Streetlife Serenade

Template:Use mdy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: October 11, 1974 | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Piano Man1973Turnstiles1976studioStreetlife SerenadeBilly Joel - Streetlife Serenade.jpgBilly JoelOctober 11, 19741974Devonshire, Los Angeles, CaliforniaTemplate:Flatlist37:41Family Productions/ColumbiaMichael Stewartx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}}

Streetlife Serenade is the third studio album by American recording artist Billy Joel, released on October 11, 1974, by Columbia Records.

The album peaked at No. 35 on the US album charts, eventually selling more than one million copies. Joel's live shows in the 1970s frequently featured the instrumental "Root Beer Rag" and the short song "Souvenir", which was often used as the final encore. Live versions of "Streetlife Serenader" and "Los Angelenos" appeared on Joel's first live album, Songs in the Attic (1981). A live version of "The Entertainer" appeared on Joel's 2006 album 12 Gardens Live.

Background

The album was recorded mostly with session musicians, the last such release until 1993's River of Dreams. Joel sang and played piano and other keyboards, including his first work with the Moog synthesizer.

Joel said that he had been touring in clubs and theatres and opening for big acts such as the Beach Boys, and was under pressure to put out a new album after Piano Man. With little time to write new songs, he included the instrumentals "Root Beer Rag" and "The Mexican Connection".

The back cover features a barefooted Joel sitting in a chair looking cross; Joel says that he had had his wisdom teeth extracted two days before the shoot.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The front cover is a painting by Brian Hagiwara of a hotel and café at 1002 South Gaffy Street in San Pedro, California.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In a 1993 interview, Joel said of the album: "Interesting musical ideas, but nothing to say lyrically. I was trying to be Debussy in the title track — it didn’t work."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Release history

In addition to the usual two-channel stereo version, the album was also released by Columbia in a four-channel quadraphonic mix on LP record and 8-track tape in 1974. The quad LP release was encoded in the SQ matrix system. In 2015, the album was re-issued by Audio Fidelity in the Super Audio CD format containing both the complete stereo and quadraphonic mixes.

Track listing

All tracks written and composed by Billy Joel.

One side (side one)

1. "Streetlife Serenader" – 5:17
2. "Los Angelenos" – 3:41
3. "The Great Suburban Showdown" – 3:44
4. "Root Beer Rag" (instrumental) – 2:59
5. "Roberta" – 4:32

Another side (side two)

1. "The Entertainer" – 3:48
2. "Last of the Big Time Spenders" – 4:34
3. "Weekend Song" – 3:29
4. "Souvenir" – 2:00
5. "The Mexican Connection" (instrumental) – 3:37

Personnel

• Billy Joel – vocals, acoustic piano, keyboards, Moog synthesizer, arrangements
• William "Smitty" Smith – organ
• Richard Bennett – guitars
• Gary Dalton – guitars
• Mike Deasy – guitars
• Don Evans – guitars
• Al Hertzberg – guitars
• Art Munson – guitars
• Raj Rathor – guitars
• Michael Stewart – guitars, arrangements
• Tom Whitehorse – banjo, pedal steel guitar
• Wilton Felder – bass
• Emory Gordy Jr. – bass
• Larry Knechtel – bass
• Ron Tutt – drums
• Joe Clayton – congas, percussion

Template:Col-2 Production

• Michael Stewart – producer
• Ron Malo – engineer
• Joseph M. Palmaccio (erroneously credited to Ted Jensen) – 1998 CD digital remastering
• John Naatjes – tape research
• Ron Coro – art direction, design
• Brian Hagiwara – cover painting
• Peter Cunningham – photography
• Jim Marshall – photography

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1974–75)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name=aus>Template:Cite book</ref>	85
Canadian Albums (RPM)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	16
US Billboard 200<ref name="USchart">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	35