel Olsson on drums and Dee Murray on bass is nice to hear.

[@kevingoss1189]

I like both, but the released version has that gospelly thing that works in the context of the album. Its gospel influence lends itself to the chorus, and Richie on B3 is sublime.

[@JohnPGrieco]

@@kevingoss1189 That was actually Richard Tee playing the B3 on the Stranger studio cut. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Tee He played a lot back then with Paul Simon who Phil Ramone also produced.

[@howtodoitdude1662]

I know they wanted Billy to use Elton’s band but Billy refused to use them.

[@RobPrisament]

Do you have any more of the "Caribou" session?

[@louiscolli]

Nope

[@Jaxrus1]

.....Is the wrong answer 😢

[@eagle14410]

@@Jaxrus1 lol

[@MichaelJamesLorinReviews-wg8br]

Where can you buy this song?

[@louiscolli]

You can't. It's never been officially released. You can use a website to download the audio from the video though

[@MichaelJamesLorinReviews-wg8br]

@@louiscolli Thank you Louis!

[@louiscolli]

​@@MichaelJamesLorinReviews-wg8br you're very welcome 😊

[@howtodoitdude1662]

1971 version has a better feel. Of course the final recording of 1977 is the best.

[@sithlordmikeyp]

I always thought these sessions were destroyed. Is this a newer find?

[@louiscolli]

This was released on the Retold CDs, like 20 years ago. As far as I know, it is the only song from those sessions to come out in any form.

[@sithlordmikeyp]

@@louiscolli Thanks! I always wondered where the demos floating around that DIDN'T come from My Lives came from.

[@breadsticat6264]

Such a mellow vibe. It's strange to think about how Billy Joel shifted himself away from this genre of music that I have personally dubbed "the pondering ballad" to pop rock, then rock, then just pop. One can only wonder what would have happened if he had stuck with what he had cultivated rather than conforming to the times of the then-modern world to achieve success. He sold out. After almost 7 years of writing ballads, he switched to poprock, only pausing once or twice to look back at what he once was and nothing more. His roots were never entirely forgotten, with most of his ensuing albums after 1977 including at least one slower, ballad-type song, but he never truly returned to what he had once been. Billy Joel forgot what he was, forgot that it was better to be unique rather than to follow the examples of those before him. And it showed, with the majority of his music beginning to sound extremely derivitive. No innovation, no uniqueness to his music. And yet, when Billy conformed, he conformed well, and he began to release hit after hit. Billy Joel changed for both the better and the worse. Both a loss and a gain, both a tragedy and something to be celebrated. Billy Joel is a strange case indeed.

[@KosherPorky]

lmao

[@louiscolli]

See, I think Billy was always a chameleon, shifting with the popular music of the time. I mean, lets start with Cold Spring Harbor. How does someone go from the Hassles (which went from straight forward pop-rock to psychedelic) then to Attila (Heavy Metal) to Cold Spring Harbor? Well, in 1971 the singer-songwriter was coming into bloom and Billy started writing in that style. As that style went out, he shifted to something else, then just kept doing so for his entire career. There really is no "Billy Joel sound" because he kept changing as music changed. As far as this song, it went from a faster version on Cold Spring Harbor, got slowed down in between and mellowed, then became a gospel track on The Stranger. I'd say the released version from the Stranger is the worst of the three sadly. This one is the best.

[@danielhkhk7283]

@@louiscolli I agree, the version of The Stranger for me has too much gospel feeling. I think he tried to hard to sound like Ray Charles.

[@howtodoitdude1662]

He sold out? I disagree. He always said he wanted to progress and not recycle himself. On interviews he also said he tried to go the other direction with the music that was on the radio. 52nd street- Jazzy style, innocent man- 50’s style, fantasies and delusions- classical style. Of course he has to please the record company too! If he didn’t go with the times, he wouldn’t have lasted as long as he did.

[@ArtificialBanana]

If he hadn't started writing "pop" songs, he might have remained in obscurity and you would never have heard any of his music. Having said that, I would also have liked to hear more songs in his original style.