We recently learned that the great Billy Joel, the Piano Man, has, for the time being, suspended his career to deal with some health issues. We certainly wish Billy all the best and hope that his health issues will be resolved so that he may return to what he does best, making great music.
It’s funny because to this day, I still think of Billy Joel as an artist who was on the young side. I’m not sure why; he put out his first album, “Cold Spring Harbor,” in 1971. The songs I remember best from Mr. Joel are from his earlier years in the business, starting with releases from his albums “Piano Man” (1973) to “The Nylon Curtain” (1982).
I had a heck of a time narrowing this down to six songs. But here, in almost no particular order – more on that in the last selection – are the ones I decided I liked best.
Allentown (1982): An ode to the Rust Belt, this lament brings us a brilliant story of the World War 2 veterans who returned to a small Pennsylvania industrial town, confident of picking up their lives again and prospering, and what happened in the generations that followed. The post-war years proved more difficult, and things didn’t get better for the Boomers; in time, the industrial sectors became, well, the Rust Belt. Everyone alive at the time remembers towns like Allentown, but it took Billy Joel to set their plight to music.
Only The Good Die Young (1977): This was a favorite of my high school years, when I ran around with a pack of scoundrels, trouble-makers, and ne’er-do-wells I called my friends. The funny thing, this same pack of guys are still my friends, even though some of us did quite well over the long haul, and we’re causing a lot less trouble these days. And, of course, we fancied ourselves always to be the not-so-good, and were pretty sure we would live forever. So far, so good.And I do love these lines:
I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints,
The sinners are much more fun.
See Also: Start Your Black Friday Weekend Right With Five Great Songs From the Sixties
Scenes From an Italian Restaurant (1977): I like this beautiful song to a small neighborhood Italian restaurant; it’s a slice of life in an urban neighborhood, the people who patronized the place, the parts of their lives that were tangled up in a favorite neighborhood eating place. It’s great because so many places, from big city neighborhoods to small towns, have places like this where the community gathers.
Goodnight Saigon (1982): This one is for all the veterans of Vietnam, that sad episode where American soldiers were sent into a meat-grinder, shackled with political rules and unreasonable rules of engagement, not allowed to win, then spat on when they came home. Billy didn’t serve himself, but at least he did this song for those who did. When I deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1990-91, I had several Vietnam vets in my platoon, and they were glad to see the U.S. doing that one right: We had a clear mission, we went in and did it, then we went home.Movin’ Out (1977): I’m not sure what I like best about this song. It’s got a peppy beat, but it’s actually a rather cynical commentary on the blue-collar folks who worked long, long hours to afford the houses, cars, and other appurtenances to show they had “made it.”See Also: Start Your Weekend Right With Five Great Fun Rock Tunes From the Early Seventies
And, of course…
Piano Man (1973): This is, in my estimation, not only Billy Joel’s best song, but it was the song that defined him. He is the Piano Man, and the story of a barroom piano player and all the characters, mixed with Billy’s tickling the ivories and his wonderful vocals… Well, this is just the best. That's why I saved this one for last.
Let’s all hoist a glass to Billy, send him our wishes for a speedy recovery, and put on some of his tunes. I’m sure you all have your favorites; the comments, as always, are all yours.
