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    • DISCOGRAPHY (Detailed)
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • STUDIO ALBUMS
    • Cold Spring Harbor (1971) >
      • Album Page - Cold Spring Harbor
      • She's Got A Way
      • You Can Make Me Free
      • Everybody Loves You Now
      • Why Judy Why
      • Falling Of The Rain
      • Turn Around
      • You Look So Good To Me
      • Tomorrow Is Today
      • Nocturne
      • Got To Begin Again
    • Piano Man (1973) >
      • Album Page - Piano Man
      • Travelin' Prayer
      • Piano Man >
        • Piano Man - Videos Page
      • Ain't No Crime
      • You're My Home
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid
      • Worse Comes To Worst
      • Stop In Nevada
      • If I Only Had The Words (To Tell You)
      • Somewhere Along The Line
      • Captain Jack
    • Streetlife Serenade (1974) >
      • Album Page - Streetlife Serenade
      • Streetlife Serenader
      • Los Angelenos
      • The Great Suburban Showdown
      • Root Beer Rag
      • Roberta
      • The Entertainer
      • Last of the Big Time Spenders
      • Weekend Song
      • Souvenir
      • The Mexican Connection
    • Turnstiles (1976) >
      • Album Page - Turnstiles
      • Say Goodbye to Hollywood
      • Summer, Highland Falls >
        • Summer, Highland Falls - Videos Page
      • All You Wanna Do Is Dance
      • New York State of Mind >
        • New York State of Mind - Videos Page
      • James
      • Prelude/Angry Young Man
      • I've Loved These Days
      • Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) >
        • Miami 2017 - Videos Page
    • The Stranger (1977) >
      • Album Page - The Stranger
      • Movin' Out
      • The Stranger
      • Just The Way You Are
      • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant >
        • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant - Videos Page
      • Vienna >
        • Vienna - Videos Page
      • Only The Good Die Young
      • She's Always A Woman
      • Get It Right The First Time
      • Everybody Has A Dream
    • 52nd Street (1978) >
      • Album Page - 52nd Street
      • Big Shot
      • Honesty
      • My Life
      • Zanzibar
      • Stiletto
      • Rosalinda's Eyes
      • Half A Mile Away
      • Until The Night
      • 52nd Street
    • Glass Houses (1980) >
      • Album Page - Glass Houses
      • You May Be Right
      • Sometimes A Fantasy
      • Don't Ask Me Why
      • It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
      • All For Leyna
      • I Don't Want To Be Alone (Anymore)
      • Sleeping With The Television On
      • C'etait Toi (You Were The One)
      • Close to the Borderline
      • Through the Long Night
    • The Nylon Curtain (1982) >
      • Album Page - The Nylon Curtain
      • Allentown
      • Laura
      • Pressure
      • Goodnight Saigon
      • She's Right On Time
      • A Room of Our Own
      • Surprises
      • Scandinavian Skies
      • Where's The Orchestra
    • An Innocent Man (1983) >
      • Album Page - An Innocent Man
      • Easy Money
      • An Innocent Man
      • The Longest Time >
        • The Longest Time - Videos
      • This Night
      • Tell Her About It >
        • Making of Tell Her About It Video
      • Uptown Girl
      • Careless Talk
      • Christie Lee
      • Leave A Tender Moment Alone >
        • Leave A Tender Moment Alone - Videos
      • Keeping The Faith
    • The Bridge (1986) >
      • Album Page - The Bridge
      • Running On Ice
      • This Is The Time
      • A Matter of Trust
      • Modern Woman
      • Baby Grand
      • Temptation
      • Big Man On Mulberry Street
      • Code of Silence
      • Getting Closer
    • Storm Front (1989) >
      • Album Page - Storm Front
      • That's Not Her Style
      • We Didn't Start The Fire >
        • We Didn't Start The Fire - Videos Page
      • The Downeaster 'Alexa' >
        • The Downeaster 'Alexa' - Videos Page
      • I Go To Extremes
      • Shameless
      • Storm Front
      • Leningrad
      • State of Grace
      • When In Rome
      • And So It Goes
    • River of Dreams (1993) >
      • Album Page - River of Dreams
      • No Man's Land
      • The Great Wall of China
      • Blonde Over Blue
      • A Minor Variation
      • Shades of Grey
      • All About Soul
      • Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
      • The River of Dreams
      • Two Thousand Years
      • Famous Last Words
    • Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
    • All My Life (2007) (single)
  • LIVE ALBUMS
    • Live on WMMR Sigma Sound Studios (1972) >
      • Falling Of The Rain (Live) (1972)
      • Travelin' Prayer (live) (1972)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (live) (1972)
      • She's Got A Way (live) (1972)
      • Everybody Loves You Now (live) (1972)
      • Nocturne (live) (1972)
      • Turn Around (live) (1972)
      • Long, Long Time (live) (1972)
      • Captain Jack (live) (1972)
      • Josephine (live) (1972)
      • Rosalinda (live) (1972)
      • Tomorrow Is Today (live) (1972)
    • Live At The Great American Music Hall (1975)
    • Live At Carnegie Hall (1977)
    • Songs In The Attic (1981) >
      • Album Page - Songs In The Attic (1981)
      • Miami 2017 (live) (1981)
      • Summer, Highland Falls (live) (1981)
      • Streetlife Serenader (live) (1981)
      • Los Angelenos (live) (1981)
      • She's Got A Way (live) (1981)
      • Everybody Loves You Now (live) (1981)
      • Say Goodbye To Hollywood (live) (1981)
      • Captain Jack (live) (1981)
      • You're My Home (live) (1981)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (live) (1981)
      • I've Loved These Days (live) (1981)
    • Live from Long Island (1982)
    • KOHUEPT (1987) >
      • Album Page - Kohuept (1987)
    • Live at Yankee Stadium (1990)
    • Live from The River of Dreams (1993-1994)
    • 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert (2000)
    • 12 Gardens Live (2006)
    • Live At Shea Stadium (2011)
    • A Matter of Trust: The Bridge to Russia (2014) >
      • Album Page - A Matter of Trust (2014)
      • Prelude/Angry Young Man (Live-Russia)
      • Honesty (Live-Russia)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (Live-Russia)
      • She's Always A Woman (Live-Russia)
      • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant (Live-Russia)
      • Goodnight Saigon (Live-Russia) - Billy Joel
      • Stiletto (Live-Russia)
      • Big Man On Mulberry Street (Live-Russia)
      • Baby Grand (Live-Russia)
      • What's Your Name (Live-Russia)
      • The Longest Time (Live-Russia)
      • An Innocent Man (Live-Russia)
      • Pressure (Live-Russia)
      • A Matter of Trust (Live-Russia)
      • It's Still Rock and Roll To Me (Live-Russia)
      • Sometimes A Fantasy (Live-Russia)
      • You May Be Right (Live-Russia)
      • Uptown Girl (Live-Russia)
      • Back In the USSR (Live-Russia)
      • The Times They Are A Changin' (Live-Russia)
      • New York State of Mind (Live-Russia)
    • Live in Miami (2017) (fictional)
    • Live Through The Years (2019)
  • COMPILATIONS & SPECIAL EDITIONS
    • Souvenir (1977)
    • Greatest Hits, I & II (1985) >
      • You're Only Human (Second Wind) - Billy Joel
      • The Night Is Still Young
    • Greatest Hits, III (1997) >
      • To Make You Feel My Love
      • Hey Girl
      • Light As The Breeze
    • The Complete Hits (1997)
    • The Essential Billy Joel (2001)
    • Movin' Out (2002)
    • My Lives (2005) >
      • My Journey's End
      • You've Got Me Hummin'
      • Only A Man
      • Oyster Bay
      • The Siegfried Line
      • New Mexico
      • Cross to Bear
      • Miami 2017 (demo version)
      • These Rhinestone Days
      • Only The Good Die Young (alternate version)
      • The End of the World
      • The Prime of Your Life
      • Elvis Presley Boulevard
      • Nobody Knows But Me
      • Christie Lee (demo)
      • I'll Cry Instead
      • House of Blue Light
      • Money or Love
      • The Times They Are A Changin'
      • Shout
      • All Shook Up
      • Heartbreak Hotel
      • When You Wish Upon A Star
      • In A Sentimental Mood
      • Motorcycle Song
      • You Picked A Real Bad Time
      • A Hard Day's Night
      • Why Should I Worry
      • Where Were You (On Our Wedding Day)?
      • Highway 61 Revisited
      • Don't Worry Baby
      • Elegy: The Great Peconic
      • So Long Reverend Ike
    • The Stranger - Legacy (2008)
    • The Hits (2010)
    • Piano Man - Legacy (2011)
    • The Complete Albums (2011)
    • She's Got A Way - Love Songs (2013)
    • Sadness or Euphoria (2017) (fictional)
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • BIOGRAPHY
  • Timeline
  • NEWS (Official Site)
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  • * * * * * * * * * *
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  • BILLY JOEL BAND
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    • Concerts on Video/DVD
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    • Documentaries et al.
    • Face to Face Tours
    • Havana Jam 1979
    • Music Videos
    • YouTube Channel - One Final Serenade
  • CONTACT US
    • TERMS OF USE & PRIVACY POLICY
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • HOME
  • ALL SONGS
    • TOP TWENTY-FIVE
  • ALL ALBUMS
  • DISCOGRAPHY
    • DISCOGRAPHY (Detailed)
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • STUDIO ALBUMS
    • Cold Spring Harbor (1971) >
      • Album Page - Cold Spring Harbor
      • She's Got A Way
      • You Can Make Me Free
      • Everybody Loves You Now
      • Why Judy Why
      • Falling Of The Rain
      • Turn Around
      • You Look So Good To Me
      • Tomorrow Is Today
      • Nocturne
      • Got To Begin Again
    • Piano Man (1973) >
      • Album Page - Piano Man
      • Travelin' Prayer
      • Piano Man >
        • Piano Man - Videos Page
      • Ain't No Crime
      • You're My Home
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid
      • Worse Comes To Worst
      • Stop In Nevada
      • If I Only Had The Words (To Tell You)
      • Somewhere Along The Line
      • Captain Jack
    • Streetlife Serenade (1974) >
      • Album Page - Streetlife Serenade
      • Streetlife Serenader
      • Los Angelenos
      • The Great Suburban Showdown
      • Root Beer Rag
      • Roberta
      • The Entertainer
      • Last of the Big Time Spenders
      • Weekend Song
      • Souvenir
      • The Mexican Connection
    • Turnstiles (1976) >
      • Album Page - Turnstiles
      • Say Goodbye to Hollywood
      • Summer, Highland Falls >
        • Summer, Highland Falls - Videos Page
      • All You Wanna Do Is Dance
      • New York State of Mind >
        • New York State of Mind - Videos Page
      • James
      • Prelude/Angry Young Man
      • I've Loved These Days
      • Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) >
        • Miami 2017 - Videos Page
    • The Stranger (1977) >
      • Album Page - The Stranger
      • Movin' Out
      • The Stranger
      • Just The Way You Are
      • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant >
        • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant - Videos Page
      • Vienna >
        • Vienna - Videos Page
      • Only The Good Die Young
      • She's Always A Woman
      • Get It Right The First Time
      • Everybody Has A Dream
    • 52nd Street (1978) >
      • Album Page - 52nd Street
      • Big Shot
      • Honesty
      • My Life
      • Zanzibar
      • Stiletto
      • Rosalinda's Eyes
      • Half A Mile Away
      • Until The Night
      • 52nd Street
    • Glass Houses (1980) >
      • Album Page - Glass Houses
      • You May Be Right
      • Sometimes A Fantasy
      • Don't Ask Me Why
      • It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
      • All For Leyna
      • I Don't Want To Be Alone (Anymore)
      • Sleeping With The Television On
      • C'etait Toi (You Were The One)
      • Close to the Borderline
      • Through the Long Night
    • The Nylon Curtain (1982) >
      • Album Page - The Nylon Curtain
      • Allentown
      • Laura
      • Pressure
      • Goodnight Saigon
      • She's Right On Time
      • A Room of Our Own
      • Surprises
      • Scandinavian Skies
      • Where's The Orchestra
    • An Innocent Man (1983) >
      • Album Page - An Innocent Man
      • Easy Money
      • An Innocent Man
      • The Longest Time >
        • The Longest Time - Videos
      • This Night
      • Tell Her About It >
        • Making of Tell Her About It Video
      • Uptown Girl
      • Careless Talk
      • Christie Lee
      • Leave A Tender Moment Alone >
        • Leave A Tender Moment Alone - Videos
      • Keeping The Faith
    • The Bridge (1986) >
      • Album Page - The Bridge
      • Running On Ice
      • This Is The Time
      • A Matter of Trust
      • Modern Woman
      • Baby Grand
      • Temptation
      • Big Man On Mulberry Street
      • Code of Silence
      • Getting Closer
    • Storm Front (1989) >
      • Album Page - Storm Front
      • That's Not Her Style
      • We Didn't Start The Fire >
        • We Didn't Start The Fire - Videos Page
      • The Downeaster 'Alexa' >
        • The Downeaster 'Alexa' - Videos Page
      • I Go To Extremes
      • Shameless
      • Storm Front
      • Leningrad
      • State of Grace
      • When In Rome
      • And So It Goes
    • River of Dreams (1993) >
      • Album Page - River of Dreams
      • No Man's Land
      • The Great Wall of China
      • Blonde Over Blue
      • A Minor Variation
      • Shades of Grey
      • All About Soul
      • Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
      • The River of Dreams
      • Two Thousand Years
      • Famous Last Words
    • Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
    • All My Life (2007) (single)
  • LIVE ALBUMS
    • Live on WMMR Sigma Sound Studios (1972) >
      • Falling Of The Rain (Live) (1972)
      • Travelin' Prayer (live) (1972)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (live) (1972)
      • She's Got A Way (live) (1972)
      • Everybody Loves You Now (live) (1972)
      • Nocturne (live) (1972)
      • Turn Around (live) (1972)
      • Long, Long Time (live) (1972)
      • Captain Jack (live) (1972)
      • Josephine (live) (1972)
      • Rosalinda (live) (1972)
      • Tomorrow Is Today (live) (1972)
    • Live At The Great American Music Hall (1975)
    • Live At Carnegie Hall (1977)
    • Songs In The Attic (1981) >
      • Album Page - Songs In The Attic (1981)
      • Miami 2017 (live) (1981)
      • Summer, Highland Falls (live) (1981)
      • Streetlife Serenader (live) (1981)
      • Los Angelenos (live) (1981)
      • She's Got A Way (live) (1981)
      • Everybody Loves You Now (live) (1981)
      • Say Goodbye To Hollywood (live) (1981)
      • Captain Jack (live) (1981)
      • You're My Home (live) (1981)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (live) (1981)
      • I've Loved These Days (live) (1981)
    • Live from Long Island (1982)
    • KOHUEPT (1987) >
      • Album Page - Kohuept (1987)
    • Live at Yankee Stadium (1990)
    • Live from The River of Dreams (1993-1994)
    • 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert (2000)
    • 12 Gardens Live (2006)
    • Live At Shea Stadium (2011)
    • A Matter of Trust: The Bridge to Russia (2014) >
      • Album Page - A Matter of Trust (2014)
      • Prelude/Angry Young Man (Live-Russia)
      • Honesty (Live-Russia)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (Live-Russia)
      • She's Always A Woman (Live-Russia)
      • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant (Live-Russia)
      • Goodnight Saigon (Live-Russia) - Billy Joel
      • Stiletto (Live-Russia)
      • Big Man On Mulberry Street (Live-Russia)
      • Baby Grand (Live-Russia)
      • What's Your Name (Live-Russia)
      • The Longest Time (Live-Russia)
      • An Innocent Man (Live-Russia)
      • Pressure (Live-Russia)
      • A Matter of Trust (Live-Russia)
      • It's Still Rock and Roll To Me (Live-Russia)
      • Sometimes A Fantasy (Live-Russia)
      • You May Be Right (Live-Russia)
      • Uptown Girl (Live-Russia)
      • Back In the USSR (Live-Russia)
      • The Times They Are A Changin' (Live-Russia)
      • New York State of Mind (Live-Russia)
    • Live in Miami (2017) (fictional)
    • Live Through The Years (2019)
  • COMPILATIONS & SPECIAL EDITIONS
    • Souvenir (1977)
    • Greatest Hits, I & II (1985) >
      • You're Only Human (Second Wind) - Billy Joel
      • The Night Is Still Young
    • Greatest Hits, III (1997) >
      • To Make You Feel My Love
      • Hey Girl
      • Light As The Breeze
    • The Complete Hits (1997)
    • The Essential Billy Joel (2001)
    • Movin' Out (2002)
    • My Lives (2005) >
      • My Journey's End
      • You've Got Me Hummin'
      • Only A Man
      • Oyster Bay
      • The Siegfried Line
      • New Mexico
      • Cross to Bear
      • Miami 2017 (demo version)
      • These Rhinestone Days
      • Only The Good Die Young (alternate version)
      • The End of the World
      • The Prime of Your Life
      • Elvis Presley Boulevard
      • Nobody Knows But Me
      • Christie Lee (demo)
      • I'll Cry Instead
      • House of Blue Light
      • Money or Love
      • The Times They Are A Changin'
      • Shout
      • All Shook Up
      • Heartbreak Hotel
      • When You Wish Upon A Star
      • In A Sentimental Mood
      • Motorcycle Song
      • You Picked A Real Bad Time
      • A Hard Day's Night
      • Why Should I Worry
      • Where Were You (On Our Wedding Day)?
      • Highway 61 Revisited
      • Don't Worry Baby
      • Elegy: The Great Peconic
      • So Long Reverend Ike
    • The Stranger - Legacy (2008)
    • The Hits (2010)
    • Piano Man - Legacy (2011)
    • The Complete Albums (2011)
    • She's Got A Way - Love Songs (2013)
    • Sadness or Euphoria (2017) (fictional)
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • BIOGRAPHY
  • Timeline
  • NEWS (Official Site)
  • TOUR (Official Site)
  • TWITTER
  • YOUTUBE
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS
    • 2020's
    • 2010's
    • 2000's
    • 1990's
    • 1980's
    • 1970's
    • Rolling Stone Articles
  • BILLY JOEL BAND
  • BOOKS & SHEET MUSIC
    • Books
    • Sheet Music
  • LINKS & LISTS
  • PHOTOS
  • ROOT BEER RAG Past Issues
  • STREETLIFE SERENADE Past Issues
  • VIDEOS & CONCERTS
    • Concerts on Video/DVD
    • Concerts on YouTube
    • Documentaries et al.
    • Face to Face Tours
    • Havana Jam 1979
    • Music Videos
    • YouTube Channel - One Final Serenade
  • CONTACT US
    • TERMS OF USE & PRIVACY POLICY
  • * * * * * * * * * *
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​   Well, it's no big sin to stick your two cents in
   If you know when to leave it alone
   But you went over the line
   You couldn't see it was time to go home

       Billy starts out 52nd Street with one of his hardest rocking songs to date, the blistering "Big Shot."    The "big shot" in the song cavorts around New York as if she owns it and as if everyone cares.  They don't.  But she is oblivious to the fact that there is a price to pay for acting like a prima donna.  
​

​     Billy has called "Big Shot" a "hangover" song.   ​Billy sounds a bit like Mick Jagger in this one, and the story is that he wrote the song about Mick's then wife, Bianca Jagger  (though in earlier interviews Billy had said it was about himself, which made no sense in light of the reference to "Halston dress" but it was perhaps an attempt to deflect the true story).  Apparently, Mick had been complaining about Bianca to Billy, and it became the inspiration for the song.  Or, the story is that Billy had a dinner with the couple, and later wrote a song that Mick should sing to her.  If you notice in the video, Billy strikes a classic Mick Jagger pose at 1:27.

Embed from Getty Images
Bianca Jagger rides in on a white horse at  her birthday party at Studio 54 (May 1977).  Poor horse.  Photo by Rose Hartman/Getty Images.

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​Words and Music by Billy Joel
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Well, you went uptown ridin' in your limousine
With your fine Park Avenue clothes
You had the Dom Perignon in your hand
And the spoon up your nose
Ooh, and when you wake up in the mornin'
With your head on fire
And your eyes too bloody to see
Go on and cry in your coffee
But don't come bitchin' to me

Because you had to be a big shot, didn't ya?
You had to open up your mouth
You had to be a big shot, didn't ya?
All your friends were so knocked out
You had to have the last word, last night
You know what everything's about
You had to have a white hot spotlight
You had to be a big shot last night

Well, they were all impressed with your Halston dress
And the people that you knew at Elaine's
And the story of your latest success
Kept 'em so entertained
But now you just don't remember
All the things you said
And you're not sure that you want to know
I'll give you one hint, honey
You sure did put on a show

Yes, yes, you had to be a big shot, didn't ya
You had to prove it to the crowd
You had to be a big shot, didn't ya
All your friends were so knocked out
You had to have the last word, last night
You're so much fun to be around
You had to have the front page, bold type
You had to be a big shot last night
Oh oh whoa whoa oh . . .

Well, it's no big sin to stick your two cents in
If you know when to leave it alone
But you went over the line
You couldn't see it was time to go home
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

You had to be a big shot, didn't ya
You had to open up your mouth
You had to be a big shot, didn't ya
All your friends were so knocked out
​
You had to have the last word, last night
So much fun to be around
You had to have the white hot spotlight
You had to be a big shot last night, oh oh

Oh oh whoa whoa oh . . .
Big shot . . .
Big shot . . .

Billy discusses the "Big Shot."  Subscribe to SiriusXM.

   
     According to Liberty DeVitto, the final guitar part on the song was done in one take by David Brown who joined the band just before the 52nd Street tour.   The part was overdubbed because Billy Joel wasn't satisfied with it.  From DeVitto's 2020 biography, Liberty. 

​     "Big Shot" was a big hit for Billy and became a staple of his live show when he'd somersault or jump off the piano, but it's not always in his current live set anymore.  Too bad, even without the somersault, it's an energetic crowd-pleaser.   The song reached #14 on the charts in the U.S.
​
*          *          *          *          *
          As with some other songs from 52nd Street, Billy recorded a music video for "Big Shot" which features him performing the song live.  It's fun to watch both Billy and drummer Liberty Devitto in this video, they really get into it and ham it up, and Billy finally comes out from behind the piano.  Guitarist Mr. Steve Khan is also impressive and fun to watch.  The videos were relatively rudimentary, mostly simple performances with some creative moments.  When Billy's two-part Video Albums were released in 1986, a new video (see below) for "Big Shot" was recorded which spliced in scenes featuring an actress (Australian comedian Pamela Stephenson of Saturday Night Live) acting out scenes from the song in addition to Billy's original video performance.  See below.
​
       In 2013, Brandon Urie of Panic From the Disco did a solid cover of "Big Shot" at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony honoring Billy and others.  See video.  Billy seemed to enjoy it.   Don Henley, Garth Brooks, Rufus Wainwright and also sang covers of Billy's songs at the ceremony.

​       The Beastie Boys have covered "Big Shot" live in their concerts, click 
here to listen.  Mike D of the Beastie Boys wrote a funny  article explaining why Billy Joel is the "fifth Beastie Boy."  Give it up for Mr. Billy Joel, indeed.
​
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Scenes from the "Big Shot" video.
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Billy and The Lords of 52nd Street.
Picture

Videos
​

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Billy finally gets out from behind the piano in the music video for "Big Shot."   ​© 1978, 2011 Sony Music Entertainment.  

Alternative video for "Big Shot" with scenes featuring Pamela Stephenson, which was created in 1986 for the Billy Joel Video Albums.

Fun live performance from 2006 at MSG.  This was part of the 12 Gardens concerts, but never officially released.

Billy reveals what inspired him to write "Big Shot." 
© 2013 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment.
Live version of "Big Shot" from a concert in Houston in 1979.

Demo version of "Big Shot" without the guitar riffs.

Comments
​

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PicturePublicity photo (1981)
All music and lyrics by Billy Joel, except as noted. Lyrics to Billy Joel songs are © Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC.  This is an unofficial fan site providing information and commentary on Billy Joel's music. This site has no advertisements, makes no money, and does not collect any personal information.  It is not affiliated, endorsed, or sponsored by Billy Joel, UMPG, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Sony Music, Columbia Records, Maritime Music, or any Billy Joel organization.  Billy Joel's official site is at BillyJoel.com.

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    • TOP TWENTY-FIVE
  • ALL ALBUMS
  • DISCOGRAPHY
    • DISCOGRAPHY (Detailed)
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • STUDIO ALBUMS
    • Cold Spring Harbor (1971) >
      • Album Page - Cold Spring Harbor
      • She's Got A Way
      • You Can Make Me Free
      • Everybody Loves You Now
      • Why Judy Why
      • Falling Of The Rain
      • Turn Around
      • You Look So Good To Me
      • Tomorrow Is Today
      • Nocturne
      • Got To Begin Again
    • Piano Man (1973) >
      • Album Page - Piano Man
      • Travelin' Prayer
      • Piano Man >
        • Piano Man - Videos Page
      • Ain't No Crime
      • You're My Home
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid
      • Worse Comes To Worst
      • Stop In Nevada
      • If I Only Had The Words (To Tell You)
      • Somewhere Along The Line
      • Captain Jack
    • Streetlife Serenade (1974) >
      • Album Page - Streetlife Serenade
      • Streetlife Serenader
      • Los Angelenos
      • The Great Suburban Showdown
      • Root Beer Rag
      • Roberta
      • The Entertainer
      • Last of the Big Time Spenders
      • Weekend Song
      • Souvenir
      • The Mexican Connection
    • Turnstiles (1976) >
      • Album Page - Turnstiles
      • Say Goodbye to Hollywood
      • Summer, Highland Falls >
        • Summer, Highland Falls - Videos Page
      • All You Wanna Do Is Dance
      • New York State of Mind >
        • New York State of Mind - Videos Page
      • James
      • Prelude/Angry Young Man
      • I've Loved These Days
      • Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) >
        • Miami 2017 - Videos Page
    • The Stranger (1977) >
      • Album Page - The Stranger
      • Movin' Out
      • The Stranger
      • Just The Way You Are
      • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant >
        • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant - Videos Page
      • Vienna >
        • Vienna - Videos Page
      • Only The Good Die Young
      • She's Always A Woman
      • Get It Right The First Time
      • Everybody Has A Dream
    • 52nd Street (1978) >
      • Album Page - 52nd Street
      • Big Shot
      • Honesty
      • My Life
      • Zanzibar
      • Stiletto
      • Rosalinda's Eyes
      • Half A Mile Away
      • Until The Night
      • 52nd Street
    • Glass Houses (1980) >
      • Album Page - Glass Houses
      • You May Be Right
      • Sometimes A Fantasy
      • Don't Ask Me Why
      • It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
      • All For Leyna
      • I Don't Want To Be Alone (Anymore)
      • Sleeping With The Television On
      • C'etait Toi (You Were The One)
      • Close to the Borderline
      • Through the Long Night
    • The Nylon Curtain (1982) >
      • Album Page - The Nylon Curtain
      • Allentown
      • Laura
      • Pressure
      • Goodnight Saigon
      • She's Right On Time
      • A Room of Our Own
      • Surprises
      • Scandinavian Skies
      • Where's The Orchestra
    • An Innocent Man (1983) >
      • Album Page - An Innocent Man
      • Easy Money
      • An Innocent Man
      • The Longest Time >
        • The Longest Time - Videos
      • This Night
      • Tell Her About It >
        • Making of Tell Her About It Video
      • Uptown Girl
      • Careless Talk
      • Christie Lee
      • Leave A Tender Moment Alone >
        • Leave A Tender Moment Alone - Videos
      • Keeping The Faith
    • The Bridge (1986) >
      • Album Page - The Bridge
      • Running On Ice
      • This Is The Time
      • A Matter of Trust
      • Modern Woman
      • Baby Grand
      • Temptation
      • Big Man On Mulberry Street
      • Code of Silence
      • Getting Closer
    • Storm Front (1989) >
      • Album Page - Storm Front
      • That's Not Her Style
      • We Didn't Start The Fire >
        • We Didn't Start The Fire - Videos Page
      • The Downeaster 'Alexa' >
        • The Downeaster 'Alexa' - Videos Page
      • I Go To Extremes
      • Shameless
      • Storm Front
      • Leningrad
      • State of Grace
      • When In Rome
      • And So It Goes
    • River of Dreams (1993) >
      • Album Page - River of Dreams
      • No Man's Land
      • The Great Wall of China
      • Blonde Over Blue
      • A Minor Variation
      • Shades of Grey
      • All About Soul
      • Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
      • The River of Dreams
      • Two Thousand Years
      • Famous Last Words
    • Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
    • All My Life (2007) (single)
  • LIVE ALBUMS
    • Live on WMMR Sigma Sound Studios (1972) >
      • Falling Of The Rain (Live) (1972)
      • Travelin' Prayer (live) (1972)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (live) (1972)
      • She's Got A Way (live) (1972)
      • Everybody Loves You Now (live) (1972)
      • Nocturne (live) (1972)
      • Turn Around (live) (1972)
      • Long, Long Time (live) (1972)
      • Captain Jack (live) (1972)
      • Josephine (live) (1972)
      • Rosalinda (live) (1972)
      • Tomorrow Is Today (live) (1972)
    • Live At The Great American Music Hall (1975)
    • Live At Carnegie Hall (1977)
    • Songs In The Attic (1981) >
      • Album Page - Songs In The Attic (1981)
      • Miami 2017 (live) (1981)
      • Summer, Highland Falls (live) (1981)
      • Streetlife Serenader (live) (1981)
      • Los Angelenos (live) (1981)
      • She's Got A Way (live) (1981)
      • Everybody Loves You Now (live) (1981)
      • Say Goodbye To Hollywood (live) (1981)
      • Captain Jack (live) (1981)
      • You're My Home (live) (1981)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (live) (1981)
      • I've Loved These Days (live) (1981)
    • Live from Long Island (1982)
    • KOHUEPT (1987) >
      • Album Page - Kohuept (1987)
    • Live at Yankee Stadium (1990)
    • Live from The River of Dreams (1993-1994)
    • 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert (2000)
    • 12 Gardens Live (2006)
    • Live At Shea Stadium (2011)
    • A Matter of Trust: The Bridge to Russia (2014) >
      • Album Page - A Matter of Trust (2014)
      • Prelude/Angry Young Man (Live-Russia)
      • Honesty (Live-Russia)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (Live-Russia)
      • She's Always A Woman (Live-Russia)
      • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant (Live-Russia)
      • Goodnight Saigon (Live-Russia) - Billy Joel
      • Stiletto (Live-Russia)
      • Big Man On Mulberry Street (Live-Russia)
      • Baby Grand (Live-Russia)
      • What's Your Name (Live-Russia)
      • The Longest Time (Live-Russia)
      • An Innocent Man (Live-Russia)
      • Pressure (Live-Russia)
      • A Matter of Trust (Live-Russia)
      • It's Still Rock and Roll To Me (Live-Russia)
      • Sometimes A Fantasy (Live-Russia)
      • You May Be Right (Live-Russia)
      • Uptown Girl (Live-Russia)
      • Back In the USSR (Live-Russia)
      • The Times They Are A Changin' (Live-Russia)
      • New York State of Mind (Live-Russia)
    • Live in Miami (2017) (fictional)
    • Live Through The Years (2019)
  • COMPILATIONS & SPECIAL EDITIONS
    • Souvenir (1977)
    • Greatest Hits, I & II (1985) >
      • You're Only Human (Second Wind) - Billy Joel
      • The Night Is Still Young
    • Greatest Hits, III (1997) >
      • To Make You Feel My Love
      • Hey Girl
      • Light As The Breeze
    • The Complete Hits (1997)
    • The Essential Billy Joel (2001)
    • Movin' Out (2002)
    • My Lives (2005) >
      • My Journey's End
      • You've Got Me Hummin'
      • Only A Man
      • Oyster Bay
      • The Siegfried Line
      • New Mexico
      • Cross to Bear
      • Miami 2017 (demo version)
      • These Rhinestone Days
      • Only The Good Die Young (alternate version)
      • The End of the World
      • The Prime of Your Life
      • Elvis Presley Boulevard
      • Nobody Knows But Me
      • Christie Lee (demo)
      • I'll Cry Instead
      • House of Blue Light
      • Money or Love
      • The Times They Are A Changin'
      • Shout
      • All Shook Up
      • Heartbreak Hotel
      • When You Wish Upon A Star
      • In A Sentimental Mood
      • Motorcycle Song
      • You Picked A Real Bad Time
      • A Hard Day's Night
      • Why Should I Worry
      • Where Were You (On Our Wedding Day)?
      • Highway 61 Revisited
      • Don't Worry Baby
      • Elegy: The Great Peconic
      • So Long Reverend Ike
    • The Stranger - Legacy (2008)
    • The Hits (2010)
    • Piano Man - Legacy (2011)
    • The Complete Albums (2011)
    • She's Got A Way - Love Songs (2013)
    • Sadness or Euphoria (2017) (fictional)
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • BIOGRAPHY
  • Timeline
  • NEWS (Official Site)
  • TOUR (Official Site)
  • TWITTER
  • YOUTUBE
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS
    • 2020's
    • 2010's
    • 2000's
    • 1990's
    • 1980's
    • 1970's
    • Rolling Stone Articles
  • BILLY JOEL BAND
  • BOOKS & SHEET MUSIC
    • Books
    • Sheet Music
  • LINKS & LISTS
  • PHOTOS
  • ROOT BEER RAG Past Issues
  • STREETLIFE SERENADE Past Issues
  • VIDEOS & CONCERTS
    • Concerts on Video/DVD
    • Concerts on YouTube
    • Documentaries et al.
    • Face to Face Tours
    • Havana Jam 1979
    • Music Videos
    • YouTube Channel - One Final Serenade
  • CONTACT US
    • TERMS OF USE & PRIVACY POLICY
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • HOME
  • ALL SONGS
    • TOP TWENTY-FIVE
  • ALL ALBUMS
  • DISCOGRAPHY
    • DISCOGRAPHY (Detailed)
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • STUDIO ALBUMS
    • Cold Spring Harbor (1971) >
      • Album Page - Cold Spring Harbor
      • She's Got A Way
      • You Can Make Me Free
      • Everybody Loves You Now
      • Why Judy Why
      • Falling Of The Rain
      • Turn Around
      • You Look So Good To Me
      • Tomorrow Is Today
      • Nocturne
      • Got To Begin Again
    • Piano Man (1973) >
      • Album Page - Piano Man
      • Travelin' Prayer
      • Piano Man >
        • Piano Man - Videos Page
      • Ain't No Crime
      • You're My Home
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid
      • Worse Comes To Worst
      • Stop In Nevada
      • If I Only Had The Words (To Tell You)
      • Somewhere Along The Line
      • Captain Jack
    • Streetlife Serenade (1974) >
      • Album Page - Streetlife Serenade
      • Streetlife Serenader
      • Los Angelenos
      • The Great Suburban Showdown
      • Root Beer Rag
      • Roberta
      • The Entertainer
      • Last of the Big Time Spenders
      • Weekend Song
      • Souvenir
      • The Mexican Connection
    • Turnstiles (1976) >
      • Album Page - Turnstiles
      • Say Goodbye to Hollywood
      • Summer, Highland Falls >
        • Summer, Highland Falls - Videos Page
      • All You Wanna Do Is Dance
      • New York State of Mind >
        • New York State of Mind - Videos Page
      • James
      • Prelude/Angry Young Man
      • I've Loved These Days
      • Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) >
        • Miami 2017 - Videos Page
    • The Stranger (1977) >
      • Album Page - The Stranger
      • Movin' Out
      • The Stranger
      • Just The Way You Are
      • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant >
        • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant - Videos Page
      • Vienna >
        • Vienna - Videos Page
      • Only The Good Die Young
      • She's Always A Woman
      • Get It Right The First Time
      • Everybody Has A Dream
    • 52nd Street (1978) >
      • Album Page - 52nd Street
      • Big Shot
      • Honesty
      • My Life
      • Zanzibar
      • Stiletto
      • Rosalinda's Eyes
      • Half A Mile Away
      • Until The Night
      • 52nd Street
    • Glass Houses (1980) >
      • Album Page - Glass Houses
      • You May Be Right
      • Sometimes A Fantasy
      • Don't Ask Me Why
      • It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
      • All For Leyna
      • I Don't Want To Be Alone (Anymore)
      • Sleeping With The Television On
      • C'etait Toi (You Were The One)
      • Close to the Borderline
      • Through the Long Night
    • The Nylon Curtain (1982) >
      • Album Page - The Nylon Curtain
      • Allentown
      • Laura
      • Pressure
      • Goodnight Saigon
      • She's Right On Time
      • A Room of Our Own
      • Surprises
      • Scandinavian Skies
      • Where's The Orchestra
    • An Innocent Man (1983) >
      • Album Page - An Innocent Man
      • Easy Money
      • An Innocent Man
      • The Longest Time >
        • The Longest Time - Videos
      • This Night
      • Tell Her About It >
        • Making of Tell Her About It Video
      • Uptown Girl
      • Careless Talk
      • Christie Lee
      • Leave A Tender Moment Alone >
        • Leave A Tender Moment Alone - Videos
      • Keeping The Faith
    • The Bridge (1986) >
      • Album Page - The Bridge
      • Running On Ice
      • This Is The Time
      • A Matter of Trust
      • Modern Woman
      • Baby Grand
      • Temptation
      • Big Man On Mulberry Street
      • Code of Silence
      • Getting Closer
    • Storm Front (1989) >
      • Album Page - Storm Front
      • That's Not Her Style
      • We Didn't Start The Fire >
        • We Didn't Start The Fire - Videos Page
      • The Downeaster 'Alexa' >
        • The Downeaster 'Alexa' - Videos Page
      • I Go To Extremes
      • Shameless
      • Storm Front
      • Leningrad
      • State of Grace
      • When In Rome
      • And So It Goes
    • River of Dreams (1993) >
      • Album Page - River of Dreams
      • No Man's Land
      • The Great Wall of China
      • Blonde Over Blue
      • A Minor Variation
      • Shades of Grey
      • All About Soul
      • Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
      • The River of Dreams
      • Two Thousand Years
      • Famous Last Words
    • Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
    • All My Life (2007) (single)
  • LIVE ALBUMS
    • Live on WMMR Sigma Sound Studios (1972) >
      • Falling Of The Rain (Live) (1972)
      • Travelin' Prayer (live) (1972)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (live) (1972)
      • She's Got A Way (live) (1972)
      • Everybody Loves You Now (live) (1972)
      • Nocturne (live) (1972)
      • Turn Around (live) (1972)
      • Long, Long Time (live) (1972)
      • Captain Jack (live) (1972)
      • Josephine (live) (1972)
      • Rosalinda (live) (1972)
      • Tomorrow Is Today (live) (1972)
    • Live At The Great American Music Hall (1975)
    • Live At Carnegie Hall (1977)
    • Songs In The Attic (1981) >
      • Album Page - Songs In The Attic (1981)
      • Miami 2017 (live) (1981)
      • Summer, Highland Falls (live) (1981)
      • Streetlife Serenader (live) (1981)
      • Los Angelenos (live) (1981)
      • She's Got A Way (live) (1981)
      • Everybody Loves You Now (live) (1981)
      • Say Goodbye To Hollywood (live) (1981)
      • Captain Jack (live) (1981)
      • You're My Home (live) (1981)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (live) (1981)
      • I've Loved These Days (live) (1981)
    • Live from Long Island (1982)
    • KOHUEPT (1987) >
      • Album Page - Kohuept (1987)
    • Live at Yankee Stadium (1990)
    • Live from The River of Dreams (1993-1994)
    • 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert (2000)
    • 12 Gardens Live (2006)
    • Live At Shea Stadium (2011)
    • A Matter of Trust: The Bridge to Russia (2014) >
      • Album Page - A Matter of Trust (2014)
      • Prelude/Angry Young Man (Live-Russia)
      • Honesty (Live-Russia)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (Live-Russia)
      • She's Always A Woman (Live-Russia)
      • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant (Live-Russia)
      • Goodnight Saigon (Live-Russia) - Billy Joel
      • Stiletto (Live-Russia)
      • Big Man On Mulberry Street (Live-Russia)
      • Baby Grand (Live-Russia)
      • What's Your Name (Live-Russia)
      • The Longest Time (Live-Russia)
      • An Innocent Man (Live-Russia)
      • Pressure (Live-Russia)
      • A Matter of Trust (Live-Russia)
      • It's Still Rock and Roll To Me (Live-Russia)
      • Sometimes A Fantasy (Live-Russia)
      • You May Be Right (Live-Russia)
      • Uptown Girl (Live-Russia)
      • Back In the USSR (Live-Russia)
      • The Times They Are A Changin' (Live-Russia)
      • New York State of Mind (Live-Russia)
    • Live in Miami (2017) (fictional)
    • Live Through The Years (2019)
  • COMPILATIONS & SPECIAL EDITIONS
    • Souvenir (1977)
    • Greatest Hits, I & II (1985) >
      • You're Only Human (Second Wind) - Billy Joel
      • The Night Is Still Young
    • Greatest Hits, III (1997) >
      • To Make You Feel My Love
      • Hey Girl
      • Light As The Breeze
    • The Complete Hits (1997)
    • The Essential Billy Joel (2001)
    • Movin' Out (2002)
    • My Lives (2005) >
      • My Journey's End
      • You've Got Me Hummin'
      • Only A Man
      • Oyster Bay
      • The Siegfried Line
      • New Mexico
      • Cross to Bear
      • Miami 2017 (demo version)
      • These Rhinestone Days
      • Only The Good Die Young (alternate version)
      • The End of the World
      • The Prime of Your Life
      • Elvis Presley Boulevard
      • Nobody Knows But Me
      • Christie Lee (demo)
      • I'll Cry Instead
      • House of Blue Light
      • Money or Love
      • The Times They Are A Changin'
      • Shout
      • All Shook Up
      • Heartbreak Hotel
      • When You Wish Upon A Star
      • In A Sentimental Mood
      • Motorcycle Song
      • You Picked A Real Bad Time
      • A Hard Day's Night
      • Why Should I Worry
      • Where Were You (On Our Wedding Day)?
      • Highway 61 Revisited
      • Don't Worry Baby
      • Elegy: The Great Peconic
      • So Long Reverend Ike
    • The Stranger - Legacy (2008)
    • The Hits (2010)
    • Piano Man - Legacy (2011)
    • The Complete Albums (2011)
    • She's Got A Way - Love Songs (2013)
    • Sadness or Euphoria (2017) (fictional)
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • BIOGRAPHY
  • Timeline
  • NEWS (Official Site)
  • TOUR (Official Site)
  • TWITTER
  • YOUTUBE
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS
    • 2020's
    • 2010's
    • 2000's
    • 1990's
    • 1980's
    • 1970's
    • Rolling Stone Articles
  • BILLY JOEL BAND
  • BOOKS & SHEET MUSIC
    • Books
    • Sheet Music
  • LINKS & LISTS
  • PHOTOS
  • ROOT BEER RAG Past Issues
  • STREETLIFE SERENADE Past Issues
  • VIDEOS & CONCERTS
    • Concerts on Video/DVD
    • Concerts on YouTube
    • Documentaries et al.
    • Face to Face Tours
    • Havana Jam 1979
    • Music Videos
    • YouTube Channel - One Final Serenade
  • CONTACT US
    • TERMS OF USE & PRIVACY POLICY
  • * * * * * * * * * *