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Leave A Tender Moment Alone - Videos Page
An Innocent Man (1983) |
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Words and Music by Billy Joel
Even though I'm in love Sometimes I get so afraid I'll say something so wrong Just to have something to say I know the moment isn't right To tell the girl a comical line To keep the conversation light I guess I'm just frightened out of my mind But if that's how I feel Then it's the best feeling I've ever known It's undeniably real Leave a tender moment alone Yes I know I'm in love But just when I ought to relax I put my foot in my mouth Cause I'm just avoiding the facts If the girl gets too close If I need some room to escape When the moment arose I'd tell her it's all a mistake But that's not how I feel No that's not the woman I've known She's undeniably real So leave a tender moment alone But it's not only me Breaking down when the tension gets high Just when I'm in a serious mood She is suddenly quiet and shy Leave a tender moment Leave it alone I know the moment isn't right To hold my emotions inside To change the attitude tonight I've run out of places to hide And if that's how I feel Then it's the best feeling I've ever known It's undeniably real Leave a tender moment alone You got to leave a tender moment alone Leave a tender moment Leave it alone You've got to leave a tender moment Leave a tender moment alone 
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Original studio version of "Leave A Tender Moment Alone"
Toots Thielemans accompanies Billy Joel on "Leave A Tender Moment Alone" during Billy's 1983-1984 tour.
Toots Thielemans performs "Leave A Tender Moment Alone" on Late Night with David Letterman from the mid 1980s.
Billy helps Toots Thielemans celebrate his 80th birthday at The Blue Note on April 20, 2002. They played several standards.
Billy on "Leave A Tender Moment Alone" from SiriusXM (audio).
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Billy discusses "Leave A Tender Moment Alone" on New York Hot Tracks from 1984 at 6:57.
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You can see a snippet of Natalie Cole singing "Leave A Tender Moment Alone" at the MusiCares show in 2002 at 1:45, a nice jazzy version; wish it was complete.
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Toots Thielemans covers "Honesty" on his 1979 album, Ample Dimple.
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Toots Thieleman's most famous song is probably "Bluesette."
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Billy said "Leave A Tender Moment" alone shared a similar rhythm to Burt Bacharach songs such as"What The World Needs Now" (sung by Jackie DeShannon, above) . . .
. . . but I think it is more like Bacharach's "Close To You" with the lilting syncopated piano. Here are The Carpenters singing "Close To You."
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. . .and "Walk on By" by Dionne Warwick who sang many Bachrach songs. Bacharach and Hal David composed a string of hits in the 1960s and 1970s.
This is my favorite Bacharach/David song "I Say A Little Prayer (For You)"
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The opening to "Leave A Tender Moment Alone" is reminiscent of the 5th Dimension's cover of "Wedding Bell Blues" . . .
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. . . which was written and first released by Laura Nyro, one of the most underrated singer-songwriters of the early 1970s.
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Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. of the 5th Dimension later became a musical duo (as well as got married) and Marilyn later hosted the 80s music program, Solid Gold. Here is Marilyn singing "The Longest Time" on the program.
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And this is Laura Nyro's "Billy's Blues" which has nothing to do with Billy Joel.
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