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Streetlife Serenade

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Streetlife Serenade · After Piano Man, Billy Joel was under pressure to make a new album quickly. He toured clubs and theatres, supported big names such as the Beach Boys and had little time to write songs. He therefore recorded two instrumental tracks: Root Beer Rag and The Mexican Connection. The record came out in October 1974 and was recorded mainly with session musicians. Joel sings and plays piano and other keyboards, for the first time also a Moog.

Root Beer Rag became a fixture of his concerts, and Souvenir often closed the encores. Joel himself judged in 1993 that the record had interesting musical ideas but nothing to say lyrically. The album reached number 35 on the American chart and later sold more than a million copies.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Root Beer Rag and notice how this instrumental track holds on to a melody and a rhythm even without vocals.

Track list

  1. 1Streetlife Serenader5:19Apple Music ↗
  2. 2Los Angelenos3:43Apple Music ↗
  3. 3The Great Suburban Showdown3:47Apple Music ↗
  4. 4Root Beer Rag3:04Apple Music ↗
  5. 5Roberta4:34Apple Music ↗
  6. 6The Entertainer3:41Apple Music ↗
  7. 7Last of the Big Time Spenders4:36Apple Music ↗
  8. 8Weekend Song3:32Apple Music ↗
  9. 9Souvenir2:01Apple Music ↗
  10. 10The Mexican Connection3:39Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

Categories: Albums and songs