One Final Serenade: Songs of Billy Joel
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Zanzibar
(52nd Street) (1978) |
This is a nicely done video for "Zanzibar" by Bennett Media.
 Download "Zanzibar"
Me, I'm trying just to get to second base
And I'd steal if if she only gave the sign She's gonna give the go ahead The inning isn't over yet for me, for me Billy is in fine form on the jazzy "Zanzibar," one of several jazz-influenced songs on the album along with "Stiletto," "Half A Mile Away" and "52nd Street." "Zanzibar' sounds like a Steely Dan tune, but with more street bravado.
Billy explained on SiriusXM in 2016 that he wanted to write a jazzy piece and the title "Zanzibar" was stuck in his head. He originally wrote it as a mysterious exotic song, but then a comment by producer Phil Ramone prompted Billy to adopt the setting of a jazzy sports bar and a barfly who falls for a waitress. The baseball and sports metaphors work well ("me I'm trying just to get to second base and I'd steal it if she only gave the sign") and the trumpet solo by Freddie Hubbard is brilliant. Listen to Billy explain it:
Billy discusses the song, from SiriusXM.
The late Freddie Hubbard performed the trumpet solo on "Zanzibar." Photo: Brian McMillen.
This is a great song, but did not get much recognition at the time. It's now a regular part of Billy's live concerts and is often cited as a good "deep cut" that is finding new life. Billy will sometimes change up the lyrics in concert, including referring to "Rose he knows he'll never make the Hall of Fame" instead of "Rose he knows he's such a credit to the game." You can watch the live version from 2008's Shea Stadium concert (see video, right) which has a great extended flugelhorn solo by Carl Fisher.
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Ali dances and the audience applauds
Though he's bathed in sweat he hasn't lost his style Ali don't you go downtown You gave away another round for free Me, I'm just another face at Zanzibar But the waitress always serves a secret smile She's waiting out in Shantytown She's gonna pull the curtains down for me, for me I've got the old man's car, I've got a jazz guitar I've got a tab at Zanzibar Tonight that's where I'll be, I'll be 
Rose, he knows he's such a credit to the game, But the Yankees grab the headlines every time Melodrama's so much fun In black and white for everyone to see Me, I'm trying just to get to second base And I'd steal it if she only gave the sign She's gonna give the go ahead The inning isn't over yet for me, for me I've got the old man's car, I've got a jazz guitar I've got a tab at Zanzibar Tonight that's where I'll be Tell the waitress I'll come back to Zanzibar I'll be hiding in the darkness with my beer She's waiting out in Shantytown She's gonna pull the curtains down for me, for me I've got the old man's car, I've got a jazz guitar I've got a tab at Zanzibar Tonight that's where I'll be, I'll be. This is a live version of "Zanzibar" from 1979, in Houston, with a nice saxophone solo by Richie Cannata.
"Zanzibar" from Live at Shea Stadium. Carl Fisher is excellent.
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