"Piano Man" 45 version makes CD debut

A new Billy Joel import from Sony Music Asia includes what I believe is the first CD appearance of the 45 version of "Piano Man," running 4:33.

It's called "Piano Man - The Very Best of Billy Joel," Columbia 519018 2, UPC 4893391121425. It's a single disc comp with a recent and somewhat scary sepia-toned photo of half of Billy Joel's face on the cover.

The disc also contains the radio edit of "Tell Her About It" and the 45 versions of "My Life" and and "Just the Way You Are," all of which were on the original issue of his "Greatest Hits Vol. I & II," plus the 45 edit of "We Didn't Start the Fire" and the 4:16 radio edit of "All About Soul."

Hold on, I'm wrong about "Tell Her About It." It's the LP version, which was also the 45 version. I was thinking the LP version ran over 4:00. Sorry about that. There is a shorter 3:35 version on the original issue of "Greatest Hits Vol I & II," which I assume that's a radio edit.

And, though the edit within the song is the same, "Just the Way You Are" appears to be faded about ten seconds earlier than the 45. The edit on the original "Gr. Hits" actually fades a few seconds LATER than the 45. So it looks like Sony Music's "Pop Music: The Modern Era 1976-1999" is the only place to get the true 45 version.

But the original issue of "Gr. Hits I & II" contains several single edits that are hard to find and were not used on the remastered edition: Big Shot, My Life, Say Goodbye to Hollywood, Pressure.

Yeah, Todd, I was really annoyed that none of his remastered CDs contained any bonus tracks. The remix of "Keeping the Faith" is one, also the longer 45 version of "Sometimes a Fantasy," and some rare B-sides.

Brian W writes: "A new Billy Joel import from Sony Music Asia includes what I believe is the first CD appearance of the 45 version of "Piano Man," running 4:33"

To Brian: Since I'm assuming you don't have the 45 to A-B, can you compare the panning on this version with the panning on any other CD version? I have the 45 and it's not just an edit -- I remember the left-right panning was different on the 45 (i.e. some instruments that were more over on the left on the LP, were on the right on the 45 -- that sort of thing). So if you can compare two CDs and find this to be the case, then I'd be pretty sure this is indeed the 45 version. Otherwise, it's possible they just took the LP version and edited it down to have the same edits as the 45.

Bob Lovely wrote: To the best of my knowledge, the 12" re-mix version of "Tell Her All About It" has never been released on CD, anywhere. If I am incorrect, I would love to know... Bob

Actually, you are incorrect, Bob. It's on one of the UK CD singles (there were two) for "I Go to Extremes." It's a four-track CD single in a slim line jewel case.

When we are lucky enough to get a single version that has never been on CD before, like now with "Piano Man", I wonder if it's because the comp producer was actually conscious of its lack of CD availability and did it for the fans, knowing it would increase sales -- or if it's just a case of it getting on by accident, or if it's more an issue of the label wanting to stick on as many songs as they can fit in 80 minutes, so they go with the edits. I have a feeling it's usually the latter 2 reasons!