Billy Joel
12 Gardens Live
Columbia/SonyBMG

The hair may have migrated to his chin, but Billy Joel's vast catalogue has been begging to be revisited for some time now. He's preferred to concentrate on less pop-oriented ventures of late, but his return as the piano man - especially 12 sold-out Madison Square Garden shows in his beloved New York - was obvious live album material.

At two discs, 32 songs and 150 minutes, this is a whole lotta Joel and not for the faint-hearted. With some obvious radio hits missing - Uptown Girl, Tell Her About It and You're Only Human - he favours the less throw-away moments from his career and fans should have a field day with this approach.

The opening duo of Angry Young Man and My Life get things off to a flying start, yet the remainder of the first disc plays at a controlled pace. The mid-set placement of Vienna, New York State Of Mind and The Night Is Still Young slows things as Joel and band deliberately build to the show's finale, but that doesn't stop them slipping in a playful Don't Ask Me Why.

The second disc really gets things moving. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) and An Innocent Man appear early before the sprint to home-base includes A Matter Of Trust, Big Shot, You May Be Right, Only The Good Die Young and Scenes From An Italian Restaurant. It's a killer run of songs and Joel and band sound more and more energised as they play. The age of performer and material is totally irrelevant; these are great versions of fantastic songs.

There are always favourites missed on a live record - the absent Pressure or Easy Money could have given a burst of energy to the first disc - but this is the sound of Billy Joel re-connecting with a wider audience and doing so on his terms.

Wade Howland