– His first #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, poking fun at the changing trends of the era.
Peak: #20 US – New wave tension meets piano paranoia. Memorable video, driving beat.
Peak: #17 US – Blue-collar elegy for Rust Belt America. One of his most socially conscious hits.
If you want to understand his journey, the best way is to look at his hits chronologically. Here is the definitive timeline of Billy Joel’s most iconic singles in the order they hit the charts. The 1970s: Finding the Sound billy joel hits in order
Peak: #3 US – Bouncy, defiant independence anthem. The “I don’t care what you think” track that closed the ’70s strong.
Off Glass Houses , this track showed Joel’s versatility, dabbling in a salsa/Latin pop vibe. It was a Top 20 hit that showed he wasn't afraid to step outside the standard rock box.
Peak: #1 US – History lesson as a frantic rocker. His most famous late-career hit. Endless pop culture references. – His first #1 hit on the Billboard
– A rapid-fire history lesson that became one of the most famous (and often parodied) songs of all time. The 1990s and Beyond: The Final Chapters
A cappella was rare on pop radio, but Joel made it work. Recorded with minimal instrumentation, this ode to 1950s street-corner harmonies became an unexpected hit.
Billy Joel didn’t just write songs; he wrote the soundtrack to American life for three decades. From the smoky piano bars of the early 70s to the stadium-rock anthems of the 80s, the "Piano Man" has a catalog that is staggering in its versatility. While he hasn't released a pop album since 1993’s River of Dreams , his music remains a constant presence on radio waves worldwide. Peak: #17 US – Blue-collar elegy for Rust Belt America
This was the song that crossed him over into the mainstream. Released on The Stranger , this Grammy-winning ballad showed off his softer side. It became his first Top 40 hit (peaking at #3) and proved he could write a love song that felt genuine without being cheesy.
A harmonica-heavy ballad that smoothed out the edges of the rock-heavy previous years. It showed that even after the massive success of An Innocent Man , Joel hadn't lost his touch for the tender moments.
Before he was a household name, "Captain Jack" became a cult hit in the Northeast. A darker, more cynical track about drug use and suburban boredom, it caught the attention of critics and laid the groundwork for his breakthrough. It wasn't a chart-topper, but it was the song that told us Billy Joel wasn't just a piano player—he was a social observer.
– "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" (Live version hit) 1982: The Nylon Curtain – "Pressure," "Allentown"