Piano Man [ENHANCED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Billy Joel

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 20, 1998)
• Original Release Date: 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000DCH9
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,797 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Truly a landmark album from the 70's, May 29, 2002

By	Neal C. Reynolds (Indianapolis, Indiana) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In my mind, it was the singers like James Taylor, Neil Diamond, and Billy Joel who shaped the music of the '70's and powerfully influenced pop music of the following generations. I might get argument in my feeling that there is noticeable influence by both of the other singer/writers in Billy Joel's output, and that's no putdown because he still has his individual style, even if flavors of the other two are there.

"Travelin' Prayer" is indeed a strong opening song, one that expresses love for the woman while portraying a feeling that there is a being listening, though he doesn't really know how to talk to that being. "Piano Man" is of course the signature hit. But "You're My Home" and "The Ballad of Billy the Kid" are definitely significant, and "Stop In Nevada" deserves recognition. And the conclusion, "Captain Jack", is up there with the best of the '70's.

If you're at all into the influential music that started in the 70's, you need at least one Billy Joel CD, and there is much more depth in this one then you'll find in a collection that just has his major hits.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ballad Of Billy Joel, December 28, 2000

By	Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Piano Man is the album that helped Billy Joel first grab the public's ear. The title track is an irresistible sing along number that has earned its place as a classic. The song's omnipresence overshadows the fact there are a couple of songs on the album that are even better. "Captain Jack" is a sprawling wide-open number that Mr. Joel sings with the perfect growl. "Worst Comes To Worst" is another tale about a lounge singer with a much more bouncy beat. "Piano Man" has become his signature number, but "The Ballad Of Billy The Kid" should be. Much like the former, the latter tells of his life. Opening up with a cowboy sound, the song shifts and moves back and forth and is one Mr. Joel's best. "You're My Home" is a gift to his wife while "Stop In Nevada" has a nice beat. The album is dragged down by some lesser tunes like "Ain't No Crime", "Travelin' Prayer" and "Somewhere Along The Line".

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Piano Man" was a step higher from "Cold Spring Harbor", July 18, 1999

By A Customer

I think that in "Piano Man" (two years after debut album "Cold Spring Harbor") was an interesting album. In 1973, Billy Joel was trying to flee from a record manager who was raking in Billy Joel's cash. Billy Joel figured that if he left for a while, Artie Ripp (the record manager) would figure that he is not going to get any cash out of Billy Joel. Billy worked at Piano Bar, a small bar in Los Angeles. That job made the song "Piano Man", a true story about Piano Bar. There, he went by the name of Bill Martin (Martin is his middle name). His voice had improved and he continued his wonderful piano playing. From the moving notes of "Piano Man" to the devastating story in "Captain Jack", Billy Joel made a great album.