Joel,Billy - Piano Man-Very Best Of Billy Joel [Import]

Artist:

Joel, Billy

UPC:

828768235928

See Also:

Presley, Elvis Browne, Jackson Holly, Buddy Berry, Chuck

Description:

The title track from Billy Joel`s major label debut, 1973`s PIANO MAN, became a smash hit, and put the singer-songwriter/piano player on the musical map for good. A story-song, the verses consist of character sketches given by the resident musician at a bar-lounge, and these build toward a sweeping, melodically infectious chorus, and a melancholic, carnivalesque refrain. The tune demonstrates Joel`s flair for narrative and lyrical detail, as well as his unmistakable knack for a catchy hook--qualities that would be the bedrock of his success through the 1970s and `80s.
Joel was still developing his trademark style here, and while the rest of the album doesn`t quite measure up to the strength of "Piano Man," it fits quite neatly into the rubric of the one-man folk-rock artists of the era (namely Elton John, but also acoustic guitar-wielding troubadours like Harry Chapin). Still, there is evidence of Joel`s signature tendencies throughout, like the tender love ballad "You`re My Home" and the closer, "Captain Jack," a character-heavy story-song on the order of the title song. On the whole, PIANO MAN is an important step in Joel`s development, and contains the musical and lyrical seeds that would sprout to full flower on albums like THE STRANGER, and subsequently catapult the artist to singer-songwriter stardom.

Album Information

Release Date:

06/01/2010

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Rock & Pop

Subgenre:

Singer/Songwriter

Label:

Sony UK

Catalog Number:

6823592

Original Release Year:

2004

# of Discs:

1

SPARS Coding:

DDD

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

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