The Best of Billy Joel

Published by the Hal Leonard Corporation in 1987, this songbook serves as a definitive collection of Billy Joel's most popular compositions from his rise to fame in the 1970s through the mid-1980s. The release came at a time when Joel was solidified as a premier American singer-songwriter, following the success of his album The Bridge and his continued dominance on the Billboard charts. It was created to provide musicians and fans with accurate piano, vocal, and guitar chord arrangements for classics such as Piano Man, New York State of Mind, and Uptown Girl.

The design follows the standard, utilitarian aesthetic of late-twentieth-century educational music publishing. Hal Leonard utilized clean, legible notation aimed at accessibility for both casual hobbyists and professional performers. The collection was well-received by the music community for its focus on preserving the distinct piano-driven arrangements that defined Joel's signature sound, acting as a standard resource for music students and enthusiasts throughout the late 1980s and 1990s.