Billy Joel explained why he quit writing songs after his 1993 album "River of Dreams" in a YouTube interview. The 77-year-old musician said he didn't want to "dilute his legacy" by putting out music past his prime, noting he had heard artists who keep releasing records that "trail off" in quality. He said he recognized he didn't have the same motivation and decided to stop. Joel said he felt "done" after writing his 12th studio album, noting the Beatles also had 12 albums. He admitted he didn't want to lock himself in a cave to write anymore. Joel also shared that he recently couldn't help a songwriter from a new band, telling him he couldn't do it anymore and that songwriting can drive you crazy.
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