1973
1973 · Billy Joel · USA
Piano Man
RockPop 5:39 Landmark Psychedelia & Protest
AlbumPiano Man
LabelColumbia
A semi-autobiographical account of Joel's time playing piano at a Los Angeles bar while his first record deal fell through. The 'real piano man' John is reportedly John Molloy, the bar manager at the Executive Room in Los Angeles.
Musical Significance
Established the archetype of the confessional bar singer as working-class American literary figure. Joel's detailed character portraits — John the real estate novelist, Paul the real estate man — gave pop songwriting a Chekhovian specificity.
Historical Context
Recorded in 1973, during the oil crisis and post-Vietnam malaise. Joel was writing about the quiet desperation of ordinary Americans at a time when American confidence was near its 20th-century nadir.