Piano Man

by

Billy Joel

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Of the three albums released between 1971 and 1975, "Piano Man" is easily the best of Joel's recorded output from that period. It is by far his most cohesive and polished of the three ("Cold Spring Harbor" and the following year's "Streetlife Serenade" are the other two), and it includes some of the best material in his catalogue.

"Travelin' Prayer" is a mock country number set to a fast paced hodown rhythm as Billy, an admitted atheist Jew from Long Island, feably attempts to ask God to look after his loved one "far across the sea." Though it seems like a filler track, it is actually a very solid number, and the structure of the melody and the way it is arranged on record is nothing short of amazing. The blending of the piano with the bass and drums is beautiful, and the banjo playing is awesome.

Next comes the album's title track, which obviously needs very little to be said. Though Billy has done more complex and impressive material both lyrically and melodically, this song easily personifies Billy and is deserevedly his signature song. A true classic with rich lyrical detail and a timeless melody.

"Ain't No Crime" is a gospel rave-up with beautiful harmonies and tough, rollicking rhythm. This song was a major staple of Billy's live set list in the 1970s', and was even more exciting in that conext.

"You're My Home" is a beautiful, atmospheric ballad with great lyrics and some hugely impressive instrumental work. The guitar strumming on the intro is incredibly beautiful and one of the most complex arrangements Billy ever wrote.

"The Ballad Of Billy The Kid" is probably the second or third most well known tune on the album after the title track, an epic tribute to the Old West with fantastic lyrics, a piercing, atmospheric melody and arrangement, and a raw, powerful Billy vocal. I've seen Billy perform this song live three times, but I have yet to hear a version match the unbridled passion and intensity of the studio version.

"Worst Comes To Worst" is another, solid catchy albums that hold sits own against the album's stronger tracks. The lyrics are very clever and Billy's sly vocals adds an extra flair to them.

"Stop In Nevada" is another epic number, a tride and true 1970s' folk rock ballad reminscent of Poco, Bread and various other bands of that ilk. There are many great lines in this song ("With some money in her pocket, she's a rocket on the Fourth Of July"), and the song paints a vivid picture of the longing and detemination present in the 1970s', especially amongst females of the era. Great song.

"If I Only Had The Words" and "Somewhere Along The Line" are perfectly crafted MOR pop ballads, and should've been bigger hits than they were. The latter song sounds especially Elton John influenced, who at the time was the premier rock pianist until Billy hit his stride four years later with "The Stranger."

We come to the album's closing number, "Captain Jack." Ah, how hard it is to put my feelings towards this dark, brooding masterpiece in the word. A darkly atmospheric attack on the decadence of the early 1970s' drug culture post-Vietnam, this song is arguably the best thing Billy ever recorded. With its grim singalong chorus and graphic imagery (lines about masturbation, nose picking and smoking pot), this song is an absolutely chilling experienece that is also a pure crowdpleaser in concert.

"Piano Man" might not be a masterpiece, but it's definitely an exciting look at what was to come for the boy from Hicksville, Long Island.

i don't know, i've had this and the majority of his albums on cassette recorded from vinyl for the longest time, and listening to them recently caused me to get the CD versions to kind of upgrade, but to be honest, it does not sound the same. " cold spring harbour" screwed up as it is still sounds better on vinyl to me. and to be honest i just listened to piano man on CD hours ago and i can't help but feel that all the other instruments have been relegated to the background by the mixer. where before each instrument in "a travelin' prayer" had its own part, similar to a bluegrass band, on this CD version they've all beenmixed into the background where you hear piano and vocals predominantly. i'm sorry but i don't feel that that is what mr. joel was trying to accomplish by this recording. i would love to see for once, someone take an older album and lovingly reproduce, not just the music itself, but the original intent of an artist onto CD so that we not lose the history of some of these recordings which made us love the artists in the first place!!!