Kawai Piano Prices: Billy Joel Hits Piano Play-Along Vol.62 Bk/Cd (Hal Leonard Piano Play-Along) [Paperback] Review

Billy Joel Hits Piano Play-Along Vol.62 Bk/Cd [Paperback]

I am a pianist and I like to play along with midi files, karaoke files and other backing tracks. This item was a dream for me because I am a Billy Joel Superfan and thought, "oh boy, I have found professionally done backing tracks to play along with that will be on a par with the cd's, minus piano and vocals of course."
Yes it is technically true but the backing tracks are woefully lacking in many ways and I would venture to say that professional midi files are a better bet when played through a decent synth. The most irritating thing of all is that there is a digital piano playing along throughout so you end up playing in unison with a digital piano in the piano only spots. Take Baby Grand for example, it has a wonderful piano only intro but instead of just a click track, you play along with a digital piano. Also, most irritating, at the end of baby grand, the digital piano starts noodling around on a blues scale like crazy. The point to these was supposed to be that the user became the piano player.. I do not like that concept. Same with Goodnight my Angel and the rest. The backing track does sound pretty nice in parts but it has that annoying digital piano track throughout that you basically end up shadowing... Not so sure I would have purchased knowing how they are now but I am not regretful either. edit: The New York State of Mind backing track is just atrocious, the intro is not included in the book or backing track although I suppose you could press play when you finished the intro or re record with metronome etc.

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Product Description:
Your favorite sheet music comes to life with the innovative Piano Play-Along series! With these book/CD collections, piano and keyboard players can practice and perform with professional-sounding accompaniments. Packed with cream-of-the-crop songs, the books feature new engravings, with a separate vocal staff, plus guitar frames, so players and their friends can sing or strum along. The CDs feature two tracks for each tune: a full performance for listening, and a separate backing track that lets players take the lead on keyboard. The high-quality, sound-alike accompaniments exactly match the printed music. 8 songs: The Entertainer * Honesty * Just the Way You Are * The Longest Time * Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) * My Life * New York State of Mind * She's Got a Way.