Billy Joel - "The Entertainer"

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   I'm operating strictly from memory here, but I used to have a reissue 45 of The Entertainer that was backed with Piano Man.  Now, if memory serves, both sides were listed at being 3:05.  

Now, according to the database (and my latest Whitburn Annual) Piano Man actually ran 4:30, but I was wondering if at some point it was listed as 3:05.  (I never timed the single I had because, frankly, it wasn't something that occured to me way back then.)  

My point is, if the original single did list a time of 3:05, that might explain that particular passage in the lyrics of The Entertainer.  He was referring to the handling of Piano Man.  Maybe...  ^_^

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JMD1961 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 29 March 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote JMD1961 Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 June 2007 at 8:49am
	I'm operating strictly from memory here, but I used to have a reissue 45 of The Entertainer that was backed with Piano Man. Now, if memory serves, both sides were listed at being 3:05. Now, according to the database (and my latest Whitburn Annual) Piano Man actually ran 4:30, but I was wondering if at some point it was listed as 3:05. (I never timed the single I had because, frankly, it wasn't something that occured to me way back then.) My point is, if the original single did list a time of 3:05, that might explain that particular passage in the lyrics of The Entertainer. He was referring to the handling of Piano Man. Maybe... ^_^

jimct Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 07 April 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote jimct Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 June 2007 at 9:30am
	James, the mono short version of my "Piano Man" DJ 45 has both a listed and actual time of (3:16). And the "Piano Man" side of my reprint 45, combined with "The Entertainer", states a listed time of (4:30). I like your theory, sir, but unfortunately I cannot confirm any of your details.

JMD1961 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 29 March 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote JMD1961 Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 June 2007 at 6:56pm
	No problem. As I said, I was working from memory, and I keep finding that that isn't what it used to be. (Not that it was ever that great... ^_^ )

sriv94 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 16 September 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote sriv94 Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 June 2007 at 7:32pm
	Roscoe (or anyone), were you able to figure out whether the GH1&2 version matches up with any other CD copies (while you can edit that version to match the 45 edit, the instrumentation on that version doesn't match the 45)?
	Doug --------------- All of the good signatures have been taken.

aaronk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 16 January 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 115	Post Options Post Reply Quote aaronk Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 August 2012 at 9:11pm
	I just got around to A/B-ing the 45 with the Greatest Hits version, and the instrumentation is quite different at 0:41. On the 45, the percussion is much busier, and there's a different lead guitar. Furthermore, some of the vocals have been re-cut. Bottom line: there's no way to create the 45 from the LP.
	Aaron Kannowski Uptown Sound 91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop

MMathews Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 18 August 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote MMathews Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 August 2012 at 12:15am
	Hi all, being from Billy's home turf of long island - i've heard quite a few interviews over the years. As i recall, the above theories about the 3:05 line are correct. He was extremely bitter about Piano Man being edited for the 45. He obviously just grabbed the "3:05" time to sound good in the lyric, he made his point. Hence, that edit/mix will never see a domestic cd release, and not likely either for the 45 version of The Entertainer. Seems like a non-issue though from his perspective, since the air-play of both songs through all these years has been on AOR formats that have no interest in anything other than the albums anyway!