Billy Joel - Zanzibar

[markusmala]

Billy make it all himself at the time? no trumpet solo on this one, he have to run to the organ. what a talent.

[pinkpony193]

im 10 and i know piano man the entire 4:10 by heart

[REJ2musik]

This and Stiletto are so underrated

[scotthillart]

For years I've wondered if it was written about the bar in Hells Kitchen NYC. I always wanted to go there for drinks because I love this song so much. I never did. Now Zanzibar is closed and I'll never know.

[fledgehog]

holy fuck this exists

[TylerRobinson7]

I love that organ solo

[SuperTrumpet77]

I like they way he plays it now it's down a half step and Carl Fischer does a trumpet solo and a flugelhorn solo

[willhare]

Very cool

[abbmdt3]

LOVE BILLY JOEL BUT NONE OF MY FREINDS OR MY WIFE DOES SEEN HIM LIVE ALONE HAD A GREAT TIME CAN NOT HELP I AM THE ONLY ONE WITH CLASS IN MY GROUP OF FRRINDS

[prinznevsky]

sounds to me like he'd been listening to Steely Dan...

[mikeymolly1]

Argggh! He is such a freaking GENIUS!

[taijirou1966]

great!

[d4vstone]

It was Zanzibar that introduced me to the great Freddie Hubbard, frankly without Freddie on Zanzibar the track is second best...

[candelise]

Watching this clip, it is beyond me why Billy got so much bad press at the time when he and his band played this well. Amazing!

[darklotus66]

This should have been the opening track of 52nd Street.

[daveheavenmusic]

@darklotus66 Totally agree. Much better than "Big Shot" and one of his best songs. Criminally underrated.

[xterra43]

Billy in his prime singing one of his best...

[driffter1976]

This should have been on a Rupert Holmes album.

[justAnotherJapanese]

BRAVO!!!

There was a time when nobody doubted Billy Joel was the best musician in the world.

[agilblom]

Just another reason Billy's got a special level of respect from me: your average rocker can't crank out genre bending tunes that rock. This is what I wish Steely Dan sounded more like.

[AnthonyDelRay]

@agilblom Must admit I've never heard anyone say they wish that Steely Dan sounded more like anyone but themselves! Which is beyond genius and extremely unique just like Joel was and continues to be... However I do respect your point of view. Very interesting thought.

[agilblom]

@AnthonyDelRay To tell you the truth I don't even remember writing that, I was probably enjoying a few adult beverages. It sounds like BS to me now :)

[AnthonyDelRay]

@agilblom LMAO! well said :)

[BanOxyCred]

I feel my self inside in a classical jazz bar in New York, over the 70's even 80's, every time I listen to this song, smoke and whisky, beautiful women, (U know what I mean?) I think is a great song, really....I know isn't one of the Joel's best songs but I think is splendid.

[drohegda]

Billy Joel What an American treasure; singer, songwriter , composer. One of the best of all time in music. Loved his music from the beginning. Your a good Man Billy Joel!

[oufcyellows]

I have never heard this song before it's brilliant

[btwall60]

his voice, when he hits those notes.....he's one of he greats

[Firebirrd85]

His most underrated song.

[bharo9]

Agreed

[117unscspartan]

THE BEST

[noahman27]

Ha! I got 52nd Street in '79 when I was 13. I didn't "get" the "weird break" in the middle of the song, but I thought it was interesting, and it hooked me. 20 years later I got hooked on Freddie Hubbard. I'd listen to his music and I'd also continue to throw on Zanzibar. Eventually I looked up in the liner notes of 52nd Street (wondering if it was Billy Joel on trumpet cuz he's holding a trumpet on the cover photo)...nope. It's Freddie Hubbard. It's one of my favorite Jazz pieces ever! :)))

[XjyujX]

This sucks the big one..............

[HigherLandrons]

@XjyujX umm...  wrong.

[XjyujX]

@HigherLandrons Where you from? and I am not sure if his music could get any more narcissistic

[jvlivs2]

I've been a fan of the "Piano Man" since childhood, and I will remain one until my dying breath!

Funny though, I was expecting [the recently departed] Freddie Hubbard to make a cameo on this like he did on the album. But BJ and Ritchie ad-libbed and made it work!

That remains one of his many talents that makes him stand out to this day!

[jst1998]

The greatest song writer and musician of the last 50 years. Billy Joel is history and still phenomnenal in his concerts. Love him so much!

[Pentas666]

A minor

[colincaetano]

U wanna hear somethin crazy, im such a big Billy Joel fan, i have his face from the piano man album cover tatted on my arm. His music changed my life :D

[adonn78]

post it on youtube

[ncj53096]

im a major billy joel fan :D nice vid

[OlySiren]

how major?

[TheNuriko]

i love billy joel

[LiveCrueltyFreeNow]

Great live version of this song. Loved it !

[silverpslm]

What I love about Billy Joel is that none of his songs sound alike.

[xoxromanistaxox]

wtfudge.. it was DEFFO a thumbs up. wrong click xP

[JFJB]

Notice how well Billy can jam on the Hammond B-3 organ (He looked pretty toasted back then, I remember seeing him in 1982 and he had a glass of Scotch on the rocks AND his cigarettes on top of the piano...)

[ZeropointZero70]

imagine if he broke this one out live on his current tour? That would be quite stellar.

[kjchj]

He indeed did this one, In washington DC 2 weekends ago...it was magnificent...

[ZeropointZero70]

Cool. Haven't seen Billy since '86. He didn't play it then.

[TheMadman2006]

He has, he peformed zanzibar when i saw him back in may

[rvbcaboose777]

he did i saw him at anahein in face to face tour he played this song i never heard it before but when he played i absoulutely loved it and have loved this song since then

[tchanabc]

i subbed sub back plz

[groundhog713]

Great hammond organ solo, and I like Richie Canatta's sax solo at the end....

[Mashfan6507]

If I had to pick the most underrated Billy Joel song, this would be it. This is in my top 10 for him. My fav. song from the *amazing* 52nd Street album.

[wendellgee1985]

Yes; to truly absorb Billy Joel's songwriting greatness, you need to have the albums. Those stupid greatest hits albums don't do him justice.

[CrashTestKid20]

52nd is well i dont have a favorite billy album, but the billy songs that non hardcore fans mis, like half a mile away, until the night(greatest love song of all time) people dont no what there missing. O well least we can bask ourselves in never dimming light that is Billy Joel!!!!

[Tolstoy111]

Half a Mile Away is terrible! A bad disco song like 'Get it Right The First Time'.

[CrashTestKid20]

lol what are you talkin about you know nothin, you obviously dnt no a livin legend genius when you hear it i feel sorry for you.

[Tolstoy111]

I love Joel's music. Just don't like those two songs. And neither does he.

[CrashTestKid20]

So he hate's cold spring harbor i still love it. Billy's music reminds me of my life being young and my family i just think watever he does is a masterpiece. GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME IS AMAZING I NEVER EVER GET TIRED OF IT. go listen to lady gaga and justin timberlake. There about as musically for-filling as a sweaty mint.

[Tolstoy111]

There's a reason he never plays them in concert. And he plays all sorts of worthy obscurities these days.

[Domplum]

he played zanzibar when i saw him in detroit with eltton

[rafalweb]

It's not terrible...you just don't like it. I like it, so I don't think it's terrible. To each his own, but making blanket judgments about songs maybe requires some expertise in what's good and what isn't....and I don't think any of us here have that.

[Tolstoy111]

Joel doesn't like it either.  Compared to his catalog it isn't very good.

[rafalweb]

But that's saying what I said...he just doesn't like it. In my uneducated musical opinion, even if the creator of the song doesn't like it, that doesn't make it "bad".....(s)he just doesn't like it. There are other songs in the catalog that I like better than Zanzibar, but I don't think that makes Zanzbar a bad tune. It's different, but since I like jazz, I like the song. Anyway, no biggie....it's all in the ear of the beholder.

[Tolstoy111]

If I ranked all of Joel's songs, especially starting with Turnstiles, 'Half a Mile Away' would be at or near the bottom. It's not a song anyone would miss if it vanished. It never shows up on compilations. Joel never plays it. Other arists never play it. There are no covers of it on Youtube.

[rafalweb]

Ok, well that's another story. People don't listen as much to HAMA and other fillers, like Code of Silence and they won't be missed if they disappear, as they are not memorable songs. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I'm not the type of person who judges a sing "good" or "bad"....but you're right some of his stuff is less memorable,

BTW, thanks for a mature and pleasant debate, you're a pleasant rarity on YT.

[Tolstoy111]

I like 'Code of Silence'! :-)

[FargoStar2009]

billy just played this in Fargo, N.D. a few nights ago and it was UNREAL. his trumpet / flugelhorn (sp) player really killed it on the solos.

[CrashTestKid20]

I saw billy to play this at wembley then traveled to the states to see him at the syracuse dome in 07, as you can prob tell i'm nuts over the man, i went to see him at wembley wen i was like 4-5 and he's inspired me to become a singer-songwriter, i'll be adding tracks to my channel shortly so check them out.

[statis]

I think it was probably Carl Fischer, and yeah he's good.

[rushgeddylee]

what was he looking for?

[rontu1972]

I saw this in concert in Melbourne 2009. The trumpeter blew the stadium away. Awesome. Keen to know if anyone else thought this.

[brromo11]

same in sydney, pretty sure it was carl fischer

[jode72]

Badass Hammond solo instead of Freddie Hubbard's trumpet? WAT?

My all-time favorite Billy Joel song. An underrated, under-known treasure.

[nickeax]

5/5

[jst1998]

Billy Joel is the man! The most talented and inspired songwriter of our time.

[yougotcrad1]

cool intro

[milesjc71]

I fulfilled a lifelong wish last weekend and I saw Billy perform live in the U.S. {I live in the U.K} He was totally awesome. Each song was performed perfectly by him and his amazing band, but ZANZIBAR, WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Amazing opening, and trumpeting by Carl Fischer was so amazing. Anight I will never ever forget. x

[YNEHTEM]

This man is the perfect songwriter. It's like

McCartney was born in the US. Melting melodies, Jazz ,Blues and classical. Hey man, i love "through the long night" too. It really sounds like a McCartney's lullaby .

[PeaceForMiddleEast]

best music ever created, joel is a genius and i love him

[LISISTRATA90]

Beauty! It's as a dream...I love him.

[finsfan13]

Mission, what year is this video, and where was it filmed?

[jcbilotti]

INCREDIBLE. This man is a musical genius. I love how his facial expression is perfectly straight the whole time even when he runs to the organ (for an amazing solo!). Its like his music needs no performance. All it needs is the music itself.

[luvnbets2]

If you'll indulge me - this reminds me of my childhood. I LOVED this album- especially this song. Even though on the 8 track- it would switch tracks right in the middle of this song! To this day, whenever I hear it I can still know when the track will end and start!

I have never heard this version before- it is wonderful. He really is the "real thing". Hard for anyone these days to compare to him.

[yellowrainbows1]

Billy is a legend! This is what you call a musician!

[Yanlegrave]

Seriously and definetly thanks for posting this video!!! the best version of this song!!! I love zanzibar!! I've put this song on my mp3 though the sound quality is quite bad :s thanks thanks!!! the piano is awesome yeah

[allforleyna80]

love the organ solo 8)

[redcs13ab]

this may be my very favorite billy joel songs. amazing jazz/rock combo. sweeeettt!!!!

[danief22]

what a genious.

[mrmonkey99]

he sounds good live

[yellowrainbows1]

He sounds perfect live!

[JFJB]

12/29/08 Rest in Peace, the great trumpet player, Freddie Hubbard.

Billy had Freddie play that great trumpet solo on the studio version of "Zanzibar." The first time I played the CD for my piano teacher, she arched an eyebrow and exclaimed "Boy, Billy's trumpet player on that song is GOOD. REAL GOOD!" Yeah, that's Freddie Hubbard!

[spamforbobby]

Like this faster, less polished version better.

[carole131]

This is one of my favorites of Billy's of all time.

[nickeax]

MINIMOOG!

[Domplum]

definetly one of my favorite songs and album!

[tootybootydesigns]

IN HIS PRIME, love it!!!

[BlueDragonTamer]

Dude you finally got 1,000 views!

[SilverLugia249]

Nice Billy Joel video

[zephyerlives]

I like this song alot :) thanks for posting

[sayonarane]

I just my dad's "52nd Street" album in the basement and gave it a listen; this is one of my favorite songs off of it. I hope I can see Mr. Joel live someday.

-18 year old fan from Washington, PA

[mission2marsden]

I'm so glad to hear you're a fan! I'm a pretty big fan for my age. 52nd Street is my favorite album. Did you listen to the song "Stiletto"? That's my favorite!

[ThePancakeSquad]

LOL Zanzibar isnt my favorite, but its still a really good one. saw this live at MSG in '06. my favorite album would have to be either turnstiles, the stranger, or the bridge. streetlife serenader is still pretty good my faovirte on the album is root beer rag.

[mission2marsden]

I changed my mind now. Glass Houses is my favorite. Have you heard "Through The Long Night"? It's BEAUTIFUL.

[finsfan13]

Yay! I found someone who likes "Through the Long Night" too! Gorgeous, isn't it?

[coondiddims]

@mission2marsden I agree, Glass Houses is my favorite album, between" All for Leyna", "Close to the Borderline" and "You Were the One" I could have a heart attack lol..

[Tolstoy111]

Speaking of 52nd Street, 'Until The Night' has to be one of the most beautiful moments in the history of recorded pop music. It's probably his single best vocal performance on record.

[spacecase3196]

@mission2marsden stilleto is GREAT!

[redcs13ab]

joel is a LEGEND. glad to hear some young people can appreciate. i grew up near him on long island, NY. he is multi-talented. keep your eyes open for him live. he's still rockin'. worth it to see him b4 it's too late!! lol

[zietrich15]

@sayonarane I'm 19 and a huge Joel fan...you really should listen to stiletto

[maxxxx1972]

@sayonarane your father is a great dude!

[tannerjustin]

nice