Raise your hand if you once owned a "Greatest Hits" CD by Elton John or Billy Joel. Keep it raised if you once got rid of it. Now keep it raised again if you bought it back a few years later.
For nearly 40 years, fans and critics alike have see-sawed on their love for these two adult contemporary piano-rockers, who roll into Philips Arena together on Saturday. The double-billing makes a lot of sense, and invites further comparisons to the up-and-down careers of these two balladeers:
The glorious '70s
Elton: Five multi-platinum albums from 1971-77, including "Madman Across the Water," "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player," and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (seven, if you include his first two greatest hits albums).
Joel: Emerged in 1974 with the album "Piano Man." Five multi-platinum albums from 1973-80, including "The Stranger," "52nd Street" and "Glass Houses." Won 5 Grammys from the years 1978-80.
Coming-out moment
Elton: Announced he was bisexual in a 1976 Rolling Stone article. Shocked the world by marrying Renate Blauel in 1984. (They divorced four years later.)
Joel: Shocked the world by revealing that he was in fact bald.
Jump the shark moment
Elton: Dumping songwriting partner Bernie Taupin in 1977. They reunited two years later, but struggled to reach the early-'70s creative heights.
Joel: Probably the 1983 oldies-flavored album "An Innocent Man," which produced the singles "Uptown Girl" and "Tell Her About It."
Rock-bottom moment
Elton: Some would say it was the remake of "Candle in the Wind" dedicated to Princess Di, but we're going with his 2001 duet with Eminem at the Grammy Awards.
Joel: Three car accidents from 2002-2004, two of which left the singer hospitalized, and all of which left the singer embarrassed.
Best tantrum moment
Elton: There are so many to choose from, but his 2004 trashing of Madonna ("Since when has lip-synching been live?") was great fun.
Joel: Pushed a piano off the stage at a 1987 concert in Russia.
Comeback moment
Elton: Won an Academy Award for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from the 1994 movie "The Lion King." Knighted in 1998.
Joel: Still waiting, but we're all rooting for him!
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