"River of Dreams" is the twelfth studio album by Billy Joel, released on August 10, 1993. The album marked a shift to a more serious tone compared to Joel's previous work, addressing themes such as trust and enduring love. The lyrics in songs like "A Minor Variation" and "The Great Wall of China" were speculated to be influenced by Joel's legal battles with his former manager and ex-brother-in-law, Frank Weber, who allegedly embezzled millions from him and used questionable accounting practices.
This album is noted as Joel's last rock album to date, with his subsequent work, Fantasies & Delusions (2001), focusing on classical compositions. Since River of Dreams, Joel has released occasional pop/rock singles and continues to perform live.
The album cover features a painting by Joel's then-wife, Christie Brinkley, and was recognized by Rolling Stone in 1993 with the Top Picks award for "The Best Album Cover of the Year". However, in 2024, the same cover was listed by Rolling Stone as one of the worst 50 album covers of all time.
