Billy Joel Piano Man Early 1973 Pitman Pressing Vinyl LP G+

Description: Joel's second album, released in November of 1973, and the first of Joel's albums to be released by Columbia Records, who would release all of Joel's subsequent albums. Ultimately became his first breakthrough album. The title track, "Piano Man," a fictionalized retelling of Joel's experiences with people he met as a lounge singer in Los Angeles, peaked at #25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the Adult Contemporary singles chart. "Travelin' Prayer" and "Worse Comes to Worst" peaked at #77 and #80 on the Hot 100, respectively, while the album itself peaked at #27 on the US Billboard 200. The album was certified gold by the RIAA in 1975, but Joel received only $8,000 in royalties (US$45,299 in 2023 dollars). He's right - he must be crazy! :-) This album also contains Joel's anti-drug sone, "Captain Jack," which never charted beuase it was not released at a single -dumb, Columbia; dumb! - although it received (and still receives) a lot of FM airplay. It's one of my very favorite Billy Joel songs. Joel wrote "Captain Jack" in late 1971, while sitting in his apartment in Oyster Bay, Long Island, looking out the window, trying to find inspiration for a song. Across the street was a housing project, and he observed suburban teenagers going into the project and obtaining heroin from a dealer known as "Captain Jack". He says, "What's so horrible about an affluent young white teenager's life that he's got to shoot heroin? It's really a song about what I consider to be a pathetic loser kind of lifestyle. I've been accused of, 'Oh, this song promotes drug use and masturbation.' No, no, no. Listen to the song. This guy is a loser." Jacket has only moderate wear; a bit more on spine, but still legible. Original inner sleeve missing. Housed in plain with sleeve. A couple surface scratches. A side titled "One Side"B side titled "Another Side" Track A1 incorrectly listed as "Travellin' Prayer" on label (and missing sleeve). No barcode Matrix Side A Label: AL 32544Matrix Side B Label: BL 32544 Cat. #: KC 32544 (spine, front and back jacket and labels) RUNOUTS (with additional stamping documented)Runout Side A etched: \ PAL 32544-2B o Sx [Artisan drum logo stamped]Runout Side B etched: PBL 32544-2A Az PRICED TO SELL! If you live in or near the Boston/Providence/Hartford triangle, email me here and we can meet in a public place to review the lot. Happy to deliver it halfway to you, within reason.

Price: 8.99 USD

Location: West Boylston, Massachusetts

End Time: 2025-02-07T23:24:04.000Z

Shipping Cost: 4.63 USD