This was one of the last of Joel's hit's I really liked.Billy was paying tribute to a dying industry and the people behind it.Allentown,Pa. suffered due to the decline of the steel mills.Great song Billy.Thanks for posting this hit.
I lived in Allentown area my entire life. I was born Jan 14, 1974. My mom was also born in Allentown, and her deceased mom and dad were born in the Lehigh Valley, too.
It's interesting how a song can take you right back to a point in your life. This is certainly is one of those for me. Right back to the early 80's when i was a teenager who didn't know my ass from a hole in the wall but thank god we had alot of damn good music at the time.
Thirty years and timeless, quality writing and performance just keeps on giving. The deeper chords in the bridges and solo create a larger environment to this song. Pertinent to the story it tells. Good stuff Billy.
Yep.. Saw billy joel last night at MSG and I mean no disrespect to the current drummer, who does a great job, but there is just an undefined thing that is missing without Liberty.. He is just amazing and I've seen Billy about 5x WITH Liberty, and now about 5x without and I wish they could reconcile..
Steven Lovatto billy is a brilliant song writer 3rd only 2 Paul McCartney and the no1 was john Lennon ( Lennon was out there on his own ) what Chapman took from us in new York was horrendous what a life 2 take the music we lost that day in December we will never no but billy is brilliant indeed
@komodoman Yes it was - June to be precise. Apparantly the video was wrongly labelled - although I never realised there was one released but that's what I've heard, rightly or wrongly.
@madcapopel Yes there might have been some uncertainty as he changed the singing note of Allentown but realized "hmm that worked". Might have been the first time hes done that as he sings it like that most of the time now!
I really dont speak english..I wonder if "Iron or Coke" means working in the steel industry or coke to become a junkie...thank you and great great music its a pitty I never learned to speak english.
Iron and Coke and Chromium Steel. Coke is what they drink during lunchtime. "Have a Coke and A Smile." Dirty Coal Miners are easier to see when they are smiling. Glad i could help.
@iamchody Isn't it "Iron and COAL, Chromium Steel" ? You know, like two ores that come from the ground used in the factories in Allentown? And either way, it doesnt negate my point - they're so so coked out.
@1ring2rule3pigs LOL! Us welders & metallurgists are hip to "coke" as well. Didn't get the Bullock reference tho. About that, I'm a Bullock fan myself, and a good buddy just built a motorcycle for Jesse James. He told me he saw that ugly Bombshell McGee at the shop a lot, but didn't put it together till he saw it on the news. He's a good guy & didn't like being in the middle of that. Why would you need to cheat on Sandra Bullock? That's ridiculous!!!
@HonRevPTB There's a scene in "All about Steve" where Bullock's on a bus and talking about pig iron. She then goes on to explain the use of coke in the smelting process. I'm not really a Bullock fan, but I AM a James anti-fan. Did you know that guy's not REALLY related to Jesse James? His gramps took the name when he married a James or something like that. He said so himself on the 1st episode? of Monster Garage. Point is he's cheap and should ride his chopper really fast w/out a helmet.
I had a Canine companion named "Toto", once. Does that mean i should move to Ethiopia and starve to death? Or, does it mean that i should make whooopeee w/ a Hooker, named "Rosanna" and not apply a protective coating, of some sort, on my Helmet? Both, i assume.
It interesting that most of "our" manufacturing is now done in places we have spent a long time fighting, despising or colonising........Japan, China or India..........so may be its just a reflection of our inability to play fair in a previous life..........has now come round to bight us in the ass.
I love being one of the people who think Mark Rivera hitting a metal pipe with a hammer is worth all caps and a couple of exclamation marks!
This was one of the last of Joel's hit's I really liked.Billy was paying tribute to a dying industry and the people behind it.Allentown,Pa. suffered due to the decline of the steel mills.Great song Billy.Thanks for posting this hit.
I wish I actually got to see Billy Joel back then. Wow, he sure is great!
I lived in Allentown area my entire life. I was born Jan 14, 1974. My mom was also born in Allentown, and her deceased mom and dad were born in the Lehigh Valley, too.
The timing by Mark Rivera on the pipe is colossal
i absolutely love the beginning where you can see the drummer loving what hes doing
1984 and even then there were people hittin' the pipe..
It's interesting how a song can take you right back to a point in your life. This is certainly is one of those for me. Right back to the early 80's when i was a teenager who didn't know my ass from a hole in the wall but thank god we had alot of damn good music at the time.
Love this song , love the drums, love Billy Joel, top man
Thirty years and timeless, quality writing and performance just keeps on giving. The deeper chords in the bridges and solo create a larger environment to this song. Pertinent to the story it tells. Good stuff Billy.
アレンタウンを初めて聴いたとき なぜか日本の佐渡の銀山を思い出がよぎる、不思議だなぁ！日本の歴史は、好きだったけど、もうずいぶん前に、学校で習ったから、すっかり忘れていますよ！
いつかきっとかなう。ビリージョエルさんのオネスティ最高！近い将来 教科書に、この〽もすきですよ！また 記載したら(･∀･)ｲｲなぁ😄
Liberty DeVito. One of the most monster and underrated drummers of all time.
+patton303 Absolutely Agree 110%! Or they said on M*A*S*H , The instrument has yet to be invented that can measure my indifference to that remark!
Yep.. Saw billy joel last night at MSG and I mean no disrespect to the current drummer, who does a great job, but there is just an undefined thing that is missing without Liberty.. He is just amazing and I've seen Billy about 5x WITH Liberty, and now about 5x without and I wish they could reconcile..
There was some ill feeling between the two over money I think
He said Dino Danelli of the Rascals was his idol.
This song is LEGIT 🙏🏽
One of the greatest songwriters ever....Period...
Steven Lovatto no john Lennon was
Stewart Sanders True. Thats why i said "one of the greatest"
Steven Lovatto billy is a brilliant song writer 3rd only 2 Paul McCartney and the no1 was john Lennon ( Lennon was out there on his own ) what Chapman took from us in new York was horrendous what a life 2 take the music we lost that day in December we will never no but billy is brilliant indeed
Stewart Sanders Ok...
Stewart Sanders don't forget Bob Dylan too
This concert actually took place in June 1984. The first half was broadcast live by the BBC.
"The Bridge" tour...still one of my top 5 all-time concerts. Billy at his height.
The Bridge was my first CD.... changed my life
Seen Billy back in 87 mark was still banging the pipe then
I really miss this drummer in Billy's band. Why would Billy drop one of the all time top drummers
He retired
Great show, Billly and the kids at best.
Que talento de este señor ❤
Great song. Thanks for posting.
Great video !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
love this Song and the Metal Pipie !!
This song's lyrics are more poignant and relevant today, than almost 30 years ago when it was written.
I LOVE YOU AMERICA!
Great video, thanks for posting it.
I grew up on the jersey shore. Billy was having a house built that from an ariel view looked like a piano.
the drummer is feelin it
So GREAT!! Check out the more recent concerts for awesome sound! Jetvnane something in Tokyo.. Great sound and video!
What was true then, is true now.
the pipe rocks!!!!!!
@AnaraneSeragone It was amaaaazing. It's so great these vids are here tho. We're lucky for that, right? :)
Joel!!
Zawsze świeże, młode, miłe a to 40lat. :)
@komodoman Yes it was - June to be precise. Apparantly the video was wrongly labelled - although I never realised there was one released but that's what I've heard, rightly or wrongly.
@madcapopel Yes there might have been some uncertainty as he changed the singing note of Allentown but realized "hmm that worked". Might have been the first time hes done that as he sings it like that most of the time now!
@mikeymolly1 You're are right, we really *are* lucky! We can enjoy life through other people's vids!
I really dont speak english..I wonder if "Iron or Coke" means working in the steel industry or coke to become a junkie...thank you and great great music its a pitty I never learned to speak english.
Iron and Coke and Chromium Steel. Coke is what they drink during lunchtime. "Have a Coke and A Smile." Dirty Coal Miners are easier to see when they are smiling. Glad i could help.
Hugo Gutierrez
No. Coke is unrefined coal.
@SuperBrandone I live down town, I love it, you obviously never have been here, and if you don't like allentown, trust me, it does'nt like you either
A man could graduate HS and get a good job,buy a house, and raise a family while his wife stayed home
Yeah right there were allentowns long b4 B.O.
@iamchody Isn't it "Iron and COAL, Chromium Steel" ? You know, like two ores that come from the ground used in the factories in Allentown?
And either way, it doesnt negate my point - they're so so coked out.
そしてこのイントロダクションは、後に渡辺美里の『10Years』によってfeatureされた。
@1ring2rule3pigs LOL! Us welders & metallurgists are hip to "coke" as well. Didn't get the Bullock reference tho. About that, I'm a Bullock fan myself, and a good buddy just built a motorcycle for Jesse James. He told me he saw that ugly Bombshell McGee at the shop a lot, but didn't put it together till he saw it on the news. He's a good guy & didn't like being in the middle of that. Why would you need to cheat on Sandra Bullock? That's ridiculous!!!
Yup, 1983. General Motors had laid off its workers. Same old story...
This is 1984 actually.
Holy shit, they're all so coked out. He even says "Iron COKE Chromium Steel," at 1:47. Bahaha, I love the 80s.
That’s the original lyric as well.
Must be Slipknots influence?
@HonRevPTB
There's a scene in "All about Steve" where Bullock's on a bus and talking about pig iron. She then goes on to explain the use of coke in the smelting process.
I'm not really a Bullock fan, but I AM a James anti-fan. Did you know that guy's not REALLY related to Jesse James? His gramps took the name when he married a James or something like that. He said so himself on the 1st episode? of Monster Garage. Point is he's cheap and should ride his chopper really fast w/out a helmet.
I had a Canine companion named "Toto", once. Does that mean i should move to Ethiopia and starve to death? Or, does it mean that i should make whooopeee w/ a Hooker, named "Rosanna" and not apply a protective coating, of some sort, on my Helmet? Both, i assume.
lars ulrich
It interesting that most of "our" manufacturing is now done in places we have spent a long time fighting, despising or colonising........Japan, China or India..........so may be its just a reflection of our inability to play fair in a previous life..........has now come round to bight us in the ass.
@TheRimDoctor LOL
Not 93, this is definitely the late 80s
the drummer is feelin it