Billy Joel Plays ‘Los Angelenos’ for the First Time in 4 DECADES: Here’s Why

Billy Joel is currently performing at his string of shows at Madison Square Garden and he played a song that he never performed live for decades.

According to Rolling Stone, the musician told the crowd that the next song he "never do" the song he's about to play and many were surprised as he started playing "Los Angelenos."

The track had been released for a while, but it took him 42 years to play again. "We haven't done this since the Eighties I think. We'll give it a shot," he told concertgoers.

Why Billy Joel Doesn't Perform 'Los Angelenos' at Shows

Although the musician never revealed in the concert why he had never played the song for so many years, the outlet suggested that comments about the track might be the reason.

"Los Angelenos" was one of the songs included in the musician's 1974 album, "Streetlife Serenade," which was largely ignored by the public.

Stephen Holden, a critic for the outlet, previously wrote that the song presents a "hackneyed picture postcard of L.A. as a sexual wasteland."

Later on, the musician revealed in an interview that some of his early musical projects were uneven because he was not allowed to record his songs with his touring band, but rather, he played them with session guys.

Joel noted that he didn't like how his earlier songs sounded, even the performances because they were "very polished and kinda slick and formulaic."

What the singer really wished was to record with his own band, which he calls the "New York, Long Island guys."

By the late 1970s, Billy Joel, also known as Piano Man, collaborated with Phile Ramone and he was able to record with his touring band. After releasing "The Stranger," he became a notable name in the industry.

Billy Joel Tour 2023

The singer has several concerts this year as he still has a few Madison Square Garden residency shows throughout 2023. His next performance at the famed New York venue will be on May 5, 2023, which is now sold out.

In addition, he also has a tour with Stevie Nicks titled "Two Icons One Night." Their next scheduled show will be at the Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 19, 2023.

Billy Joel will also take the stage of the BST Hyde Park in London, United Kingdom, on July 7, 2023.

For more information about his upcoming shows, visit his official websites in this link.

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Billy Joel, Tour, Concert, Show, Performance, Residency, Madison Square Garden, Piano, News, Music