tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889333447515035362.post7995195699067037071..comments2024-03-24T03:26:59.588-04:00Comments on Uncle Mike's Musings: A Yankees Blog and More: What If Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel Had Been In the Same Band?Uncle Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618876073064128027noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889333447515035362.post-82889724203545756692015-02-08T05:07:59.215-05:002015-02-08T05:07:59.215-05:00Wow, I did not expect such reactions -- for either...Wow, I did not expect such reactions -- for either Bruce's fans or Billy's!<br /><br />Billy may have sold more albums, but if he was bigger up until the mid-1990s, he hasn't been since, because he just plain stopped releasing new music. That bothers me, because I do like Billy more. His music means more to me.<br /><br />But Long Island doesn't kick Jersey's anything. Not since the Islanders were last in the Finals, anyway, over 30 years ago.<br /><br />As for Long Island musicians other than Billy: Oh, dear Lord. Ellie Greenwich is from Levittown. If Billy, born in The City, counts as a Long Island music personality, then so do Lou Reed and Harry Chapin. That's a pretty good argument if I stop right there. Then there's Johnny Maestro, who formed the Crests in his native Brooklyn, then grew up and moved to Long Island and formed the Brooklyn Bridge with the Del-Satins (Dion's post-Belmonts backups). Blue Oyster Cult. Eddie Money. Pat Benatar (who, by the way, still looks and sounds phenomenal). Chuck D of Public Enemy got his start as the DJ at the station at Adelphi University. Lots of rappers have Long Island connections, including Kurtis Blow, Rakim and Biz Markie. More recently, the Stray Cats, Debbie Gibson, Ashanti. Mariah Blessed Carey is from Long Island!<br /><br />I like this argument. I just wish it was more respectful to both Billy's influences and Bruce's.Uncle Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11618876073064128027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889333447515035362.post-8351700519538886782015-02-07T01:04:48.696-05:002015-02-07T01:04:48.696-05:00jim dooley Beaches, yes - especially Montauk. Babe...jim dooley Beaches, yes - especially Montauk. Babes, I'll give you a draw. Neither place is all that great. Music, Jersey by a mile. Billy Joel is not in the same league as Springsteen. I don't know of any more LI musicians. NJ: Rascals, Fugees, Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston, Blondie, James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, Patti Smith, Smithereens, Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, George Clinton, 1/2 of B-52s, Feelies, Yo La Tengo, Karen O....jjazznolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12056221403030778588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889333447515035362.post-10576737889301904742015-02-06T22:28:50.891-05:002015-02-06T22:28:50.891-05:00Billy Joel 81.5 million albums sold, Bruce 64.5 . ...Billy Joel 81.5 million albums sold, Bruce 64.5 . Enough said as to who was bigger. LI always kicks Jersey butt. Better beaches, better babes, better musiciansAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16090364447923605414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889333447515035362.post-23322144426073237812015-02-06T16:07:26.827-05:002015-02-06T16:07:26.827-05:00First of all Bruce is about ten times bigger than ...First of all Bruce is about ten times bigger than Joel and I am glad they never played in the same band.Springsteen music is so much more than Joel music.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11235110866434881237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889333447515035362.post-6554242565274718352015-02-06T13:14:02.863-05:002015-02-06T13:14:02.863-05:00Thank God they were not. Big Bruce fan but not muc...Thank God they were not. Big Bruce fan but not much of a Joel fan at all. His early music was decent but he totally lost me with Uptown Girl. I did see them together at the HOF show in NYC a few years back which was fun. Not sure what made you think of this kind of random pairing.jjazznolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12056221403030778588noreply@blogger.com