52nd Street is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released on October 13, 1978. It was the first of four Joel albums to top the Billboard charts and earned him two Grammys (for a total of four). It was also the first ever music CD to be commercialized. Three songs reached the Top 40 in the United States, contributing to the album's success: "My Life" (#3), "Big Shot" (#14), and "Honesty" (#24). It was similarly well received by critics, earning the 1979 Grammy for Album of the Year. This Grammy was presented to its producer, Phil Ramone. Read Full Bio52nd Street is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released on October 13, 1978. It was the first of four Joel albums to top the Billboard charts and earned him two Grammys (for a total of four). It was also the first ever music CD to be commercialized.
Three songs reached the Top 40 in the United States, contributing to the album's success: "My Life" (#3), "Big Shot" (#14), and "Honesty" (#24). It was similarly well received by critics, earning the 1979 Grammy for Album of the Year. This Grammy was presented to its producer, Phil Ramone. Upon Ramone's death, 52nd Street's Album of the Year Grammy was passed on to Joel.
Allmusic praises Joel for expanding stylistically on 1977's The Stranger, describing 52nd Street as "more sophisticated and somewhat jazzy." (Jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard guests on "Zanzibar".) The title is a reference to 52nd Street, which was one of New York City's jazz centers in the middle of the century. Joel's label was headquartered on 52nd Street (in the CBS Building) at the time of the album's release. The studio in which 52nd Street was recorded was also on 52nd Street, a block away from the CBS Building.
On October 1, 1982, 52nd Street became the first album to be commercially released on compact disc by Sony Music Entertainment when it went on sale in Japan. In 2003, the album was ranked number 352 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Three songs reached the Top 40 in the United States, contributing to the album's success: "My Life" (#3), "Big Shot" (#14), and "Honesty" (#24). It was similarly well received by critics, earning the 1979 Grammy for Album of the Year. This Grammy was presented to its producer, Phil Ramone. Upon Ramone's death, 52nd Street's Album of the Year Grammy was passed on to Joel.
Allmusic praises Joel for expanding stylistically on 1977's The Stranger, describing 52nd Street as "more sophisticated and somewhat jazzy." (Jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard guests on "Zanzibar".) The title is a reference to 52nd Street, which was one of New York City's jazz centers in the middle of the century. Joel's label was headquartered on 52nd Street (in the CBS Building) at the time of the album's release. The studio in which 52nd Street was recorded was also on 52nd Street, a block away from the CBS Building.
On October 1, 1982, 52nd Street became the first album to be commercially released on compact disc by Sony Music Entertainment when it went on sale in Japan. In 2003, the album was ranked number 352 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Big Shot
Billy Joel Lyrics
Well, you went uptown riding in your limousine
With your fine Park Avenue clothes
You had the Dom Pérignon in your hand
And the spoon up your nose
And when you wake up in the morning
With your head on fire
And your eyes too bloody to see
Go on and cry in your coffee
But don't come bitchin' to me
Because you had to be a big shot, didn't you
You had to open up your mouth
You had to be a big shot, didn't you
All your friends were so knocked out
You had to have the last word, last night
You know what everything's about
You had to have a white hot spotlight
You had to be a big shot last night
They were all impressed with your Halston dress
And the people that you knew at Elaine's
And the story of your latest success
Kept 'em so entertained
Oh, but now you just don't remember
All the things you said
And you're not sure you want to know
I'll give you one hint, honey
You sure did put on a show
Yes, yes, you had to be a big shot, didn't you
You had to prove it to the crowd
You had to be a big shot, didn't you
All your friends were so knocked out
You had to have the last word, last night
So much fun to be around
You had to have the front page, bold type
You had to be a big shot last night
Well, it's no big sin to stick your two cents in
If you know when to leave it alone
But you went over the line
You couldn't see it was time to go home
No, no, no, no, no, no, you had to be a big shot, didn't you
You had to open up your mouth
You had to be a big shot, didn't you
All your friends were so knocked out
You had to have the last word, last night
So much fun to be around
You had to have a white hot spotlight
You had to be a big shot last night
Big shot
Big shot
Big shot
Big shot
Big shot
Big shot
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Billy Joel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
undori
@Thecupheadfan183 to be fair,you have to have a very high IQ to understand [SPAMTON G SPAMTON].
The character is very deep,and without a solid grasp of deltarune's lore,many little details will go over the casual player's head.
His catchphrase,"[NOW'S YOUR CHANCE TO BE A BIG SHOT!] and his appearance takes inspiration from the big shot soda commercial that was created in 1997,which also happens to be his favorite year.
They have the intellectual capacity to truly understand that he isn't just funny and quirky,he also has a deep lore that represents real life themes.
As a consequence,people who dislike SPAMTON G SPAMTON really ARE idiots.
Of course they wouldn't appreciate,for instance,the humour in Spamton's existential catchphrase "[NOW'S YOUR CHANCE TO BE A BIG SHOT!]",which again,is a very clever and subtle reference to a heavily unknown commercial from the 90s.
I'm smirking right now just imagining one of those boomers scratching their heads in confusion as toby fox's genius unfolds itself on their television and computer screens.What fools...Oh,how i pity them😂.
And before you ask,yes,i do have a [number1ratedsalesman1997] tatoo.
And no,you cannot see it,it is for the ladie's eyes only. Even then,they still have to show a deep understanding of his lore to have a chance to see it.
Andy See
For any Deltarune fans who stumbled on to this song, loved it, and want to check out more from Billy Joel, here's a playlist that would fit on a single CD.
1. Piano Man
2. The Entertainer
3. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
4. Just the Way You are
5. Only the Good Die Young
6. My Life
7. Honesty
8. Big Shot (this song)
9. You May be Right
10. It's Still Rock N' Roll to Me
11. Don't ask Me Why
12. Allentown
13. Tell Her about it
14. Uptown Girl
15. Keeping the Faith
16. You're only Human (Second Wind)
17. This is the Time
18. We didn't Start the Fire
19. The River of Dreams
Yeah, I know I didn't put any songs here that weren't top 40 hits. This is for Billy Joel newbies.
Mr. Sherwood
Man, what a great song, I bet the comments are going to be extremely relevant and not all be about a mad salesman
Bionic Birb
@HKEnjoyer [[Pull the lever, Kronk!]] IT BURNS
HKEnjoyer
@Bionic Birb skill issue
HKEnjoyer
@Bionic Birb lmao
Bionic Birb
@HKEnjoyer IT’S A CHARACTER NOT A [[dank maymay]]. [[Therefore]] I CAN NEVER [[I am Dead! Not big soup rice]]!!
HKEnjoyer
@Bionic Birb dead meme
KipperTheArt
Fun song. You can tell the guys were having a great time playing this and that's what makes it even better.
dennisnotamenace
Indeed, it is very [HYPERLINK BLOCKED]
flask
Big shot
Sandy Juergens
@super luek duh 🤣❤️