Billy Joel

[masraum]

My wife just texted me. She's out of town with a friend, and apparently, they are at a piano bar and wanted to know what to request. I immediately drew a blank. I wanted to give her something cool and interesting, but I felt like a dork telling her to request something by Billy Joel. Yeah, the first thing that popped into my head was "Piano Man", but I gave her a few other options as well.

I got Billy Joel into my head and had to come sit at the computer to listen to some. I think Billy rocks, great music all around.

I do however feel a bit sorry for the guy playing the piano since I'm sure those guys probably get Billy Joel requests all of the time.

[masraum]

I heard an interview with him once that was pretty interesting.

Piano Man was actually somewhat a biography. Apparently his manager totally screwed him in some sort of contract, so he stopped making music for a while hoping that the guy would eventually let him out of the contract if he wasn't still making money. I guess he eventually went to a big record company who eventually convinced the guy to let him out of the contract. Or something like that.

[Baz]

Only the Good Die Young, New York State of Mind, Movin' Out, and The Ballad of Billy The Kid are a few that I might request.

Piano Man is the most popular I agree.

[Baz]

And Captain Jack....of course!

[DanielDudley]

Billy Joel - The River Of Dreams/ A Hard Day's Night - YouTube

[livi]

Allen Town.

[Super_Dave_D]

The best Billy Joel song IMO

Billy Joel - And So It Goes - YouTube

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by masraum

Piano Man was actually somewhat a biography. Apparently his manager totally screwed him in some sort of contract, so he stopped making music for a while hoping that the guy would eventually let him out of the contract if he wasn't still making money. I guess he eventually went to a big record company who eventually convinced the guy to let him out of the contract. Or something like that.

His 1st solo record was also mastered at the wrong speed. I saw him at Massey Hall during the Piano Man tour in 1974.

Ian

[daepp]

I like the autobiographical content of "Keepin' The Faith".

[stomachmonkey]

Have seen Billy live 10 or so times.

Never disappoints.

It's amazing how he can make a show feel intimate even if it's Madison Square Garden and you are in the nosebleeds.

Catch him when he and Elton John do their double bill. That's a real treat.

[schamp]

A bottle of red, a bottle of white...

[Baz]

[Baz]

52nd Street was an amazing album. As was The Stranger, of course. That era was my favourite for his music, not withstanding his early pieces.

LOVE these demos.....

[rcecale]

Randy

[daepp]

A bottle of red, a bottle of white...

A bottle of reds, a bottle of whites,,,

C'mon - it was the 80's.

[Baz]

Zanzibar is such an iconic BJ song......not the best video but who cares!

[VincentVega]

A friend of mine is the Piano man at a bar in Annapolis, he nails Capt Jack every time.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by VincentVega

A friend of mine is the Piano man at a bar in Annapolis, he nails Capt Jack every time.

Did you know the song was written by Billy while living on Long Island and was looking out his window one day and saw some young people buying heroin in a building across the street?

"Captain Jack" [in the song] is the dealer they meet.

It's a song about young people who get stuck and can't get out.

[gwood]

He wrote "I Love You Just the Way You Are" for his wife, just before he divorced her and married Christie Brinkley.
Now that's an alpha.

[VincentVega]

Did you know the song was written by Billy while living on Long Island and was looking out his window one day and saw some young people buying heroin in a building across the street?

"Captain Jack" [in the song] is the dealer they meet.

It's a song about young people who get stuck and can't get out.

Cool story. I generally dont listen to song lyrics but this is one that I've thought about a few times. Thanks!