*RARE* Piano Man (1973)

[elkaluzi]

this is the real video. I watched back in may 1974.I was young back in El salvador

[youthinkunoe89]

Imagine being at the bar and hearing billy Joel before the song came famous those people had to know they were hearing something amazing

[Somtaw420]

If it's on YouTube, is it really rare any more?

[Beechcraft746]

his voice has changed so much in the last 38 years since this

[danielasabri]

Hermoso tema!!!!!!!!!!

[GeorgeLurex]

Yes, he sings a half of tone higher

[SallieSimpson]

Or he could just be singing in a higher key. Not sure...

[SallieSimpson]

Is it just me, or is there something off about the sound on this video? His voice sounds slightly different than usual.

[jrnewbs]

@SallieSimpson

Thats because he sung this when he was 14 or 15

[SallieSimpson]

@jrnewbs Really?  He doesn't sound that young. And I thought he wrote this in his early 20s. Hm...

[BufordIV4]

@jrnewbs No... Billy Joel was born in 1949 and this song came out in 1973. making him 24

[thejseppishow]

@jrnewbs he looks a bit older than 14 or 15 here . id say early 20s

[Surfer041]

@thejseppishow He is 23 or 24, his birthday is May 9, 1949.

[xxxPurplexGirlxxx]

@jrnewbs No, he would have been 24 here.

[CatFlashBlue]

The best songs are the ones that blend happiness and sadness perfectly.

[reeferhead1]

6 kids what a fuckin whore

[penguinlove66]

This is the good stuff right here.

[209thompson]

good song

[fucksake7]

this is not rare -- it s the video

[stack150]

thumbs up if u heard this song on a radio station and thought there was a woman singing along with him lol.

[3spoon]

playing under the name of Bill Martin in the piano bars

[berniesbargreece]

Wonderful..... a real diamond.

[paulwiffen]

The ultimate comment on playing the piano in bars and restaurants, it rings so true especially when you done thousands of these gigs yourself as I have!

Genius

[Thetrollmaster2000]

38 years.. wow

[gretna2008fc]

Reminds me of the Fern Lodge in Northern Ireland. Great bar and pick up joint. As in video sad and lonley people, i was one.

[beaniegrl420]

Thank you for posting this! I wish there were still good bars like this I could find more easily...

[Jurassicparkz08]

Am I the only person that will dislike videos I like just to mess up the dislike comments?

[randomguy7244]

@Jurassicparkz08 lol

[ihatecolereynolds]

@Jurassicparkz08 Nope. I do it too.

[dogboner2001]

All those cigs over the years really deepend his voice apparently...

[theratfarmer]

SaturnTrack you have a problem with this video? who is this?

[videodaniel8945]

Im a baby and i love this!

[xxxJamiroguyxxx]

This is much better than the official video. In my own opinion anyways.

[maru369]

@xxxJamiroguyxxx Totally agree.

[jonkheere1]

Amazing find!

Not a Milion Miles from the official video.

Billy Joel. The ultimate piano Man.

[cmf43211]

@MrRichardKranium Billy Joel sucks...BUT YOU SWALLOW!

[MrRichardKranium]

@cmf43211 I think your on the wrong site if your looking for a date sport. But I'm sure you'll find what your looking for hanging around listening to this music. lol

[thejseppishow]

@cmf43211 then wft u watchin this video ya faggot



[willprich]

i've been looking for this version for years.

amazing voice

[TheGriple]

one of the best things about joel is that no mater if he is live or recorded he always sopunds the same. amazing truky amaxing. he is great

[Hypophora]

People that place blanket judgments on all music or art created "today" (today being a rather vague synecdoche for the past decade or so) are either overgeneralizing or are prey to irrational nostalgia. The number of truly talented musicians and composers working does not change with the times. What does change is the current "popular" paradigm. But it is folly to declare that some entire genre or indeed era of art is terrible based on exposure to the most prevalent examples of it.

[chris9986]

Hey do another one ... (Can't get much better than that!!!)

[Adam54545454]

this is the one where the record companies sped it up by accident right? his voice sounds a bit higher than usual

[amazed66]

@Adam54545454 no that was on his first album Cold Spring Harbour and this was from the Piano Man album.

I suppose the higher voice is a mix of all of being younger, the sound quality in those days and from Billy himself signing in a higher key and in the style of the folky sounding singer/songwriters popular around that time.

[Adam54545454]

@amazed66 aha, thanks :)

[usatrooper77]

Looks like he just shaved the 'stache

[JeffHendrie]

What ever happened to the days of antidisestablishmentintarianis­m, mini-busses, bright cloths, and the constant threat of nuclear war hovering/wantering/driving/...­you get the point, all around? (and saying "STICK IT TO THE MAAN, MAN!")

[11theEagle]

it's been my favorite song since i was a kid,and still is today.Billy Joel great 4ever

[SHADYASEM]

AND THE WAITRESS IS PRACTICING POLITICS AS THE BUSINESS MAN SLOWLY GETS STONED 3:26 - 3:32 LOL good song though

[bushwacker2008]

this is a classic, I was a youthful youngun back in 73.

I remember this one well. I gave a jazz man a book about Billy Joel.

A great book about a great piano man.

[petergutzmer]

Great Video Archive! I've been looking for an old Saturday Nite Live clip of Joel, dressed in a black leather jacket, hammering at the keys. Probably from the early 70's. Can't remember the song, but can't find the video either. Can you help?

[acromatis]

An entire train car on their way to the Rally to Restore Sanity singing Piano Man by Billy Joel. Truly an awesome video, it's the most recent upload on my page. You should really watch it.

[eliminaciongausiana]

mmm esta cancion por alguna razon me hace extrañar algo, y lo mas cura es que no se ni que

[Wissy96]

LOVE IT!!

[PupuTheClown]

I thought this song came out in the 80s.

[o0DiscoInfernoRox0o]

@PupuTheClown good, i'm not the only one

[bpabustan]

@PupuTheClown Probably you saw the 1986 video of the song so you thought it came out in the 80s. But the sound of the song is very much of its time. Folk rock not far from much of the mainstream stuff at that time. That being said, this song will surpass us all. As long as there are people who can't cry their problems and frustrations out, there will always be a little bar in your neighborhood and a piano man who will do the crying for you. I am a pro musician and I know how it is.

[jamesoleruster]

Well it ain't so rare anymore!

[UnBobleavable]

@SaturnTrack aww shit hes multiplying!

[fenderjaguar1985]

@SaturnTrack Thanks for further promoting him. I'm sure while he sleeps in his really warm millionaire bed he thanks all the morons like yourself that use his name in every fucking video on youtube. There is no such thing as bad publicity so you and the 39 other retards should hang your hat knowing you just helped the music industry decide they are on the right track by promoting him and some band that could have made a change just lost their chance because that asshole is generating comments.

[massampage]

@SaturnTrack I have to say this is the only decent and amusing example for the number of dislikes for a youtube video, all the other ones are just fucking dumb.

[erestor629]

@SaturnTrack The other 2 dislikes are his imaginary friends.....  :P

[kovy274hart]

i love this song and the scene is classic

[StefanKulic]

No fake here

[gjamieson78]

@JoelFan: The backing track is the same as the album version, but the lead vocal is clearly an alternate. Do you know anything about it?

[theratfarmer]

this is the best version. was this when he went into hiding?

[molinares21]

sing us a song you re the piano man...sing us a song tonight.......Well, we're all in the mood for a melody And you've got us feelin' alright.

[jjzepplin]

I REMEMBER THIS SONG PLAYIN IN A BAR IN TRUCKEE WHEN I WAS ABOUT FOUR. SNOWIN OUTSIDE AND BEING SERVED SHIRLEY TEMPLES. I MISS MY DAD...... AND THAT BAR AND THAT TIME.

[sawadee084]

Everybody looks so fun ♪♪ in PV

[HollywoodPmpls]

If a video is on youtube it is not rare.

[MrUnderdog1970]

I was 3 then, I just turned 40 yesterday. This music has such a timeless quality that I wish that I possessed. I have 6 kids now and they all appreciate Billy Joel.

[crazymarine1991]

@MrUnderdog1970 my mom and dad raised me with this type of music im 20 now and i still jam out to joel.

[iLeGiTxGaMingx]

notice how there are no dislikes

[TobyHalicki089]

This is actually the rare early music video for Piano Man that was actually filmed at the Executive Lounge where Billy Joel at the time.

[04adgray]

sounds a bit like a girl still good song

[natchi212]

the song is a half step higher....thats why his voice sounds like its sped up...

[graf5zeppelin]

man, i wish i could play piano like that. Awesome song.

[Bonkoz]

Amazing. HTF did they have the foresight in 1973 to shoot a promo film clip for this? Really, really well done, especially for back then. I'm a HUGE Billy fan and have never seen this before. Thanx for posting! :-)

[solariis888]

before there was MTV... lol

[Booga76]

i was born in 76...but i used to listen this when i was 10 :) ...lovely song ...

[StefanKulic]

"Sing us a song, you are piano man....

[marcojimenez59]

Billy... forever.

[TimOaks]

Nothing like this today. One of the best.

[shortstack3331]

this song was always the last song of our school dances.. lots of special memories plus a fun song to play on the piano

[Pauully1]

*RARE* Piano Man (1973)...

not rare anymore!!

[0871Atta]

It's not rare anymore.

[SMyD77777]

I was born in '94 and i agree with all you young people too about the shit music today, no one beats the beatles, billy joel, elton john, bob dylan, and all the other great musicians and bands from the 60's-80's with soul,passion, and meaning...

[bostonredsoxluver]

I love all the old stuff now theres a little bit of cool stuff but nothin like back in the day. Im from '96 and hate all the new rappers. 80s rock. Billy joel beatles stones eagles led zepplin and of course eagles

[joethelucas]

best billy joel song...

[Quixotepr]

I like this video that goes with the song. And this song instead of being one of impossible or eternal love is a simple one. It tell us a story about some people who gather at a bar to drink their sorrows, maybe not satisfied with their lives, but finally acepting their destiny. Kind of melancholic and sad, however BJ gets his message across. A true song for all the ages.

[dezysheehan]

Good story telling. Simple, true, and melodic. Thank you Mr. Joel.

[dottiekirby]

Can you say awesome;-)

Sad but expressive

[drylaundry]

this brings me back to those years when I was a kid,the clothes, interior etc

[railroadlover]

I actually liked this one better then the other one

[tomohawk42]

A thing of beauty!

[dottiekirby]

where have all the good muscians gone?

Sad

[montypython11111]

Billy's greatest ballad.

A song in major key,

but gives you a feeling more soulful than the blues

[grizz11952001]

its a good song .

[StimpsonJay]

This song depresses the hell out of me.

Genius!

[trex554]

That is the shizzz nit....

[stringoflies]

Pardon the language, but this is fucking amazing!

[tsungvarsky]

I like to listen to this on Saturday Nights, around 9 o' clock.

[visaman]

I remember watching this on the first season of SNL.

[DieNonne2000]

i usually not interested in songs like these but this song is such a great one!

so i'm listening to it now for the 5th time i guess and i play the harmonica and piano, too! :)

awesome song!

[proken58]

When VH1 started, they asked CBS Records if there was a Piano Man video. They sent VH1 this, but they rejected it. So Billy made a new video for it, over 10 years after he recorded the song.

[JMAproductionz]

i was born in 97 and i still hate today's music. billy joel, beatlles. stones, and eagles 4ever

[musclecars77]

@JMAproductionz .. thats great to see someone born in 97 and be in love with joel and beatles.. join the club.. from a '77

[p41nt1ti3l4ck]

@JMAproductionz I was born in 92, but I listen to basically everything haha.

[Herpkid56]

@JMAproductionz same here, but in 96

[d2thh725]

@JMAproductionz dont be arrogent or think your better than anybody little punk

[JMAproductionz]

@d2thh725 excuse me how was i being arrogent?

[rvenom300]

@JMAproductionz I was born in 95. Us kids who like good music gotta stick together! haha Wonderful taste in music my friend :)

[didac80]

@JMAproductionz What about Queen? REM? U2? Green Day? Offspring? etc... :)

I agree with you

[donbogowho]

@JMAproductionz u are young,for sure u will grow out of it

[mdavidsp75]

@JMAproductionz U were not born in '97. 12 and 13 year olds don't use the language you used in your post. I can just tell. Great song though!

[Bagpipe2009]

@JMAproductionz born in 97??... one ýear after I finished college... it seems like yesterday... and you write perfect english...omg...time ran fast...

[tori23epic]

@JMAproductionz IKR i'm not so crazy about the beatles and i love eagles and billy joel is my fav singer!!!!! i also LOVE Murray Head because he sings my fav song One Night in Bangkok.

[DantesTear]

@JMAproductionz finally another one like me

GO ON YOU LEGEND!!

[JeffHendrie]

@JMAproductionz 12/29/95/6:00:56A.M., wrong century for me, anything from 1920-1995'd work for me... nice tune to this song too.

[BobMaz74]

@JMAproductionz When You get older and have your Heart Broken over and over again, this beautiful song will Slowly ease into your Soul. God Bless My Friend!!

[jdodd1223]

@JMAproductionz

what a thirteen year old! reminds me of myself at age 13, keep it up and you'll have a good taste of music!

[sergeantblue]

@JMAproductionz same 91

[Surfer041]

@JMAproductionz well put my young lover of good music.

[mattpred]

Wow, whoever directed this video did NOT do the song justice. It's so literal :| Like the zoom on the jar of money? And the smiling manager? Arghhh it actually made the song seem corny.

[stringoflies]

Disagreed. It was the early 70's... cut it some slack, will ya?

[Eeohippus]

I've this somewhere before. Also it reminds me of the Regal Beagle on Three's Company. Very '70s.

[sjpc33]

this is blatantly not rare..

[tmbllama1]

@ Galihauli.... You say everyone you know makes fun of you for listening to Billy Joel?

Why would anyone make fun of you for listening to good music. Music these days isn't music. There are a few exceptions, but the likes of Elton John, Billy Joel, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, etc will never be matched.

Tell your friends to go choke on a fat one. There's nothing wrong with appreciating/loving great music. If anything, you should be the one making fun of them for not liking this music.

[Shaunn123]

@tmbllama1 what a great comment....fair play x

[ace02127]

that's bill martin right there. =p

[Acesrwildmac]

this song will be played forever

[Ninjalongboarder]

This song will be played at my wedding

[aanntthhoonnyy]

This song will be played at my funeral

[courtabeth]

genius in this context has little to do with spelling. For Billy Joel in this song it is his sensitive and intuitive glimpse into the human condition that evokes genius, especially in his depiction of each character caught in his or her own lost dreams, their only connection the song being played around them.

[bcurtis272]

i remember whenever i'd see him in concert you could always tell when he was going to play this song because he put the harmonica harness on... thanks for posting this great video JoelFan

[BruceLeeBelle]

I love this song! :)

But I'll always think a woman is singing the song in the second part (starting around ... ~1.20min), it's funny, or? :D

[Lawen78]

Nah, but you can definitely hear it's him singing, but he does sing kinda high, but that's just awesome I think

[trombone876]

you're such a bad ass

[Dreed122]

incredible song

[Goedhartbros]

I love Billy Joel's songs!!

[chrille55555]

"They sharing a drink they call lonelyness, but it's better than drinkin alone..." That's just total genius..nothing more...

[HammernHeads]

What would you know about genius if you can't even spell loneliness.

[galihauli]

elmost everyone makes fun of me listining to his music and liking him but i think his the best love this sond :)

[cwflad]

I see him in less than a week. I'm 18 and it will easily be the highlight of my life. CANT WAIT!

[taina1968]

wauw, enjoy! Sadly he is not coming to Europe, i would like that!

[sandmanmac]

Billy is great because EVERY SINGLE SONG he sings/writes tells a story, that everyone can relate to.

[cromorne]

That's a good way of putting it.

[hatmatic]

@sandmanmac that is absolutely true and well put! he's a legend.

[mykidsid87]

@sandmanmac him and springsteen man. Best story tellers ever, Ill throw Tom waits in there too...

[cvandyke1217]

@mykidsid87 Absolutely great story teller...You want some good stuff, watch "Shades of Gray" which was released right after "River of Dreams". His producer tells the story of meeting Billy and how he just played "around the keys" that were broken on a piano and still made great music.

[Bluetorchproductions]

@sandmanmac Spot on there mate!. Joel actually revived VERY bad press from his first album, "Cold spring harbor" and this song was wrote about his time working in a piano bar. This was the point where his life turned around. Just goes to show that a little shit can push you to be an awesome artist. Long live Joel

[tori23epic]

@sandmanmac Yah. My dad bought me the Essential Billy Joel 2 days ago im sooooooo happy!!!! this might sound weird but my fav song by him is Pressure. my 2nd fav Piano Man my 3rd fav You May Be Right.

[meloyellowduck]

Amazing how he was 24 then, that's my age now! 24 year-olds of those days looked so grown up and mature. To today's standards, he looks at least 30!

[jitterdudkruse2]

its the presverides in our food im 15 and everyone thinks im like twelve!!!! I GET MY LICESNCE NEXT MONTH!

[RICKOBEAR]

?? you mean 'preservatives'?

[cromorne]

License?

[RICKOBEAR]

ha!!! ;) yeah, i didn't catch that one!! good eye!

[busybeth98]

for being in a bar?

[RICKOBEAR]

smoking makes you look older, too. ;)

[danielheres09]

thank you really thank you

[beachbumatheist]

What a find indeed !!! Well done, thank you, great post, upload, erm whatever you call it if you're younger than I am. So lovely to hear his voice at that age again, brilliant, cheers.

[simoncowellscores]

Wow, what a great video and song. I like this because it's much more authentic and what Billy would have really played for when he first started out performing in bars in LA. 20 somethings just don't write great songs about people anymore the way so many did back then, sadly. Are you listening Gen Y's? Quit the narcissism and start writing about people and places in pop form and we will love you for it.

[smile4mejmarie]

what a find! way to go.......Now I'm sure that I could be a movie star, if I could get out of this place.....

[bherber]

Amazing that he had already written this at age 23. Damn that makes me feel old and i'm only 26

[smile4mejmarie]

I know what you mean,,,,,forget my mid-life crisis,,mid life is over ,,hello old age, can I get a senior citizen discount please?

[Rildepigen]

could anyone tell me which album this is on?

[yurimxpxman]

Piano Man...

[nomis78]

there is also a version on cold spring harbour

[bherber]

there is not a version on Cold Spring Harbor

[rafalweb]

Did they speed his voice up for this vid like they did in the album?