Perhaps it is an exaggeration to call a clean CD transfer of the original version of "Cold Spring Harbor" - complete with the long "You Can Make Me Free," among other slight, but notable, differences known to us obsessive fans - the holy grail for Billy Joel fans. But if it is, it's not much of an exaggeration. After all, there has been nothing but shoddy budget-line repackagings, usually adorned with extraneous post-Joel overdubs, with each holding the promise of being the one that gets it right. This, out of all the fly-by-night releases, is the closest yet, transferring a vinyl copy of the original "Cold Spring Harbor" to CD. Make no mistake, this is the original album we've been waiting for on disc. But why, Judy, why did they take such a noisy, snap-crackle-pop record as their master? Surely, somebody involved in this project would have had a pristine pressing of this version of "Cold Spring Harbor," or at least a clean needle. Apparently, that is too much to wish for, since this is a dirty, hissy, noisy transfer - and it didn't need to be. Eventually, somebody will get this release right. Here's to hoping that Sony/Legacy decides to make it part of their Legacy series as a double-disc set. But until then, this is a fairly acceptable substitute, providing you know what you're getting into before you plunk your money down.

I spent 17 years living in California. The southern half of the state is Hollywood liberal Democrat and the northern half is logging industry Republican. I predict Ahnult will win and do the state a lot of good. Anybody who can arrive in America speaking no English and with only $27 in his pocket and bootstrap his way to success gets my vote. I'm sending him my recommendation to break California into two separate states, North California and South California. It would be like North and South Dakota, only with people added.

With the precedent of celebrity governors set by California, New York can follow the trend, but do it better - because it's always better in New York. I'm waiting for Billy Joel to announce his candidacy for Governor of New York. Billy calls me on a regular basis for advice, and I have a great platform for him to run on.

First, it's really time for us to stop pretending that New York and Long Island are in anyway related to Upstate New York. They have cows, we have traffic. They have air, we have air that a person can see! Their big claim to fame is Niagara Falls - like this compares to Broadway - you can watch Niagara Falls on the Discovery Channel, spray your face with a mister and it's just like being there. Broadway must be experienced and it’s ever changing. Go to Broadway, see a new show every time, go to Niagara, see water every time. I say, cut them loose and make them get a new name. They can be Algonquinia. We will keep the name New York because we have everything printed up that way and there’s more of us than them. If they rebel, we'll cut off their highways at the choke points above the city and starve them into submission.

Next, Governor Joel can finally establish Peconic County by disbanding the notoriously corrupt Suffolk County Legislature that prevented Peconic County from becoming a reality. I believe Suffolk is the only county in the US to have it's own legislature. Why? Because it's much easier to organize deals and payoffs if everybody is in one building. Of course, I realize there are some honest politicians, the tooth fairy told me so.

So, once Governor Joel has cut Algonquinia loose and set up Peconic County, he can move to quality of life issues. First, there should be a Billy Joel, Paul Simon and Friends radio station so we can find decent music easily. Next, let the Shinnecock build that casino. Saves us all a trip to Atlantic City. Besides, if anybody deserves reparations, it's the Indians. Nothing will deliver reparations quicker and with no middleman, than a roulette wheel.

For East Enders, Governor Joel can build a beautiful scenic bridge from Orient Point to Montauk. That ends all crossover traffic for Shelter Island and links the forks with a spectacular drive over water. If they can link the Florida Keys, they can link the ends of Long Island. The Fork Union Bridge, would be a blessing for all the construction trucks trying to get from north to south quickly. The ferry guys could just tell them to take the FU.

For mid-islanders, Hizzoner could import fresh land from Antarctica and fill in the Great South Bay thereby joining Long Island and Fire Island. The expansion with greatly relieve mid-island urban congestion. The Great South Bay is too polluted now to be any good and nobody is using the land in Antarctica, I think it’s excellent use of available resources. Of course the gay population on Fire Island would be distressed at the invasion of an aberrant lifestyle. Still, I think we can all learn to play nice.

Next, Hizzoner could bring in new industry. Olympia Beer just shut down its brewery in Olympia, Washington. All that beer has nowhere to go. We could give Long Island a brewery, bring in a lot of new jobs. All the customers are here. We could call it Long Island Ale, "the beer that will re-Orient your point."

Last, Governor Joel could rebuild the Twin Towers, taller and bigger than before. Why? Because we can...

I say, Vote for Billy Joel, Governor of the real New York!

Billy Joel, with twenty-something wannabe-chef/girlfriend Kate Lee and a few friends in tow, headed to East Hampton Airport yesterday morning to take a chartered jet to Boston.

The "Piano Man" - who drives and sails, but apparently doesn't pilot - said he was going to Beantown to pick-up 17 year-old daughter Alexa and bring her home.

Looking with disgust at the overcast sky, Joel griped, "The weather's been lousy. I can't wait 'til September."

Seems as if "Uptown Girl" Christie Brinkley remains down on her backstreet ex, Billy Joel - something that was oh-so obvious the other day at Sonsie, where the two ended up after applauding daughter Alexa's moment in the spotlight at a Berklee College of Music summer camp concert.

There was Brinkley and her brood - hubby Peter Cook and kiddies Jack and Sailor - looking like models in a Town & Country ad as they enjoyed a post-concert nosh at one of the café tables. Meanwhile, the "Piano Man" - "looking very angry," we're told - was inside brooding at the bar and belting down bubbly.

Alec Baldwin will emcee, and the cast of "Movin' Out" will perform Monday as part of "A US Open Salute to New York," the live opening-night telecast of the two-week-long, Queens-based tennis tournament.

While nothing has been announced publicly, a representative for Baldwin in Los Angeles yesterday confirmed the Massapequa native would host the event, which will air beginning at 7:00pm on the USA network.

In addition, cast members from the Broadway musical "Movin' Out" will perform three songs during the broadcast.

Tony-nominated pianist Michael Cavanaugh will open the ceremony with "New York State of Mind," which normally serves as the show's curtain call number.

Later in the ceremony, Cavanaugh will be joined by Tony-nominated dancers Elizabeth Parkinson and Keith Roberts for performances of "Uptown Girl" and "Shameless."

The fluctuating fortunes of the metro area's long-suffering seafarers have inspired a cascade of music over the centuries, from anonymous sea chanteys to a pop hit by Billy Joel - 1989's anthem "The Downeaster 'Alexa'," about the captain of a Long Island fishing boat.

So don't be blown away if the name of a familiar town creeps into a verse of the historic sea chanteys lilting above the lobster-munching and clam-slurping at this weekend's 12th annual Seafood Festival and Craft Fair in West Sayville.

The event - sponsored by the independent, not-for-profit Long Island Maritime Museum to spotlight the region's musicians, artists and dwindling maritime industry - is expected to draw at least 15,000 seafood and music lovers to the museum on West Avenue. Hours are 10:00am to 5:00pm tomorrow and Sunday.

Don't expect Nemo the clownfish to make an appearance, but Joel, a Hicksville native, might show up to give his blessing on Sunday around 5:00pm, when cast and company members from his Twyla Tharp-directed Broadway show, "Movin' Out," take a day off from Manhattan's Richard Rodgers Theatre to fill the festival stage with an act called "Billy Joel's Broadway 'Movin' Out' Band."

Live lobsters, clam chowder, fresh steamers, hardshell and softshell crabs, and fish and chips made with New England cod are on the al fresco menu offered under the museum's gazebo. All seafood will be reasonably priced, promoters say.

Even if you're allergic to seafood, the music, maritime exhibits and 100 arts and crafts vendors should be enough to draw you out of your shell. Crafts will include duck decoys, fine art photos of Long Island beaches and lighthouses, and decorative, hand-painted buoys suitable for giving the front doorstep a little seaside panache.

On both days, nautically flavored tunes, mixed with domestic and imported rock and roll, will be pretty much nonstop on the museum grounds, which occupy 12 grassy acres of shorefront property along the Great South Bay.

The West Sayville version of "Movin' Out" features Michael Cavanaugh, who earned a Tony nomination as the "Piano Man"; Tommy Byrnes, a Massapequa native who is Joel's longtime music director and a consultant on "Movin' Out"; and John Scarpula, who plays sax and percussion in the Broadway production.

...Billy Joel and ex-wife Christie Brinkley making like proud parents at their daughter Alexa's "Open Mike Night" performance at the Virgin Megastore in Boston. Alexa performed one song as a final exam for the summer course she's taking at the Berklee College of Music. Mom documented it on the camcorder....