Streetlife Serenade
Encyclopedia
Streetlife Serenade is Billy Joel
's third album, and his second with Columbia Records
.
Streetlife Serenade was released in 1974 (see 1974 in music
), after the hit songs "Piano Man
" and "Captain Jack
" from the album Piano Man
. The album did not enjoy the financial success of its predecessor, and marked the beginning of Joel's frosty relationship with music critics and the music industry in general. In the song "The Entertainer", Joel mocks the callousness of executives who care little about a musician's artistry or even feelings (even references the fact that many radio stations at the time would only play a severely radio edited version of "Piano Man
"):
"The Entertainer" reached #34 on the US Singles Chart.
The album contains two songs that featured in many of Joel's live shows. He would regularly open the program with "The Mexican Connection" (One of the album's two instrumentals; "Root Beer Rag" was the other) and finish with the short piano-only (and encore ready) ballad "Souvenir."
Singles
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 third album, and his second with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
.
Streetlife Serenade was released in 1974 (see 1974 in music
1974 in music
-January–April:*January 3 – Bob Dylan and The Band kick off their 40-date concert tour at Chicago Stadium. It's Dylan's first time on the road since 1966.*January 17...
), after the hit songs "Piano Man
Piano Man (song)
"Piano Man" was Billy Joel's first major hit and his signature song. "Piano Man" was released as a single in November 1st, 1973 and has been on several albums...
" and "Captain Jack
Captain Jack (song)
"Captain Jack" is a song by Billy Joel featured on his 1973 album Piano Man with a live version on his 1981 album Songs in the Attic. Joel originally wrote the song, an anti-drug song, in 1971, while observing some people from his window obtaining drugs from a dealer named "Captain Jack".It is the...
" from the album Piano Man
Piano Man (album)
Piano Man is a rock album by Billy Joel, released in 1973. Piano Man, Joel's second album and his first with Columbia Records, emerged out of legal difficulties with his former label, Family Productions, and became his breakthrough album...
. The album did not enjoy the financial success of its predecessor, and marked the beginning of Joel's frosty relationship with music critics and the music industry in general. In the song "The Entertainer", Joel mocks the callousness of executives who care little about a musician's artistry or even feelings (even references the fact that many radio stations at the time would only play a severely radio edited version of "Piano Man
Piano Man (song)
"Piano Man" was Billy Joel's first major hit and his signature song. "Piano Man" was released as a single in November 1st, 1973 and has been on several albums...
"):
- "I am the entertainer, I've come to do my show/You've heard my latest record spin on the radio/Ah, it took me years to write it, they were the best years of my life/It was a beautiful song but it ran too long/If you're gonna have a hit you gotta make it fit/So they cut it down to 3:05"
"The Entertainer" reached #34 on the US Singles Chart.
The album contains two songs that featured in many of Joel's live shows. He would regularly open the program with "The Mexican Connection" (One of the album's two instrumentals; "Root Beer Rag" was the other) and finish with the short piano-only (and encore ready) ballad "Souvenir."
Track listing
All songs by Billy Joel.- "Streetlife Serenader" – 5:17
- "Los Angelenos" – 3:41
- "The Great Suburban Showdown" – 3:44
- "Root Beer RagRoot Beer Rag"Root Beer Rag" is a song from Billy Joel's 1974 album Streetlife Serenade. An instrumental track in a very fast ragtime style, it was later released as the B-side of the "Honesty" single, and a live version was included with the DVD that was part of the 30th anniversary re-release of The...
" (InstrumentalInstrumentalAn instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
) – 2:59 - "Roberta" – 4:32
- "The EntertainerThe Entertainer (song)"The Entertainer" is a single by singer Billy Joel released as the only single from his 1974 album Streetlife Serenade. The song peaked at #34 on the US charts, a Top 40 hit for Joel that year...
" – 3:48 - "Last of the Big Time Spenders" – 4:34
- "Weekend Song" – 3:29
- "Souvenir" – 2:00
- "The Mexican Connection" (Instrumental) – 3:37
Personnel
- Billy Joel – harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, Moog synthesizerMoog synthesizerMoog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled... - Richard BennettRichard Bennett (guitarist)Richard Bennett is a touring sideman, session veteran, and record producer. As a touring sideman, he performed with Neil Diamond for 17 years, and Mark Knopfler since 1994. As a session player, he has worked with artists ranging from Billy Joel and Barbra Streisand to Rodney Crowell and Vince Gill...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Joe Clayton – conductor, congaCongaThe conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
- Gary Dalton – guitar
- Mike Deasey – guitar
- Don Evans – guitar
- Wilton FelderWilton FelderWilton Lewis Felder is both a saxophone and bass player, and is best known as a founding member of The Crusaders, initially called the Jazz Crusaders. Felder, Wayne Henderson, Joe Sample, and Stix Hooper founded the group while in high school in Houston...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, keyboards - Emory Gordy, Jr.Emory Gordy, Jr.Emory Gordy, Jr., born December 25, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, is an American musician and music producer. Since 1989, he has been married to country music artist Patty Loveless. Gordy was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1992...
– bass - Al Hertzberg – guitar
- Larry KnechtelLarry KnechtelLawrence William "Larry" Knechtel was an American keyboard player and bassist, best known for his work as a session musician with such artists as Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, The Beach Boys, The Mamas & the Papas, The Partridge Family, The Doors, and Elvis Presley, and as a member of the 1970s...
– bass - Art MunsonArt MunsonArt Munson is an American recording artist, musician. He has also been involved as a songwriter and record producer. Munson began his musical career playing with Dick Dale and the Del-Tones and later began touring with the Righteous Brothers and Paul Williams....
– guitar - Raj Rathor – guitar
- William Smith – organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
- Michael Stewart– guitar
- Ronnie Tutt – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Tom Whitehorse – banjoBanjoIn the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
, pedal steel
Production
- Producer: Michael Stewart
- Engineer: Ron Malo
- Digital remastering: Joseph M. Palmaccio. Erroneously credited to Ted JensenTed JensenTed Jensen is an American recording engineer. Jensen is the chief mastering engineer at Sterling Sound. He started his career as a mastering engineer in 1976 and is currently the most active Mastering Engineer in the industry...
- Arrangers: Michael Stewart, Billy Joel
- Tape research: John Naatjes
- Art direction: Ron Coro
- Design: Ron Coro
- Photography: Peter Cunningham, Jim MarshallJim MarshallJim Marshall may refer to:*Jim Marshall , Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives*Jim E...
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Pop Albums | 35 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | "The Entertainer" | Pop Singles | 34 |