Piano Man is the second studio album by American recording artist Billy Joel, released on November 9, 1973, by Columbia Records. The album emerged from legal difficulties with Joel's former label, Family Productions, and ultimately became his first breakthrough album.
The title track, a fictionalized retelling of Joel's experiences with people he met as a lounge singer in Los Angeles, peaked at on the US Billboard Hot 100 and on the Adult Contemporary singles chart. "Travelin' Prayer" and "Worse Comes to Worst" peaked at No. 77 and 80 on the Hot 100, respectively, while the album itself peaked at on the US Billboard 200. The album was certified gold by the RIAA in 1975, but Joel received only $8000 in royalties (US$ in dollars).
Legacy edition
Columbia Records released a two-disc legacy version of Piano Man in November 2011.
This edition included a slightly truncated live 1972 Philadelphia 93.3 WMMR FM radio broadcast of early songs that Joel performed and recorded at the Philadelphia-based Sigma Sound Studios. This radio broadcast was extremely important to the success of Joel's music career because, after the show was recorded, the live recording of "Captain Jack" was played by the station and quickly became "the most requested song in the station's history". Once the popularity of this live recording was known, people working for Columbia Records heard the recording and signed Joel to the label. The radio broadcast included three songs ("Long, Long Time"; "Josephine"; and "Rosalinda") that were never on any of Joel's studio albums.
Track listing
Original release
All songs written by Billy Joel.
2011 Legacy Edition bonus disc
Disc 2: Live at Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1972
"Introduction by Ed Sciaky" – 0:29
"Falling of the Rain" – 2:33
"Intro to Travelin' Prayer" – 0:17
"Travelin' Prayer" – 3:11
"Intro to Billy the Kid" – 0:50
"The Ballad of Billy the Kid" – 5:36
"Intro to She's Got a Way" – 1:03
"She's Got a Way" – 3:08
"Intro to Everybody Loves You Now" – 1:19
"Everybody Loves You Now" – 2:56
"Intro to Nocturne" – 0:59
"Nocturne" – 2:46
"Station ID and Intro to Turn Around" – 1:31
"Turn Around" – 3:26
"Intro to Long, Long Time" – 1:19
"Long, Long Time" – 4:46
"Intro to Captain Jack" – 1:19
"Captain Jack" – 6:56
"Intro to Josephine" – 1:40
"Josephine" – 3:23
"Intro to Rosalinda" – 0:33
"Rosalinda" – 3:03
"Tomorrow Is Today" – 5:11
Personnel
Adapted from the AllMusic credits. Billy Joel – vocals, acoustic and electric pianos, organ, harmonica Michael Omartian – accordion, arrangements (tracks 1-4, 6-10) Jimmie Haskell – arrangements (track 5) Richard Bennett, Larry Carlton, & Dean Parks – guitars Eric Weissberg – banjo, pedal steel guitar Fred Heilbrun – banjo Wilton Felder & Emory Gordy Jr. – bass guitar Ron Tutt – drums (tracks 1–9) Rhys Clark – drums (track 10) Billy Armstrong – violin Laura Creamer, Mark Creamer & Susan Steward – backing vocals
Live at Sigma Sound Studios, April 15, 1972
Billy Joel – piano, harmonica, vocals
Al Hertzberg – acoustic and electric guitars
Larry Russell – bass guitar
Rhys Clark – drums
Dennis Wilen – producer
Production
Michael Stewart – producer
Ron Malo – engineer
Ted Jensen – remastering
Beverly Parker – design
Bill Imhofe – illustration
Reception
Rolling Stone mused that Piano Man "represents a new seriousness and flexibility" for Joel, comparing it to the stylings of Elton John. Reviewing the album, Billboard stated that it shows that Joel has a "fine shot at establishing himself as consistent quality AM artist with large scale songs and dynamic performing range.
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
Billy Joel albums
1973 albums
Columbia Records albums
Albums produced by Michael Stewart (musician) Albums arranged by Michael Omartian Albums arranged by Jimmie Haskell