Fantasies & Delusions

Fantasies & Delusions
Studio album by Billy Joel
Released	October 2, 2001
Recorded	June 1999–2001
Genre	Classical
Length	76:17
Label	Sony Classical, Columbia
Producer	Steve Epstein
Billy Joel chronology
The Ultimate Collection (2000) Fantasies & Delusions (2001) The Essential Billy Joel (2001)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Rolling Stone	[2]

Fantasies & Delusions is the thirteenth and final studio album composed by Billy Joel featuring the British-Korean pianist Richard Hyung-ki Joo performing compositions written by the American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, a longtime friend of his. If regarded as a Billy Joel project (Joel composed all the material, although he did not produce Fantasies & Delusions or perform on it), it is Joel's thirteenth and final album to date, and the only album of his containing classical compositions. Joel's previous album-length project was 1993's River of Dreams.

Fantasies & Delusions was originally recorded at Cove City Sound Studios, Glen Cove, New York with help from long time production coordinator Bill Zampino and Richie Cannata; later on, the album was re-recorded in Vienna, Austria for final release.

It was Joel's 19th album to chart on the Billboard 200, reaching No. 83 in October 2001. As of 2018, it is the last studio album composed by Joel.

Track listing

All songs composed by Billy Joel.

1. Opus 3. Reverie ("Villa d'Este") – 9:31
2. Opus 2. Waltz # 1 ("Nunley's Carousel") – 6:58
3. Opus 7. Aria ("Grand Canal") – 11:08
4. Opus 6. Invention in C Minor – 1:04
5. Opus 1. Soliloquy ("On a Separation") – 11:26
6. Opus 8. Suite for Piano ("Star-Crossed"): I. Innamorato – 7:46
7. Opus 8. Suite for Piano ("Star-Crossed"): II. Sorbetto – 1:30
8. Opus 8. Suite for Piano ("Star-Crossed"): III. Delusion – 3:37
9. Opus 5. Waltz # 2 ("Steinway Hall") – 7:00
10. Opus 9. Waltz # 3 ("For Lola") – 3:28
11. Opus 4. Fantasy ("Film Noir") – 8:56
12. Opus 10. Air ("Dublinesque") – 3:46

"Symphonic Fantasies for Piano and Orchestra"

In 2003, pianist Jeffrey Biegel approached Joel about a commission for a piano concerto. As an alternative, Joel suggested that Biegel create a piano concerto using pieces from Fantasies and Delusions. Biegel did so, using four of the pieces: "Fantasy (Film Noir)", "Sorbetto", "Reverie (Villa d'Este)", and "Nunley's Carousel Waltz". After Biegel had written the piano part, Nashville composer Philip Keveren composed the orchestral parts. The work, titled "Symphonic Fantasies for Piano and Orchestra", premiered on June 24, 2006 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Biegel was the pianist, accompanied by the Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra led by Stuart Malina.

References