Piano Man [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Billy Joel | Format: Audio Cassette

Product Details

• Audio Cassette (October 20, 1998)
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000EJ48
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,014,320 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Billy's Best Pre-"Turnstiles" Effort, October 11, 2008

By 

Anthony Nasti "Tony" (Staten Island, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Piano Man (Audio CD)

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.

7 of 8 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
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This review is from: Piano Man (Audio CD)

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
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This review is from: Piano Man (Audio CD)

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".