Piano Man (Legacy Edition)

Billy Joel the struggling musician hit paydirt with the title track, a fictional recounting of his pre-fame days as a piano singer who spent years trying to establish himself. While “Piano Man” and “Captain Jack” are fully realized Joel tunes that sound like the man everyone knows, tracks like “Travelin’ Prayer,” “Ain’t No Crime,” and “The Ballad of Billy the Kid” sound like early-‘70s singer/songwriter productions heavily influenced by Elton John. Joel’s inventive melodies, though, established him as a potential star. This legacy edition includes a live radio concert from Philadelphia’s WMMR on April 15, 1972. It’s the show that landed Joel his label contract. The future hit “She’s Got a Way” is here, along with passionate takes on “Captain Jack,” “Everybody Loves You Now,” and “The Ballad of Billy the Kid.” Three tracks, the bar-band rocker “Josephine,” the ballad “Long, Long Time,” and the compelling portrait “Rosalinda” (not “Rosalinda’s Eyes”), complete this amazing concert.