Billy Joel- New York State of Mind- San Francisco 6-75

7/25/24 the unofficial mayor of New York City, Billy Joel,  concluded the unprecedented 150th show at Madison Square Garden, 104 in his monthly home stand. Mind-boggling, to be sure, yet the In the Studio archive contains impressive live performances from William Martin Joel and band from nearly fifty years ago.

I have always marveled at what an excellent live band Billy Joel has led for almost a half century, and to bolster that contention, I present Exhibit “A” from a live performance of the then new song “New York State of Mind” in June, 1975 in San Francisco, which would finally appear on a studio release a year later on Turnstiles. This may be the earliest known live recording of the gem, but most certainly it would be one of the last performances where no one in the audience applauds in recognition during the piano intro! –Redbeard