Maps of Music
Piano Man (1973)
Where the lyrics of Piano Man take you, and where it was really made.
Piano Man came out of a legal fight with Joel's former label, and its title track became his breakthrough.
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Where Piano Man was recorded (1973)
Recording site Devonshire Sound Studios — Discogs notes that the album was recorded at Devonshire Sound in North Hollywood, California. The point uses the studio's building-level coordinates, though the exact room is not specified. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: See the map for directions.
Album story
Overview
- Piano Man: second studio album by Billy Joel
- Released 14 November 1973 by Columbia Records
- Emerged from legal difficulties with former label Family Productions
- Became Joel's breakthrough album
- Title track: a fictionalized retelling of Joel's experiences with people he met as a lounge singer in Los Angeles
- Title track peaked at No. 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 4 on the Adult Contemporary singles chart
Background
- Legal dispute with Family Productions shaped the album's release
- UK release was first planned by Philips for May 1974
- UK release actually came in April 1975 through CBS
- Album's US chart peak: No. 27 on the Billboard 200
Recording
- Discogs notes the album was recorded at Devonshire Sound in North Hollywood, California
- Original release arrangements by Michael Omartian, who also played accordion
- Ron Tutt played drums on the first nine tracks
- Ron Malo is credited as engineer
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com
Tracklist
| 1 | Travelin' Prayer | 4:10 |
| 2 | Piano Man | 5:37 |
| 3 | Ain't No Crime | 3:20 |
| 4 | You're My Home | 3:14 |
| 5 | The Ballad of Billy the Kid | 5:35 |
| 6 | Worse Comes to Worst | 3:28 |
| 7 | Stop in Nevada | 3:40 |
| 8 | If I Only Had the Words (To Tell You) | 3:35 |
| 9 | Somewhere Along the Line | 3:17 |
| 10 | Captain Jack | 6:55 |
Sources: musicbrainz.org
Artist
Early life
- Born May 9, 1949 in the Bronx, New York City; raised in Hicksville on Long Island.
- Began piano lessons at age four at his mother's insistence.
- Saw the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show and decided to pursue a music career.
- Played in the Echoes, the Hassles, and Attila before going solo.
Career
- Debut solo album Cold Spring Harbor (1971); signed with Columbia Records in 1972 after a Philadelphia radio broadcast of "Captain Jack".
- Breakthrough with The Stranger (1977), Columbia's best-selling release at that time.
- 52nd Street (1978) won the Grammy for Album of the Year.
- Released 12 self-written studio albums from 1971 to 1993; over 160 million records sold worldwide.
- Performed a long Madison Square Garden residency from 2014 to 2024.
- Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Reception
At release
- Rolling Stone mused that Piano Man "represents a new seriousness and flexibility" for Joel, comparing it to the stylings of Elton John.
- Billboard said the album shows Joel has a "fine shot at establishing himself as consistent quality AM artist with large scale songs and dynamic performing range".
Records
- Album peaked at No. 27 on the US Billboard 200.
- Title track peaked at No. 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
- "Travelin' Prayer" and "Worse Comes to Worst" peaked at No. 77 and 80 on the Hot 100.
- Certified gold by the RIAA in 1975.
- Joel received only $8,000 in royalties (US$47,866 in 2025 dollars).
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Trivia
- The album was first planned for UK release by Philips in May 1974, but it came out there in April 1975 through CBS.
- Joel received only $8,000 in royalties (US$47,866 in 2025 dollars) despite the album's success.
- Discogs credits Ron Malo as engineer on the release.
- Discogs notes that special thanks went to Jon Troy and Lee Colton.
- Discogs notes that some copies carry a "hype sticker" on the shrink wrap.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com
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