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Monday, May 5, 2014

"She's Got a Way" by Billy Joel

Song#:  0829
Date:  11/21/1981
Debut:  79
Peak:  23
Weeks:  14
Genre:  Pop



Pop Bits:  Joel recycled songs from his early albums in a live setting for the LP "Songs in the Attic." The album's first single, "Say Goodbye to Hollywood," was a moderate success getting to #17. This second single wouldn't reach the Top 20, but it has had a longer life on AC radio than "Say Goodbye." This song first appeared as the opening track to Joel's debut album, "Cold Spring Harbor," in 1971.

ReduxReview:  This is a nice "lost" song from Joel that he revived. It has become a lasting song thanks to numerous covers in piano bars across the world. Apparently Joel didn't like the song later on thinking it was too sappy and sentimental. But then decided that everyone writes those so why not enjoy it. I've always thought it was good song.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Joel's debut album "Cold Spring Harbor" was basically a mess. Signed to the small Family Productions label, the original mastering of the album was done incorrectly. The mastering ran the tapes slightly faster which sped up the tempo of the songs. This affected Joel's voice as well and gave it a "chipmunk" quality. After hearing the album for the first time, it has been written that Joel grabbed the LP from the player and went outside and threw it into the street. The album was a failure on initial release and did not chart. Later, after Joel's many successes, Family Productions (via Columbia Records) re-mastered the album and altered some of the songs and reissued the LP in 1983. It still didn't catch on only reaching #158 on the album chart.

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