Billy Joel continues to voice his long-standing concerns regarding unauthorized compilation albums of his music, emphasizing his desire to maintain artistic integrity. He believes these compilations often undermine the artistic intent behind his original albums and potentially dilute his overall musical legacy.
Joel still considers his 2001 instrumental album, 'Fantasies & Delusions,' featuring classical compositions, as his last true album. He envisioned this project, performed by Richard Joo (Hyung-ki Joo), as a valuable resource for music teachers, offering students more substantive musical pieces beyond his popular hits. The album continues to be available as of early 2025.
Despite his preference for 'Fantasies & Delusions' to represent his final studio effort, record labels persist in releasing unauthorized compilations. Joel has humorously mentioned examples like 'The Greatest,' 'The Best,' and 'The Ultimate,' reiterating that he has no creative input or control over these projects.