Listening to this song on my Billy Joel playlist which contains thirty songs. Twenty-six of them are from albums none more recent than The Stranger. I prefer Billy Joel the singer-songwriter and much of his later stuff is lost on me. Since you consider Streetlife Serenader one of his best albums, I'll guess you too prefer his singer-songwriter catalog no?
I always loved Billy's seamless blend of musical styles in all of his songs. This one has a great blues ballad underscoring a rock/gospel-sounding chorus topped off with the country twang of a steel guitar in the solo (and throughout the background). Great stuff...
The best work of most artists are when they are young and in their 20's and 30's. Billy would have been 25 at this time. The Beatles were like 26-28 writing Rubber Soul and Sgt Pepper. Wonderful music!
Well if money makes a rich man Then I might never make the grade I'll be a small time operator If I just get the landlord paid But if time is an indication Of the wealth that I never knew Then I'm the last of the big time spenders 'Cause I've been spending time on you, woo oo oo woo It takes time to appreciate Lord knows that you can learn to hate it I believe, 'cause I've been there too When it gets down to desperation You make the best of the situation I can tell, I've seen it through, oh, oh, oh Though it seems like the day is wasted And the nights have been overdue Well, I'm the last of the big time spenders And I've been spendin' time on you, woo oo oo woo It's been so long since we got together In between it seems to take forever But I'm a dreamer, I'll be there soon It takes time to appreciate All of those that you can learn to hate I believe, I've seen it through, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh You can call me the Great Pretender And in a way it might be true But I'm the last of the big time spenders And I've been spendin' time on you, woo oo oo woo
I'm sure someone else has already said this, but I read an interview where BJ said he had Charlie Rich in mind to do this song. I can hear that. That was at the time Charlie was doing "Behind Closed Doors," "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World," etc.
+Brett Koeshall I'm thinking Caillou: The Little Brat may be the most correctly named character on this here deal...and it's possible you could have been in Las Vegas, New Mexico and you were doing acid and only thought you were in a casino in the other Vegas...hey. it could happen!
I walked down the aisle to this song. My favourite.
It's a shame this album never got the attention it deserved... it's one of Joel's best.
Listening to this song on my Billy Joel playlist which contains thirty songs. Twenty-six of them are from albums none more recent than The Stranger. I prefer Billy Joel the singer-songwriter and much of his later stuff is lost on me. Since you consider Streetlife Serenader one of his best albums, I'll guess you too prefer his singer-songwriter catalog no?
Sam the Pony Man I agree. Great album
Can't help but to agree!
@@matthewstetson1840 Isn't all of Billy's stuff singer-songwriter?
Great suburban showdown is my fav
One my favorite Billy Joel songs. It speaks about life, this song never gets old.
Billy Joel songs have a way of doing that. He's the best there ever was
I always loved Billy's seamless blend of musical styles in all of his songs. This one has a great blues ballad underscoring a rock/gospel-sounding chorus topped off with the country twang of a steel guitar in the solo (and throughout the background). Great stuff...
True masterpiece
Billy really is the 🐐
What a song. What a voice.
The voice of an angel. 🥰
one of the most beautiful ballads ever!
this piano tune is so rooted in the gospel genre. WOW...love it.
The best work of most artists are when they are young and in their 20's and 30's. Billy would have been 25 at this time. The Beatles were like 26-28 writing Rubber Soul and Sgt Pepper. Wonderful music!
I love this whole album. This is one of my favorites
Absolutely love this fantastic melody.
Absolutely my favorite Billy Joel tracks. This song is awesome....
この曲も大好き！晴れた休日に、ゆっくり聴きたくなる曲です♪とても幸せな気持ちになります！ビリー・ジョエルのピアノ+歌声は最高♪♪♪
This song is sooooo underrated!
I absolutely love this song. It should have finished the album in my view.
Love the whole of this album, especially the tracks where there are 'live' versions.
Magnifique Billy, magnifique!
This whole album has such a great vibe to it. Definitely Billy's most underrated.
So perfect billy I love 😢this song
❤
I love the steel guitar in this song
So good 😭🙏
Amazing Billy
Ogni genere musicale Piano Man lo sublima 🎹👏
Love the quote of the synth melody from The Entertainer at 3:35.
Sing it to us, Billy....
Well if money makes a rich man
Then I might never make the grade
I'll be a small time operator
If I just get the landlord paid
But if time is an indication
Of the wealth that I never knew
Then I'm the last of the big time spenders
'Cause I've been spending time on you, woo oo oo woo
It takes time to appreciate
Lord knows that you can learn to hate it
I believe, 'cause I've been there too
When it gets down to desperation
You make the best of the situation
I can tell, I've seen it through, oh, oh, oh
Though it seems like the day is wasted
And the nights have been overdue
Well, I'm the last of the big time spenders
And I've been spendin' time on you, woo oo oo woo
It's been so long since we got together
In between it seems to take forever
But I'm a dreamer, I'll be there soon
It takes time to appreciate
All of those that you can learn to hate
I believe, I've seen it through, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
You can call me the Great Pretender
And in a way it might be true
But I'm the last of the big time spenders
And I've been spendin' time on you, woo oo oo woo
Thank you
Billy always had a way of relating to the common person which is why I love him
聴けてよかったです！ありがとうございます
This could be my theme song for the last ten years !
Better every listen
I feel like this entire album was western themed. Idk why, it just feels like something that would be popular out west
I agree. Very country flavored
Funny as he is a Long Island boy, but he did take on the vibe, migrated out west for a few years at the time.
Same with the Piano Man album
I love the western sound
It was written and recorded in Los Angeles.
Normally, I hate hearing a steel guitar, as in country music, but Billy makes it work, somehow.
I'm sure someone else has already said this, but I read an interview where BJ said he had Charlie Rich in mind to do this song. I can hear that. That was at the time Charlie was doing "Behind Closed Doors," "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World," etc.
Nice Leon Russell inspired song. Big influence Billy and Elton... Another LR inspired song by Billy: Ain't no Crime. Another excellent non-hit.
Billy Joel is the Grand
7 people dislike this, I dislike 7 people.
Ha well said
WTF.
This is a great fukin song.
The sound is MUCH more Cuban than Mexican.
A beautiful piece of art
Awesome
It's reminds me of gambling and drinking in casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada.
+Brett Koeshall I'm thinking Caillou: The Little Brat may be the most correctly named character on this here deal...and it's possible you could have been in Las Vegas, New Mexico and you were doing acid and only thought you were in a casino in the other Vegas...hey. it could happen!
+Caillou: The Little Brat haha, funny guy right here!
I'm in SSD and there's this kid in my class always talking about him my teacher calls him a winer
Not the kid of course
So this was what became of "cross to bear"?
Every time that I played this song on my piano for a girl, she asked me if I made that up. Lol
Go get ‘Em Billy 😅
Did you get anywhere with that nice musical pick up line ? Hope you roped a good one
I’m on smule anybody out there join me I uploaded this and sang it I absolutely love this song
Billy Joel is the Grand