# The million-selling Billy Joel albums he never wanted released: “They’ll put out anything these days”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-million-selling-billy-joel-albums-he-never-wanted-released-theyll-put-out-anything-these-days/
- Published: 2026-10-28T22:30:01+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-29T02:05:52+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/billy-joel-albums-sold-millions-wished-they-never-came-out/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Billy Joel says he did not authorise many greatest-hits compilations.
- He considers *Fantasies & Delusions* his last album.
- He says labels continue to issue collections under his name.

## Summary

Billy Joel has criticised unauthorised greatest-hits compilations bearing his name, saying record labels keep releasing collections he did not approve. His comments highlight how artists’ back catalogues can continue to be repackaged and sold even when they are no longer regularly making albums.

Joel said he considers *Fantasies & Delusions*, his 2001 collection of classical piano pieces, his last album, and described later compilations with titles such as *The Essential* and *The Ultimate* as label decisions. The article distinguishes these from releases that include new material he approved, such as his earlier greatest-hits album and his cover of Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love”. It also notes that he has released the single “Turn the Lights Back On”.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.