Single:
Piano Man entered the Australian singles chart* on 2 February 1976 and peaked at #20.
Album:
The song is on Piano Man which entered the Australian albums chart* on 19 August 1974 and peaked at #14.
Songwriter:
Billy Joel
Producer:
Michael Stewart
Record label of Australian release:
CBS
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
Songfacts:
Piano Man was inspired by Joel’s experiences playing at The Executive Room, a piano bar in Los Angeles. He worked there for six months in 1972 after his first solo album, Cold Spring Harbor, tanked. The characters in the song are based on real people Joel encountered while working at The Executive Room.
The “waitress practicing politics” is Elizabeth Weber, who ended up becoming his first wife when Joel married her in 1973 (they divorced in 1982).
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/billy-joel/piano-man
Lyrics:
It′s nine o’clock on a Saturday
The regular crowd shuffles in
There′s an old man sittin’ next to me
Makin’ love to his tonic and gin
Click for full lyrics
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