December 30, 2024

1974 - May: Billy Joel ”Piano Man”

47 minutes

When you think of rock music anchored by piano, there are only a few standouts. But outside of Elton John, perhaps the best known rock pianist is New York's Billy Joel. Born in the Bronx and growing up in Long Island, Joel got his start early (at age 4) with piano lessons and dropped out of high school to pursue music full time. After joining a couple of short-lived bands, Joel started his solo career and released his debut album, "Cold Spring Harbor" in 1971.

It was his second album which would be remembered as his true nationwide debut. Piano Man was his first release from Columbia Records, and came out while Joel was still dealing with legal issues from his former label. Many of the tracks exhibit a story telling approach common in the early 70's. Although Joel was in his mid-20's when the album was released, it had a maturity about it that made it do well both on the pop and adult contemporary charts.

Despite this being his breakthrough album, Joel would struggle to find success in his follow-up albums. He was in danger of being dropped by the record label when he hit it big once again in 1977 with "The Stranger." From that time on, Billy Joel would be an A-list performer, capping off a long career with a decade-long residency at Madison Square Garden.

Wayne takes us through this breakthrough album for this week's podcast.

Piano Man

The title track was written while Billy Joel was working at The Executive Room piano bar in Los Angeles, and is loosely based on the patrons that came through the bar told from the perspective of the piano player. It would become both his signature song and synonymous with Joel. "Son, can you play me a memory...I'm not really sure how it goes, but it's sad, and it's sweet, and I knew it complete when I wore a younger man's clothes."

You're My Home

This song was the B-side of the "Piano Man" single, so it did get some air play. The song has a country feel, and was written for Joel's first wife. He could not afford to buy her anything while in California between record deals, and he wrote it as a Valentine's present.

The Ballad of Billy the Kid

If the last song was country, this next song is the Western. This is an epic that pays tribute to a fictionalized Billy the Kid, telling a story of an outlaw in the Wild West. The last verse switches to modern times, with Billy Joel taking the place of Billy the Kid, looking forward to new exploits.

Captain Jack

An early live radio performance of this song is what got the attention of Columbia Records in the first place. Joel wrote the song when living in Oyster Bay, Long Island, in an apartment from which he could see drug deals going down. "Captain Jack" is the local drug dealer, and the song reflects the sadness that comes from a life in the grip of heroin.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Gypsy Woman by Bill Dean (from the motion picture "The Lords of Flatbush")

This movie starred Henry Winkler and Sylvester Stallone before they became famous for playing The Fonz and Rocky respectively.

STAFF PICKS:

For the Love of Money by the O'Jays

Bruce starts the staff picks with a well known funk tune that went to number 9 on the Billboard Singles chart. This song takes its title from I Timothy 6:10, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in thier greediness, and pierced themselves through." It also was Donald Trump's WWE entrance music.

Benny and the Jets by Elton John

Lynch brings us another piano artist, singing about a fictional glam-rock band. "Oh, but they're weird and they're wonderful. Oh, Bennie, she's really keen. She's got electric boots, a mohair suit, you know I read it in a magazine." The lyrics are told from the perspective of a fan at a concert.

Rikki Don't Lose that Number by Steely Dan

Rob's staff pick is the lead track to Steely Dan's third album, "Pretzel Logic." It is also their most commercially successful single, peaking at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The inspiration for this jazz-infused rock song was a New York writer and artist named Rikki Ducornet. Future Eagles alum Timothy B. Schmit provides backing vocals.

Bad Company by Bad Company

Wayne features a song that is from the self-titled album AND the self-titled group. The inspiration for this song was a Clint Eastwood western, and it is both a lament and a celebration. "Rebel souls, deserters we are called. Chose a gun, and threw away the sun...".

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield

We close out to a song that was both a hit at the time, and would be immortalized in the horror film "The Exorcist."

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

4.9

4747 ratings