Scenes from an Italian Restaurant: Difference between revisions
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Although never released as a [[single (music)|single]], it has become one of Joel's most celebrated compositions among fans, appearing on most of his [[compilation album]]s. The song is effectively a [[wiktionary:Medley|medley]] of three individual songs which are fused together. In an interview, Joel cites the second side of [[The Beatles]] album ''[[Abbey Road]]'' as one of the main influences behind it. The song starts with a gentle melodic [[piano]] [[ballad]], which sets the scene of two old classmates in an [[Italy|Italian]] [[restaurant]], moving on to a triumphant and uptempo [[jazz]]-influenced piece in the middle, with a clarinet and saxophone solo, which then segues into a [[rock and roll]] section (which Joel refers to as "The Ballad of Brenda and Eddie"). |
Although never released as a [[single (music)|single]], it has become one of Joel's most celebrated compositions among fans, appearing on most of his [[compilation album]]s. The song is effectively a [[wiktionary:Medley|medley]] of three individual songs which are fused together. In an interview, Joel cites the second side of [[The Beatles]] album ''[[Abbey Road]]'' as one of the main influences behind it. The song starts with a gentle melodic [[piano]] [[ballad]], which sets the scene of two old classmates in an [[Italy|Italian]] [[restaurant]], moving on to a triumphant and uptempo [[jazz]]-influenced piece in the middle, with a clarinet and saxophone solo, which then segues into a [[rock and roll]] section (which Joel refers to as "The Ballad of Brenda and Eddie"). |
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On May 6 1977, before the song's official release, Joel premiered the song at [[Long Island University C.W. Post Campus]] which is located |
On May 6 1977, before the song's official release, Joel premiered the song at [[Long Island University C.W. Post Campus]] which is located on [[Long Island, New York]]. He dedicated the song to Christiano's restaurant which is located in [[Syosset, New York]]. |
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At 7 minutes and 37 seconds, it is the longest of Joel's studio cuts. |
At 7 minutes and 37 seconds, it is the longest of Joel's studio cuts. |
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Revision as of 00:25, 22 March 2010
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"Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" is a song from Billy Joel's 1977 album The Stranger.
Although never released as a single, it has become one of Joel's most celebrated compositions among fans, appearing on most of his compilation albums. The song is effectively a medley of three individual songs which are fused together. In an interview, Joel cites the second side of The Beatles album Abbey Road as one of the main influences behind it. The song starts with a gentle melodic piano ballad, which sets the scene of two old classmates in an Italian restaurant, moving on to a triumphant and uptempo jazz-influenced piece in the middle, with a clarinet and saxophone solo, which then segues into a rock and roll section (which Joel refers to as "The Ballad of Brenda and Eddie").
On May 6 1977, before the song's official release, Joel premiered the song at Long Island University C.W. Post Campus which is located on Long Island, New York. He dedicated the song to Christiano's restaurant which is located in Syosset, New York.
At 7 minutes and 37 seconds, it is the longest of Joel's studio cuts.
After years of speculation about which restaurant exactly inspired the song, Joel stated on The Stranger 30th anniversary edition DVD interview, that the song was written about a restaurant called Fontana di Trevi, which was located across from Carnegie Hall in Manhattan. While Joel had a series of concerts there in June 1977, he frequented the restaurant. He does also state that it was a combination of places, but Fontana di Trevi was on his mind while he was writing the song.
In the Broadway production Movin' Out, the lyrics are changed slightly to have the Brenda and Eddie story take place in 1965 instead of 1975.
