Songs in the Attic is the first live album by Billy Joel, released in 1981.
Songs in the Attic | ||||
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Live album by | ||||
Released | September 14, 1981 | |||
Recorded | June–July 1980 during Glass Houses tour | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 48:00 | |||
Label | Family Productions/Columbia | |||
Producer | Phil Ramone | |||
Billy Joel chronology | ||||
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Billy Joel live chronology | ||||
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Singles from Songs in the Attic | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Rolling Stone | [3] |
Rolling Stone Album Guide, 3rd Edition | [4] |
At the time of its release, it was the first widely available appearance of music from his first album, Cold Spring Harbor, released in 1971.
In the liner notes, Joel writes that Songs in the Attic introduced his earlier work to fans who had come to know his work after The Stranger. In that earlier work, most of the instruments were played by session musicians while Joel himself sang and played piano, keyboards, and harmonica. But by the late 1970s, Joel had a fairly consistent touring/recording band and wanted to showcase his songs as played by his band.
The single-releases included: "Say Goodbye to Hollywood", which peaked at #17 on the U. S. Billboard Hot 100; and "She's Got a Way", which reached #23 on the same chart; and "You're My Home". In Japan, "Los Angelenos" was also available in 1981.[5]
A series of promotional music videos were filmed. Though the concert filming may have been staged for the occasion, the audio versions are nonetheless different from the live recordings featuring on the live album. A total of five promo videos were filmed: four of them recorded at Sparks Saloon in Huntington, NY, and one in a recording studio. At least two of them were not released as worldwide official singles.[6] "Everybody Loves You Now" (not a single) directed by Steve Cohen (live at Sparks); "You're My Home" directed by Steve Cohen (live at Sparks); "Los Angelenos" (not a single, though a Japanese 7" vinyl was in existence) directed by Steve Cohen (live at Sparks); "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" directed by Steve Cohen (live at Sparks); "She's Got a Way" live in a studio, also a different version from the live album.[5]
All songs written by Billy Joel.
No. | Title | Performance | Length |
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1. | "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)" | June 24, 1980, at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY | 5:05 |
2. | "Summer, Highland Falls" | July 23, 1980, at The Bayou, Washington, D.C. | 3:03 |
3. | "Streetlife Serenader" | July 20, 1980, at St. Paul Civic Center, St. Paul, MN | 5:17 |
4. | "Los Angelenos" | July 10, 1980, at Toad's Place, New Haven, CT | 3:48 |
5. | "She's Got a Way" | June 1980 at Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA | 3:00 |
6. | "Everybody Loves You Now" | July 23, 1980, at The Bayou, Washington, D.C. | 3:08 |
Total length: | 23:21 |
No. | Title | Performance | Length |
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1. | "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" | July 14, 1980, at Milwaukee Arena, Milwaukee, WI | 4:25 |
2. | "Captain Jack" | July 5, 1980, at Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA | 7:16 |
3. | "You're My Home" | July 23, 1980, at the Bayou, Washington, D.C. | 3:07 |
4. | "The Ballad of Billy the Kid" | June 24, 1980, at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY | 5:28 |
5. | "I've Loved These Days" | July 16, 1980, at The Horizon, Chicago, IL | 4:35 |
Total length: | 24:51 |
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