Piano Man is the secondstudio album by American recording artistBilly Joel, released on November 14, 1973, byColumbia Records.[3] The album emerged from legal difficulties with Joel's former label, Family Productions, and ultimately became his breakthrough album.
Thetitle track, a fictionalized retelling of Joel's experiences with people he met as a lounge singer inLos Angeles, peaked atNo. 25 on theUSBillboard Hot 100 andNo. 4 on the Adult Contemporary singles chart. "Travelin' Prayer" and "Worse Comes to Worst" peaked at No. 77 and 80 on the Hot 100, respectively, while the album itself peaked atNo. 27 on theUSBillboard 200. The album was certified gold by theRIAA in 1975, but Joel received only $8,000 inroyalties (US$46,748 in 2024 dollars[4]).[5]
Columbia Records released a two-disc legacy version ofPiano Man in November 2011.[6]
This edition features a somewhat abbreviated live 1972 broadcast from Philadelphia'sPhiladelphia 93.3 WMMR FM radio, capturing early performances by Joel recorded atSigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. This particular broadcast was instrumental in catalyzing Joel's musical career. Following the recording of the show, the live rendition of "Captain Jack" became a staple on the station, ultimately becoming the most requested song in WMMR's history. The burgeoning popularity of this live recording attracted the attention of Columbia Records executives, who subsequently offered Joel a recording contract. Additionally, the broadcast included three tracks—"Long, Long Time", "Josephine", and "Rosalinda"—which were not featured on any of Joel's studio albums.[7]
Rolling Stone mused thatPiano Man "represents a new seriousness and flexibility" for Joel, comparing it to the stylings ofElton John.[13] Reviewing the album,Billboard stated that it shows that Joel has a "fine shot at establishing himself as consistent qualityAM artist with large scale songs and dynamic performing range".[15]
^Rosemary, Horide (May 10, 1975)."Billy Joel –Piano Man"(PDF).Disc. Sutton: IPC Specialist and Professional Press Ltd. p. 20.ISSN0308-1168. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on January 31, 2023. RetrievedApril 19, 2023 – via World Radio History.
^"ビリー・ジョエル-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック" [Highest position and charting weeks forPiano Man: Legacy Edition by Billy Joel].oricon.co.jp (in Japanese).Oricon Style. RetrievedSeptember 7, 2013.
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