![]() And in between the obvious selections you have some of Joel’s tastiest deep nuggets, including the Leon Russell-esque opening track “Travelin’ Prayer”, the Jimmy Cliff-inflected “Worse Comes to Worst” and tunes like “Ain’t No Crime” and “Stop in Nevada”, songs that further punctuated the Western motif Joel wove throughout this record, significantly inspired by his future touring partner Elton John’s 1970 masterpiece Tumbleweed Connection. And of course, there is closing number “Captain Jack,” the studio rendition of the song whose bootlegged live version became an underground smash on AOR radio thanks to its controversial lyrical arc about a heroin dealer who did business outside a housing project across the street from Joel’s apartment in Oyster Bay. “The Ballad of Billy the Kid” finds the singer drawing parallels to his own rogue career in pop with the notorious bankrobber who shares his first name atop orchestral melodies worthy of the Los Angeles Wrecking Crew. Then you have “You’re My Home,” a mid-tempo ballad that’s appeared on more lovelorn mixtapes than one can imagine. Of course there is the unforgettable title cut that recounts Joel’s brief tenure moonlighting at a Hollywood piano bar under the name Bill Martin. ![]() When you look through the track list of this record’s original 10 tracks, there are no less than four hit songs amidst the ranks of this lush California canyon-flavored LP.
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