Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
Encyclopedia
"Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" is a song from Billy Joel
's 1977 album The Stranger
.
Although never released as a single
, it has become one of Joel's most celebrated compositions among fans, appearing on most of his compilation album
s. The song is effectively a medley of three individual songs which are fused together. In an interview, Joel cites the second side of The Beatles
album Abbey Road as one of the main influences behind it. The song starts with a gentle melodic piano
ballad
, which sets the scene of two old classmates in an Italian
restaurant
, moving on to a triumphant and uptempo jazz
-influenced piece in the middle, with a clarinet and saxophone solo, which then segues into a rock and roll
section (which Joel refers to as "The Ballad of Brenda and Eddie").
On May 6, 1977, before the song's official release, Joel premiered the song at Long Island University C.W. Post Campus
which is located on Long Island, New York. He dedicated the song to Christiano's restaurant which is located in Syosset, New York
.
At 7 minutes and 37 seconds, it is the longest of Joel's studio cuts.
After years of speculation about which restaurant exactly inspired the song, Joel stated on The Stranger 30th anniversary edition DVD interview, that the song was written about a restaurant called Fontana di Trevi, which was located across from Carnegie Hall
in Manhattan. While Joel had a series of concerts there in June 1977, he frequented the restaurant. The song's famous signature line – A bottle of white, a bottle of red, perhaps a bottle of rosé instead?" was actually spoken to him by a waiter once at Fontana di Trevi while he was ordering. He does also state that it was a combination of places, but Fontana di Trevi was on his mind while he was writing the song.
In the Broadway production Movin' Out
, the lyrics are changed slightly to have the Brenda and Eddie story take place in 1965 instead of 1975.
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
's 1977 album The Stranger
The Stranger (album)
The Stranger is the fifth studio album by musician Billy Joel, released in 1977 . While his four previous albums had been moderate chart successes, this was his breakthrough album, and is generally regarded by critics as his magnum opus, spending six weeks at #2 in the U.S. album charts...
.
Although never released as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, it has become one of Joel's most celebrated compositions among fans, appearing on most of his compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s. The song is effectively a medley of three individual songs which are fused together. In an interview, Joel cites the second side of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
album Abbey Road as one of the main influences behind it. The song starts with a gentle melodic piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
, which sets the scene of two old classmates in an Italian
Italian cuisine
Italian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes, with roots as far back as the 4th century BCE. Italian cuisine in itself takes heavy influences, including Etruscan, ancient Greek, ancient Roman, Byzantine, Jewish and Arab cuisines...
restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
, moving on to a triumphant and uptempo jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
-influenced piece in the middle, with a clarinet and saxophone solo, which then segues into a rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
section (which Joel refers to as "The Ballad of Brenda and Eddie").
On May 6, 1977, before the song's official release, Joel premiered the song at Long Island University C.W. Post Campus
Long Island University C.W. Post Campus
The C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University is a private institution of higher education located in Brookville in Nassau County, New York, United States...
which is located on Long Island, New York. He dedicated the song to Christiano's restaurant which is located in Syosset, New York
Syosset, New York
Syosset is a hamlet in Nassau County, New York, in the northeastern section of Town of Oyster Bay near the North Shore of Long Island. The population was 18,829 at the 2010 census...
.
At 7 minutes and 37 seconds, it is the longest of Joel's studio cuts.
After years of speculation about which restaurant exactly inspired the song, Joel stated on The Stranger 30th anniversary edition DVD interview, that the song was written about a restaurant called Fontana di Trevi, which was located across from Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in Manhattan. While Joel had a series of concerts there in June 1977, he frequented the restaurant. The song's famous signature line – A bottle of white, a bottle of red, perhaps a bottle of rosé instead?" was actually spoken to him by a waiter once at Fontana di Trevi while he was ordering. He does also state that it was a combination of places, but Fontana di Trevi was on his mind while he was writing the song.
In the Broadway production Movin' Out
Movin' Out (musical)
Movin' Out is a jukebox musical featuring the songs of Billy Joel.Conceived by Twyla Tharp, the musical tells the story of a generation of American youth growing up on Long Island during the 1960s and their experiences with the Vietnam War...
, the lyrics are changed slightly to have the Brenda and Eddie story take place in 1965 instead of 1975.