The Ballad of Billy the Kid (Live 1975 / Wildcard Remaster)

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some wild trivia about Billy Joel's "The Ballad of Billy the Kid (Live 1975 / Wildcard Remaster)" from the Midnight Special 1975 album, spinning now on THE ZOO! This song, originally from the 1973 Piano Man album, is a fictionalized tale of the infamous outlaw, but Billy Joel admitted in a 1975 ZigZag magazine interview that it’s “historically totally inaccurate as a story.” He called it an “experiment with an impressionist type of lyric,” more about vibe than facts, aiming to evoke the Old West like The Magnificent Seven. Joel worked closely with arranger Jimmie Haskell to craft the song’s cinematic string section, capturing that Western flair. Despite its inaccuracies—like claiming Billy the Kid was from Wheeling, West Virginia, or that he robbed banks—Joel wrote the entire song in one day, intending it as a playful spoof on rock-star bravado.

The live 1975 performance on The Midnight Special is a fan favorite, showcasing Joel’s early energy with Doug Stegmeyer on bass and, likely, Rhys Clark on drums, as noted by the fan site One Final Serenade. Fans on r/BillyJoel praise the song’s storytelling, with some giving it a 10/10 for its Copland-esque orchestral breaks and horn/piano instrumental. However, not all critics were kind; The New York Times called it a “bombastic throwaway,” while others, like The Los Angeles Times, admired Joel’s knack for story songs. Fun fact: Joel once joked in an interview that, at 19, he thought anything past New Jersey was “the West,” explaining the song’s quirky geography. Fans on the Billy Joel Fans Facebook group often debate whether the song nods to Joel himself, a Long Island “Billy” with a rebellious streak.

Billy Joel, born William Martin Joel on May 9, 1949, in the Bronx, New York, kicked off his musical journey in Hicksville, Long Island, where his parents pushed him into piano lessons at age four. By 14, inspired by the British Invasion and soul music, he was playing in bands. His first gig was with The Echoes (later The Lost Souls) in 1963, followed by a stint with The Hassles, a rock and blue-eyed soul group, recording two albums in the late 1960s. After a brief detour with the heavy metal duo Attila, Joel went solo in 1971 with the poorly produced Cold Spring Harbor, which locked him into a bad contract. To escape, he performed incognito in Los Angeles piano bars as Bill Martin—a story immortalized in “Piano Man.” His big break came when a live recording of “Captain Jack” from a 1972 Sigma Sound Studio performance caught fire on Philadelphia’s WMMR, leading to his Columbia Records deal and the 1973 release of Piano Man.

Want to dive deeper into Billy Joel’s world? Check out his official website for tour dates, news, and more. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest updates. Fans can connect on the Billy Joel Fans Facebook group or explore One Final Serenade and A Billy Joel Photo Website for photos, trivia, and fan content. Keep it groovy, Zoo Freaks, and stay tuned to THE ZOO for more classic spins!