Fantasies & Delusions

Fantasies & Delusions
Studio album by Billy Joel
Released	September 27, 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)

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Fantasies & Delusions is the thirteenth and final studio album composed by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel. It features his longtime friend, the British-Korean pianist Richard Hyung-ki Joo, performing compositions written by him and is his only studio album to contain classical compositions (featuring no pop-rock songs).

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.

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.