You’ve likely heard the song many times. However, this live version from 1975 set a new standard and captured the beginning of a very important cultural phenomenon.
If you’ve ever even sat behind a piano, someone has likely asked you to play Billy Joel‘s melancholic anthem, “Piano Man.” It has turned into a staple of popular piano music, becoming all but ubiquitous in piano bars, lounges, and home music rooms. But that wasn’t always the case.
Today, we’re checking out a rare, early performance of the song from Joel’s appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test, a BBC television series that ran from 1971 to 1988. The clip is from May 16, 1975, just a year and a half after it was released as a single on November 2, 1973.
“At the time, [I] was totally shocked that [my record company] wanted to put it out as a single. It’s in 6/8 time, which is a waltz. It’s a long song. And the topic is a bit depressing,” Joel told Today last year. “It didn’t go gold or anything when it came out. But it got a lot of airplay.”
The accolades would come in time: it’s been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and has been preserved in the National Recording Registry for its “cultural, historic, or artistic significance.”
Joel prefaces the song by explaining it’s a true story, unlike some of his other tales. He wrote “Piano Man” based on his experiences as a lounge musician just a few years before, after he moved to Los Angeles from New York City. It’s hard to say what makes this song so perfect: the lyrical imagery, the loping groove, or just Joel’s delivery of both. What is clear is that “Piano Man” is a classic that will stand the test of time.
Follow along with the official score. Play it on your next gig and watch the tips start pouring in!
