Which Billy Joel release immediately preceded The Bridge in his album chronology?

The release immediately preceding The Bridge in Billy Joel’s album chronology was Greatest Hits – Volume I & II.

Released on August 2, 1985, the two-disc compilation gathered recordings from Joel’s first decade of major-label success. It followed An Innocent Man and served as a career-spanning snapshot before Joel returned with The Bridge in 1986.

The compilation was not simply an archival collection: it included two previously unreleased songs, “You’re Only Human (Second Wind)” and “The Night Is Still Young.” Both were also issued as singles, helping connect Joel’s earlier catalog to his next studio era.

A common mix-up is choosing The Nylon Curtain or Songs in the Attic, both important earlier releases. The Nylon Curtain was a 1982 studio album, while Songs in the Attic was a 1981 live collection. Kohuept came after The Bridge, not before it, and was a 1987 compilation of previously unreleased material.