Songs in the Attic
Encyclopedia
Songs in the Attic is the first live album by Billy Joel
, released in 1981 (see 1981 in music
).
At the time of its release, it was unique as being the first widely available appearance of music from his first album, Cold Spring Harbor
from 1971.
This album was released in 1981 to introduce Billy Joel's early work to fans who had come to know him after The Stranger
, according to liner notes written by Joel. In his earlier work, most of the instruments were played by session musicians, but by the late 1970s, Joel had a fairly consistent touring group, and so he wanted to showcase the songs with this band.
Two songs from the album, "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" and "She's Got a Way," were released as singles, both making the top 25. In Australia "You're My Home" was also released as a single.
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...
, released in 1981 (see 1981 in music
1981 in music
See also:* Timeline of musical eventsThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1981.-January–April:*January 10 – A revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadway's Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith.*January 24 –...
).
At the time of its release, it was unique as being the first widely available appearance of music from his first album, Cold Spring Harbor
Cold Spring Harbor (album)
Cold Spring Harbor was Billy Joel's first solo album, and was released in 1971. He had already released several albums as a member of the bands The Hassles and Attila...
from 1971.
This album was released in 1981 to introduce Billy Joel's early work to fans who had come to know him after 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...
, according to liner notes written by Joel. In his earlier work, most of the instruments were played by session musicians, but by the late 1970s, Joel had a fairly consistent touring group, and so he wanted to showcase the songs with this band.
Two songs from the album, "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" and "She's Got a Way," were released as singles, both making the top 25. In Australia "You're My Home" was also released as a single.
Track listing
All songs written by Billy Joel.- "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)"Miami 2017 " is a song written by Billy Joel which appeared as the final song on the album Turnstiles in 1976...
" – 5:05 - "Summer, Highland Falls" – 3:03
- "Streetlife Serenader" – 5:17
- "Los Angelenos" – 3:48
- "She's Got a WayShe's Got a Way"She's Got a Way" is a song by Billy Joel. The original version is on the 1971 album Cold Spring Harbor, while the remade live version was released as a single from the 1981 album Songs in the Attic and peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1982.After its original recording,...
" – 3:10 - "Everybody Loves You Now" - 3:08
- "Say Goodbye to HollywoodSay Goodbye to HollywoodFor the similarly named Eminem song, see: The Eminem Show."Say Goodbye to Hollywood" is a song written & performed by Billy Joel, first released in 1976 on his album Turnstiles. The song achieved greater notoriety in 1981 when a live version from Songs in the Attic was released as a single...
" – 4:25 - "Captain JackCaptain 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...
" – 7:16 - "You're My HomeYou're My Home"You're My Home" is a single by Billy Joel. It was originally on Billy Joel's 1973 album Piano Man, and also appears on Songs in the Attic , The Ultimate Collection The Essential Billy Joel and 12 Gardens Live ....
" – 3:07 - "The Ballad of Billy the KidThe Ballad of Billy the Kid"The Ballad of Billy the Kid" is a Billy Joel song from the album Piano Man. It is a fictionalized story of Billy The Kid. In an interview from 1975, Joel admitted,"Basically [the song] was an experiment with an impressionist type of lyric...
" – 5:28 - "I've Loved These Days" – 4:35
Charts
Singles| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" | Adult Contemporary | 35 |
| 1981 | "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" | Pop Singles | 17 |
| 1982 | "She's Got a Way" | Adult Contemporary | 4 |
| 1982 | "She's Got A Way" | Pop Singles | 23 |
Personnel
- Billy Joel – 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...
, pianoPianoThe 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...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, 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... - David Brown – electric guitar (lead), acoustic guitar (lead)
- Richie CannataRichie CannataRichie Cannata is an American music producer, multi-instrumentalist and studio owner. He is most notable for playing saxophone in the Billy Joel band alongside Doug Stegmeyer and Liberty DeVitto. After leaving the band in 1981, he opened Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove, New York...
– saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
s, fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, 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... - Liberty DeVittoLiberty DeVittoLiberty DeVitto is an American rock drummer. He is best known as the drummer for Billy Joel, but has also played with the NYC Hit Squad and has been a session drummer on recordings of other artists.-Career:...
– 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 ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Russell Javors – electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(rhythm), acoustic guitar (rhythm) - Doug StegmeyerDoug StegmeyerDoug Stegmeyer was a musician best known as the bassist for Billy Joel.-Career:Doug Stegmeyer met Russell Javors in high school. At age 15, Javors was performing songs with childhood friend Liberty DeVitto. From then, the boys, along with Howard Emerson, formed the band Topper.Together they...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....