I popped the roof last night and the iPhone’ random music play stumbled upon Billy Joel, singing New York State Of Mind – live. I am embarrassed to say I haven’t given it a listen in 6 months. Perhaps you need a recap?

My babe’s away so I visited my buddies in Green Point and headed home for a Woolies microwave steam chickie veg (it’s new – try it – it’s good) at about 8. I dropped the top and cruised Ocean View Drive, as the bluetooth kicked in. I switched through the tunes using the MINI steering-wheel bluetooth-enabled controls. And boom, just like that, the all too special opening piano chords came through. It was New York State Of Mind – with Billy quietly nailing it in his hometown – live in New York. I knew it had to be New York because when he goes through the newspaper names for the second time around (the live version dry-humps the 8 minute mark), he throws in the New York Post and The News Day (instead of the New York Times and The Daily News). Similarly when he’s going through the various neighbourhoods a second time around, he mentions Riverhead and Oceans Side (instead of Chinatown and Riverside). Over time (he’s been singing this tune for a long time) he obviously received tongue-in-cheek flack from the other New York neighbourhoods and boroughs for not showing any love.

I’ve been drinking since I got home and according to my research I can confirm that I am in fact correct – it was in New York (see here). This website tells me that my particular version is from the ’12 Gardens Live’ album, which, upon further research was indeed an auspicious occasion:

The title of this concert album by Billy Joel–12 GARDENS: LIVE–takes its name from the singer-songwriter’s dozen consecutive sold-out shows at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, from which these recordings were taken.

[more here]

You can buy the version I have on the US iTunes here. If you don’t have a US iTunes account, you can get one here (no need for US credit card).

So anyway I searched YouTube and found this classic one from 1978 at the BBC. But the sound is badly out of sync. It’s still worth a look.

Then I found this beauty (press play in the video above) which was from 2006 – live in Tokyo.

Those of you who watched him playing in SA a few years back (I did) should count yourselves lucky, as the years of addiction seem to be catching up. This article quotes Billy as saying he is too old to tour anymore.

Glad I got to see him and this epic tune live.

Oh, and he is still not speaking to Elton for those ‘drinking problem’ and rehab remarks he made.

You can tell my research sent me down a dark hole.

We need to do more of these. Got ‘The Entertainer‘ playing now…

“I played all kinds of palaces, I’ve laid all kinds of girls”

Mental.

Goodnight Saigon right here.

Jesus.