Excellent price, I'd spring for that.

Rick A.

It's $14.99 at Amazon, guys:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FNGAD8/?tag=imwan-20

How is the sound quality on disc 1 compared to previous releases?

This is what I would like to know also. My copy of Piano Man is a 35DP Japan for US. I never purchased the Ted Jensen remaster of this title, because I wasn't crazy about the sound of the 2 or 3 later titles that I did buy. Would I be better off picking up the MoFi version? (How does that one compare to the 35DP?)

The Mofi is excellent. The emphasis on the Mofi is on the midrange instead of the ultra clarity of the Jensen.

I haven't listened to the new Jensen remaster. I heard the new Hits CD and thought he took the EQ and levels a bit too far for the music. It also sounded like the newer versions didn't quite have the same stereo width as the older remasters.

Can anyone provide some commentary on the sound quality of the Complete Albums Collection set?

Anyone actually heard the 2 disc set yet?

I've listened to the first four CDs in the "Complete Albums Collection" so far, and I'm very happy with the sound quality. I had been very unhappy with those late-90s remasters, especially "The Stranger." That one sounded very tinny compared to the original CD pressing, which to my ears sounded like a straight CD transfer of the LP I owned since the late-70s. I've been happy with all of those original CDs, but if the rest of the box set continues with the quality of the first four, I will most likely get rid of the originals (and save myself some shelf space).

Also, I want to reiterate how nice the box & contents are. Two thick booklets, one with lyrics/album credits and one with an interview (that could have been more thorough). All replica sleeves come with inner sleeves that match the original LPs. So far I couldn't be more pleased with this collection.

What artwork is on the discs? Does it replicate the old Columbia vinyl labels?

All of the discs have the standard red Columbia CD labels that they use for most of their discs. I don't recall the Billy Joel LP's having any special labels, so I wasn't expecting anything on the CDs.

I'm curious, in particular, to "Cold Spring Harbor" ..
Is the remaster from the "original" album ?
A couple of songs on the original had extra instrumentation, that was subsequently omitted from the re-release in the 80's ...

Also, does anyone know for certain if Sony will re-release deluxe editions of the albums individually ?

I can't say for sure, but I believe "Cold Spring Harbor" is just a cleaned up remaster of the album that was reissued in the early 80s. I don't think it's the "original" album with extended versions.

I'd also like to know if they're planning deluxe editions of all of his albums, which was implied when this box set & reissue series was first announced last year. Keeping my fingers crossed. Even though I've got the box set, I will definitely buy the deluxe editions too.

So.....we've got this box set....the possibility of deluxe remasters for each album....and MoFi announcing that they are doing more SACDs for several albums. Am I missing anything?

I'm still waiting for someone who bought the USA 2 CD legacy edition to comment on the sound quality! Didn't anyone here buy it?

To answer my own question.............. I finally picked it up on ebay). Fortunately the mastering is MUCH better than the Legacy box of the Stranger, which i found loud, bright, strident etc.; to the point where I've kept my 1998 for the main album & the box for the live stuff.

I actually haven't decided for certain which version of Piano Man i prefer yet. The new one is louder, but Joel's voice is also much clearer with less distortion. The sound staging is different on the 2, again not sure yet which I prefer. I think somewhere right in between the 1998 & 2011 would be perfect! Wish I had the time to just sit in front of the stereo & enjoy myself while figuring these things out. No such luck.......... If you don't have the 1998, this would be a no brainer with the 2nd disc. Don't get me wrong, i could live with either version. Wasn't there an MFSL of this also? That would be interesting to add to the table!

That's what I'm looking for....a comparison of the originals to the Legacy's to the box set to the Mofi. Honestly, it's weird that all this is taking place at the same time. I'm more concerned with sound quality that the "extras" in the Legacy sets.

All I can add is that I'm very pleased with the sound of Piano Man, and pretty much all the remasters, on the Complete Albums Collection box set. They're much better than any of the 90s remasters (the ones with added CD-Rom content) that I've heard, and sound pretty faithful to the original vinyl. Since I already have the Sigma live recording on a boot CD, I've decided to pass on the Legacy edition of Piano Man, but will most likely be on board for future Legacy Editions, if/when they're released.

I've been tempted to go for the Complete Albums box but the one thing that scares me is that it includes the last remaster of The Stranger (from the 30th Anniversary box) which got mostly negative reviews for it's sound quality. It makes me nervous about the sound quality of the rest of the set.

I wonder if they'd send me an autographed one if I ordered it on Christmas?

Mobile Fidelity will be releasing a Stereo Hybrid SACD version of this along with several other titles in 2012. They are going to do the early Bob Dylan catalog as well.

If I buy the MFSL, it would be at least the 6th time I've bought this album.