Maps of Music

Streetlife Serenade (1974)

Where the lyrics of Streetlife Serenade take you, and where it was really made.

Billy Joel made this album mostly with session musicians, and later said he had tried to be Debussy in its title track and failed.

Key places

Where the album was recorded (1974)

Recording site Devonshire Sound Studios — Joel stayed in Los Angeles to record Streetlife Serenade. The album was recorded at Devonshire Sound, North Hollywood, with session musicians doing most of the playing. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Streetlife Serenade: third studio album by American artist Billy Joel
• Released October 11, 1974 by Columbia Records
• Peaked at No. 35 on US album charts; sold more than one million copies
• Live staples in the 1970s: "Root Beer Rag" and "Souvenir"
• Live versions of "Streetlife Serenader" and "Los Angelenos" later appeared on Songs in the Attic (1981)
• Live "The Entertainer" appeared on 12 Gardens Live (2006)

Background

• Mostly session musicians; the last such release until River of Dreams (1993)
• Joel sang and played piano and keyboards, including his first work with the Moog synthesizer
• Had toured clubs and theatres, opening for big acts such as the Beach Boys
• Under pressure to release a new album after Piano Man, with little time to write
• Included the instrumentals "Root Beer Rag" and "The Mexican Connection"

Recording

• Joel stayed in Los Angeles to record the album
• Recorded at Devonshire Sound, North Hollywood
• Released in the UK in July 1975 with no accompanying singles
• 1974 quadraphonic mix on LP and 8-track, encoded in the SQ matrix system
• 2015 Audio Fidelity Super Audio CD reissue with both stereo and quadraphonic mixes

Cover

• Front cover: Brian Hagiwara painting of a hotel and café at 1002 South Gaffy Street, San Pedro, California
• Back cover: barefoot Joel sitting in a chair, looking cross

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

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

Reappraisal

• Portuguese Wikipedia: the album is often considered one of the weakest of Joel's catalogue
• Joel has confirmed his displeasure with the album
• Notable tracks include "Los Angelenos" and the instrumental "Root Beer Rag"
• Portuguese Wikipedia also says the album marks the start of a more confident vocal style for Joel

Records

• Peaked at No. 35 on the US album charts
• Eventually sold more than one million copies
• Spanish Wikipedia: did not enjoy the financial success of its predecessors
• Spanish Wikipedia: marked the start of a cooling of relations with music critics and the music industry

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Joel said he had his wisdom teeth extracted two days before the back cover shoot.
• In 1970s live shows, "Root Beer Rag" and "Souvenir" were frequently played, and "Souvenir" was often the final encore.
• Joel was annoyed that Piano Man was heavily edited for radio, and "The Entertainer" mocks the shortened single versions.
• The UK release came in July 1975 with no accompanying singles.
• A live "The Entertainer" was later included on 12 Gardens Live (2006).

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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