Single:
The single entered the Australian singles chart* on 13 February 1978 and peaked at #99.
Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song) was officially the A-side of the Australian release, however a lot of radio and public attention was paid to She’s Always a Woman on the B-side.
Album:
Both songs are on The Stranger which entered the Australian albums chart* on 31 October 1977 and peaked at #2.
Songwriter – both songs:
Billy Joel
Producer – both songs:
Phil Ramone
Record label of Australian release:
CBS
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
She’s Always a Woman
Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)
Wikipedia:
Regarding She’s Always a Woman, Billy Joel has said that he was influenced by Gordon Lightfoot and his mellow acoustic guitar ballads. He stated in an interview that he was attempting to replicate the fingerpicking common in folk guitar music. He accomplishes this by playing arpeggiated triads in the right hand. He also notes that the production was purposely minimal to capture the purity of the tune as a folk song.
Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song) critiques the ambitions of working- and lower-middle-class New Yorkers who strive for material success as evidence of social mobility, working long hours to afford the outward signs of having “made it”. Joel describes characters with blue-collar occupations attempting to distance themselves from their working class roots by acquiring status symbols, such as upgrading from a Chevy to a Cadillac or purchasing a home in Hackensack, New Jersey. He implies these efforts are ultimately futile.
Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/She’s_Always_a_Woman and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movin’Out(Anthony’s_Song)
Lyrics:
She’s Always a Woman
Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)
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