"Levine of ""Variety"" called the song ""lyrically expansive"" and ""dark."" Ron Rosenbaum of ""Slate"", in a very negative review of Joel's work, criticized ""Captain Jack,"" summarizing the song as, ""Loser dresses up in poseur clothes and masturbates and shoots up heroin and is an all-around phony in the eyes of the songwriter who is so, so superior to him."" Joel made his first television appearance in the wake of the release of ""Piano Man"", on the syndicated ""Don Kirshner's Rock Concert"" program, in a performance recorded live in Chicago in March 1974. ""Captain Jack"" was one of the three songs"
"Dueling pianos Dueling pianos (also known simply as ""sing-along"") is a form of entertainment, usually on stage with two grand pianos, each played by a professional player who sings and entertains; humor and audience participation are prevalent. Usually these types of piano bars have substantial sound systems, and most of the songs performed are rock and roll, ""classic rock"", Top 40, R&B, or country, played primarily by request. The modern format originated in late 1986 at Alley Cats in Dallas, Texas, and was based on the old-style dueling pianos still found at Pat O'Brien's Bar in New Orleans. Literal dueling"
"as one piano player will teach the crowd ""sign language"" that accompanies the song, then bringing up an audience member to demonstrate. Video Example of Dueling Pianos, ""The Devil Went Down To Georgia"" Commonly requested songs at a dueling piano bar can include almost any genre, and are generally accompanied by a monetary tip. Examples: Many of the songs requested do not fall into the typical ""piano bar"" category, and many dueling piano players pride themselves on their ability to perform songs that are generally not considered as such, like those from hard rock and rap genres. Dueling piano players"
"work against each other, but rather to gain audience participation with singing and clapping. This is widely accepted as the current incarnation of dueling pianos/sing-along. A typical dueling pianos show normally features two to four piano players. They can work in teams throughout the night, taking audience requested songs. Generally, tips are expected when a song request is made, and priority may be given to a song with a larger denomination bill. Upon a tip, the players will often play the fight song of whatever college is requested too, which often results in bidding wars between alumni and students of"
"then, and less well known lounge singers have often been ridiculed as dinosaurs of past eras and parodied for their smarmy delivery of standards. In any event, these lounge singers, perhaps performing in a hotel or cocktail bar, are usually accompanied by one or two other musicians, and they favor cover songs composed by others, especially pop standards, many deriving from the days of Tin Pan Alley. Many well-known performers got their start as lounge singers and musicians. Although he claims not to have worked for very long, Billy Joel worked as a lounge musician and penned the song ""Piano"
"his new songs with various members of Mama Lion. Neil invited friend and fellow label artist Billy Joel to the studio to play on some songs. At the time Joel was performing in a downtown Los Angeles bar under the name Bill Martin in an effort to continue playing live, while hiding from Ripp and his label. On the second of two nights that Joel joined Neil in the studio they recorded Joel's ""Piano Man"" for the first time. Neil gave Joel the tape of the recording and it was used the next day to get Billy his recording contract"
"come from varied backgrounds, including previous solo piano bar players and keyboardists from various bands. Currently, there are between 300 - 400 dedicated dueling piano players in the US. As the number of dueling piano clubs increases, the demand remains steady for these entertainers. Piano bar Dueling pianos Dueling pianos (also known simply as ""sing-along"") is a form of entertainment, usually on stage with two grand pianos, each played by a professional player who sings and entertains; humor and audience participation are prevalent. Usually these types of piano bars have substantial sound systems, and most of the songs performed are"
"metal"" speed. In addition to the violin, Parton's backing instruments include banjo, dobro, mandolin, guitar and bass guitar. Travelin' Prayer ""Travelin' Prayer"" is a single written and performed by singer Billy Joel, and released as the 3rd single from his 1973 album ""Piano Man"". The song is described as an urgent, banjo-fueled gem. It reached number #77 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #34 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1974. It was a slightly bigger hit in Canada, where it reached #61. The country-flavored song has been covered by both Earl Scruggs and Dolly Parton. Parton's version is particularly"
"lived in Los Angeles for three years with his first wife. Since he needed work to pay the bills, but could not use his better known name, he worked at the Executive Room bar as a piano player using the name ""Bill Martin"" (Joel's full name is William Martin Joel). Joel has stated that all of the characters depicted in the song were based on real people. ""John at the bar"" was really the bartender who worked during Joel's shift at the piano bar. ""Paul is a real estate novelist"" refers to a real estate agent named Paul who would"
"released as the third single from the album ""Glass Houses"" and later included on ""Greatest Hits Volume 2"". Don't Ask Me Why (Billy Joel song) ""Don't Ask Me Why"" is a Billy Joel song released in 1980. The track contains all acoustic and Latin percussion instruments performing in an Afro-Cuban rhythmic style. An eclectic, instrumental ""Latin Ballroom"" piano solo, played over the bridge section after the second verse, is also featured in part of the song; Joel states that the mix for the midsection includes ""fifteen pianos overdubbed on top of each other."" The song spent two weeks at number"
"favorite Billy Joel song. Producer Phil Ramone has stated that the song's symbolism ""resonates with many people—especially musicians."" ""Goodnight Saigon"" is regularly featured in Joel's concerts and was included on the live albums ""Kontsert"", ""12 Gardens Live"" and """". It has also been included on several compilation albums, including ""Greatest Hits"", """", ""The Ultimate Collection"", ""The Essential Billy Joel"", """" and ""My Lives"". A shortened version of ""Goodnight Saigon"" was sung by Will Ferrell in a Saturday Night Live sketch, on May 16, 2009, a sketch that also featured cameos by Green Day, Norm Macdonald, Maya Rudolph, Amy Poehler, Tom"
"Piano Man (album) 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 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 Nos. 77 and 80 on the Hot 100, respectively, while the album itself peaked"
"where he usually allows the audience to sing the chorus in place of him. In 2016, the Library of Congress selected ""Piano Man"" for preservation in the National Recording Registry for its ""cultural, historic, or artistic significance."" ""Piano Man"" is a fictionalized retelling of Joel's own experience as a piano-lounge singer for six months in 1972–73 at the now defunct Executive Room bar in the Wilshire district of Los Angeles. In a talk on ""Inside the Actors Studio"", Joel said that he had to get away from New York due to a conflict with his then recording company and hence"
"Scenes from an Italian Restaurant ""Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"" is a song from Billy Joel's 1977 album ""The Stranger"". Although never released as a single, it has become one of Joel's most celebrated compositions among fans; it appears on most of his compilation albums and is a live favorite. In an interview, Joel cites the second side of The Beatles' album ""Abbey Road"" as one of its primary musical influences. The song is effectively a medley of three distinct pieces fused into one: ""Italian Restaurant"" begins as a gentle, melodic piano ballad, depicting a scene of two old classmates"
"a regular Bechstein player. When Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics listed his Bechstein piano for auction, he named Bob Dylan as one of the musicians who had played the piano. The Bechstein concert grand at London's Trident Studios, over a century old and much sought-after for its sound, became one of the most frequently recorded instruments in rock history. The piano can be heard on The Beatles' ""Hey Jude,"" Elton John's ""Your Song,"" George Harrison's ""All Things Must Pass,"" David Bowie's ""Life on Mars?,"" Lou Reed's ""Perfect Day,"" Queen's ""Bohemian Rhapsody,"" Carly Simon's ""You're So Vain,"" Nilsson's ""Without You,"" and"
"Don't Ask Me Why (Billy Joel song) ""Don't Ask Me Why"" is a Billy Joel song released in 1980. The track contains all acoustic and Latin percussion instruments performing in an Afro-Cuban rhythmic style. An eclectic, instrumental ""Latin Ballroom"" piano solo, played over the bridge section after the second verse, is also featured in part of the song; Joel states that the mix for the midsection includes ""fifteen pianos overdubbed on top of each other."" The song spent two weeks at number one on the Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at number nineteen on the ""Billboard"" Hot 100. It was"
"Orleans. Players at this club started redefining the style of dueling pianos by playing more contemporary rock and roll music, coupled with humorous bits that involved lyric substitutions and audience participation. These ""bits"" would become commonplace at many dueling piano clubs over the years, as a staple of the industry. From there, many dueling piano clubs and chains opened, and there are currently well over 200 different clubs across the United States, and even more in other countries. The name of the concept has also evolved to be called ""sing-along"" since the goal of the players is not generally to"
"Billy Paul Paul Williams (December 1, 1934 – April 24, 2016), known professionally as Billy Paul, was a Grammy Award-winning American soul singer, known for his 1972 #1 single, ""Me and Mrs. Jones"", as well as the 1973 album and single ""War of the Gods"" which blends his more conventional pop, soul, and funk styles with electronic and psychedelic influences. He was one of the many artists associated with the Philadelphia soul sound created by Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Thom Bell. Paul was identified by his diverse vocal style which ranged from mellow and soulful to low and raspy."
"Coliseum album was the first to feature a complete concert from the original band. However, the album wasn't released until 26 years later. The band was touring in support of their album Tenth at the time, and the recording features the songs ""It Takes Time"" and ""Cattle Drive"" from that release as well as classics such as ""Heard It in a Love Song"", ""Searchin' for a Rainbow"" and ""Can't You See"". Billy Joel has a ""retired number"" banner hanging from the rafters, along with those of Islander greats, to commemorate his many sold-out Coliseum shows. His ""retired number"" is 69."
"the audience choose between it and ""Just the Way You Are,"" ""Vienna"" is most often the winning contender. The song was featured in an episode of the TV show ""Taxi"", and was prominently showcased later on in the 2004 teenage comedy film ""13 Going on 30"". Joel has cited ""Scenes From an Italian Restaurant"" and ""Vienna"" as his favorite and 5th favorite songs that he's written, respectively. All songs written and composed by Billy Joel. Songs © 1977 except ""Everybody Has a Dream"" © 1971 1: The Stranger - Just The Way You Are 2: Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) -"
"2009 album 'Uncase'd'. Alan Cumming has included this song on his latest album ""Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs: Live At The Cafe Carlyle."". He sings it in memory of his grandfather, Tommy Darling. Goodnight Saigon ""Goodnight Saigon"" is a song written by Billy Joel, originally appearing on his 1982 album ""The Nylon Curtain"", about the Vietnam War. It depicts the situation and attitude of United States Marines beginning with their military training on Parris Island and then into different aspects of Vietnam combat. The theme of ""Goodnight Saigon"" is the poor treatment Vietnam War veterans received. The lyrics are about"
"CD or mp3 format. The single was released in other countries as a 3:39 version, namely in Australia, the Netherlands, the UK (7"" promo). The official music video for this single uses an alternate vocal track, different from the album and single releases. Sometimes a Fantasy ""Sometimes a Fantasy"" is a song by Billy Joel released as the last single from his album ""Glass Houses"". The single peaked at #36 on the US ""Billboard"" Hot 100. The song starts with Joel dialing a number on a telephone (which he is depicted doing on the single cover). The lyrics are about"
"cities around the U.S. and Canada. On December 3, 2013, it was announced that Joel would become a franchise of Madison Square Garden, playing one concert a month indefinitely, starting with a date on January 27, 2014. On January 7, 2014, the Billy Joel in Concert tour began. The tour started in the Amway Center (in Orlando, Florida) and he performed several cover songs such as Elton John's ""Your Song"", Billy Preston's ""You Are So Beautiful"" (in tribute to Joe Cocker), The Beatles' ""With a Little Help from My Friends"", ""Can't Buy Me Love"", and ""When I'm 64"", Robert Burns'"
"Gees and Billy Joel. Gonzales chose to sing on the album. Gonzalas' album ""Ivory Tower"" (produced by Boyz Noise) appeared on the !Earshot National Top 50 Chart in 2010. His song ""Never Stop"", from the album was one of his better known tunes, and the opening piano tune was featured on Apple Inc.'s worldwide advertising campaign for the iPad2. Apple adapted the tune for electric guitar. In 2013, Chilly Gonzales won an Album of the Year Grammy Award for his work on Daft Punk's ""Random Access Memories"". On 18 May 2009, at the , Paris, he set a world record"
"Sometimes a Fantasy ""Sometimes a Fantasy"" is a song by Billy Joel released as the last single from his album ""Glass Houses"". The single peaked at #36 on the US ""Billboard"" Hot 100. The song starts with Joel dialing a number on a telephone (which he is depicted doing on the single cover). The lyrics are about a sexually frustrated man who tries to convince his significant other to have phone sex. He explains that he is lonely since they are far away from each other (which is implied by the fact that his phone call is ""long distance""). The"
"the Midwest, and beyond. In 2001, he began producing under the alias, ""Thee Werq'n B!tches"". Under this name, Joel perhaps became best known for his remixes of gay camp classics. Some of these included: Liza Minnelli - ""Cabaret (song)"", Dolly Parton - ""9 to 5 (Dolly Parton song)"", Bette Davis - ""I've Written A Letter To Daddy"" (from What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962 film)), and Olivia Newton-John - ""Xanadu (song)"". Many of these have become sensations in their own right. This was never more evident than when Joel received the highly coveted award of ""Gayest Thing on the"
"the time, Family Productions, following the poor commercial performance of the album. Various different characters, including a bartender named John and a real-estate novelist named Paul, are introduced from Joel's perspective as he describes them, and are all based on real-life individuals that he encountered at the bar. Joel's first major hit and his signature song, ""Piano Man"" peaked at #25 on the ""Billboard"" Hot 100 chart in April 1974. Following Joel's breakthrough as a popular musician with the release of ""The Stranger"", it became one of his most well-known songs. It is now a highlight of Joel's live shows,"
"the bass guitarist on Joel's breakthrough Sigma Sound Studios radio concert broadcast on Philadelphia's WMMR-FM on April 5, 1972 (in which Joel introduced him as ""Larry Larue""). Music writer Jonathan Takiff described the ensemble as being a ""take-no prisoners touring band"". The Sigma performance included the Joel songs ""Travelin' Prayer"", ""The Ballad of Billy the Kid"", and ""Captain Jack"". The recording of the latter became the most requested song in the radio station's history and its popularity is credited with bringing Joel to the attention of personnel at Columbia Records, the record company that ultimately signed him. Studio recordings of"
"album's 40th anniversary, a picture-disc vinyl rerelease of ""The Stranger"" with newly-remastered audio was released by Brookville Records on October 20th. Many of the songs from the album went on to become staples in Joel's repertoire. Though never released as a single, ""Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"" is a staple of his set of live shows, named by Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield as his equivalent to Bruce Springsteen's Jungleland. Joel stated in an interview that ""I don't think I could do a show without performing that song."" ""Vienna"" has also become a popular part of his live set; when letting"
"Pressure (Billy Joel song) ""Pressure"" is a synthesizer-driven song from 1982 by Billy Joel about the pressure of creating and the pressure of being a provider. The song was a single from the album ""The Nylon Curtain"". In ""Night School"", a show airing on MTV in 1982 that ran roughly a half-hour long, in which he answers questions posed by audience members, Billy Joel reveals that the pressure he was talking about in the song was something along the lines of writing pressure and pressure to provide. The PBS children's TV series ""Sesame Street"" and New York PBS affiliate WNET"
"Zanzibar (Billy Joel song) ""Zanzibar"" is a song written by Billy Joel that first appeared on his 1978 album ""52nd Street"". It has also appeared on several live albums. It is particularly notable for the jazz trumpet breaks played by Freddie Hubbard. The themes of ""Zanzibar"" include love of sports, love of alcohol and the singer's attempt to pick up a waitress. According to producer Phil Ramone, Joel had written the music and had decided he liked the title ""Zanzibar"" for the piece, but had not figured out what to say about Zanzibar. Hearing the music conjured up for Ramone"
"in the Los Angeles music scene included his stint as the MC at The Troubadour for the legendary Monday night talent showcases. In conjunction with his partner Matt Kramer, the two introduced or previewed many artists who have become mainstays in the music world including Tom Waits, Rikki Lee Jones, Karla Bonoff, Billy Vera and Gail Davies, among many others. Today, Joel resides in Seattle and is a familiar face as a multi-instrument accompanist at Northwest concerts, in California, Kerrville and elsewhere. He still regularly adds his slide guitar, harmonica and clarinet playing to the music of Bonnie Raitt, Little"
"9 and No. 34, respectively. ""Greatest Hits"" was highly successful and it has since been certified double diamond by the RIAA, with over 11.5 million copies (23 million units) sold. It is one of the best-selling albums in American music history, according to the RIAA. Coinciding with the ""Greatest Hits"" album release, Joel released a two-volume ""Video Album"" that was a compilation of the promotional videos he had recorded from 1977 to the present time. Along with videos for the new singles off the ""Greatest Hits"" album, Joel also recorded a video for his first hit, ""Piano Man"", for this"