CSPC: Billy Joel Popularity Analysis

Physical Singles Sales

By this point, it should be clear that the piano man isn’t only about albums sales. Far from that. If for someone like him it is almost imperative -as explained- to analyze his whole catalogue of records, one of the biggest avenues to go through is the physical singles.

With a very strong collection of massive hit singles, Billy Joel has sold over 36 million of them in physical form.

As a reminder, the weighting is done with a 10 to 3 ratio between one album and one physical single.

Cold Spring Harbor (1972) – 60,000 equivalent albums

She’s Got A Way – 200,000

Piano Man (1973) – 330,000 equivalent albums

Piano Man – 500,000
Worse Come To Worst, Travelin’ Prayer & The Ballad Of Billy The Kid – 600,000

Streetlife Serenade (1974) – 150,000 equivalent albums

The Entertainer – 500,000

Turnstiles (1976) – 240,000 equivalent albums

Say Goodbye To Hollywood & James – 800,000

The Stranger (1977) – 1,665,000 equivalent albums

Just The Way You Are – 2,500,000
Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song) – 800,000
Only The Good Die Young – 600,000
She’s Always A Woman – 900,000
The Stranger – 750,000

52nd Street (1978) – 1,410,000 equivalent albums

My Life – 2,400,000
Big Shot & Until The Night – 800,000
Honesty – 1,500,000

Glass Houses (1980) – 1,380,000 equivalent albums

All For Leyna &  Sometimes A Fantasy – 500,000
You May Be Right – 1,000,000
It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me – 2,300,000
Don’t Ask Me Why – 800,000

The Nylon Curtain (1982) – 450,000 equivalent albums

Pressure & Goodnight Saigon – 900,000
Allentown – 600,000

An Innocent Man (1983) – 2,265,000 equivalent albums

Tell Her About It – 1,750,000
Uptown Girl – 3,500,000
An Innocent Man – 1,000,000
The Longest Time – 600,000
Leave A Tender Moment Alone, This Night & Keeping The Faith – 700,000

The Bridge (1986) – 615,000 equivalent albums

Modern Woman – 600,000
A Matter Of Trust – 750,000
This Is The Time & Baby Grand – 700,000

Storm Front (1989) – 915,000 equivalent albums

We Didn’t Start The Fire – 1,700,000
I Go To Extremes – 650,000
Leningrad, The Downeaster Alexa, That’s Not Her Style, And So It Goes & Shameless – 700,000

River Of Dreams (1993) – 840,000 equivalent albums

The River Of Dreams – 2,300,000
All About Soul, No Man’s Land & Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) – 500,000

Orphan Album – 750,000 equivalent albums

You’re Only Woman (Second Wind) – 800,000
The Night Is Still Young – 500,000
All Shook Up – 200,000
Other physical singles – 1,000,000