I think Billy Joel unwittingly did us kids of the 80s a disservice by introducing himself to us with the hit Uptown Girl (at least in the UK that was where he entered my consciousness age 12-13), which seemed so cheesy, in style and substance.

With more biographical background about the poor son of displaced immigrants, the young amateur boxer playing in bars to support his family and now hanging out with top models, it might have seemed less leeringly cheesy, although the adopted musical style was never going to impress a teenager.

And so as you say, I shut Billy Joel off behind a wall, and only years later discovered the majesty of Piano Man, which is a truly great song.