Movin' Out
Encyclopedia
"Movin' Out" is a song written and recorded by Billy Joel
. The track details the singer's disgust with the upwardly-mobile bourgeois aspirations of working and lower-middle class New Yorkers who take pride at working long hours in order to afford the outward signs of having "made it". Named characters have stereotypically ethnic names (Anthony, Mama Leone, Sergeant O'Leary, Mr. Cacciatore) and their jobs are blue-collar. Joel considers their rejection of their working-class roots (trading a Chevy for a Cadillac
and buying a house in Hackensack, New Jersey
) to be ultimately futile; in the end, the rewards are a "heart attack" or "a broken back". Near the end of the recording is the sound of a car starting up and driving away, and it was actually the bass player's (Doug Stegmeyer
) 1960s Corvette
that was used. However, in the single mix, the car engine sound was removed.
According to Joel, Anthony isn't a real person, but rather "every Irish, Polish, and Italian kid trying to make a living in the U.S."
The song originally appeared on his 1977 album, The Stranger
. A live performance of it can be heard on 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert
.
Broadway
dance musical Movin' Out
, featuring the songs of Billy Joel, opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre
, New York
, on October 24, 2002, and played 1,307 performances before closing in December 2005. The lead piano player and singer of the show was Michael Cavanaugh
. It toured the US extensively from 2004 through 2007, featuring Darren Holden as lead Piano Man, and Matt Wilson
, James Fox
and Matthew Friedman
as second Piano Men. The show transferred to London's West End on April 10, 2006, at the Apollo Victoria Theatre
, where James Fox
played lead piano and sang, with Darren Reeves as second piano man. However, it closed early on May 22 due to poor ticket sales.
Movin' Out is also the title of the original Broadway cast album taken from the above musical.
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
. The track details the singer's disgust with the upwardly-mobile bourgeois aspirations of working and lower-middle class New Yorkers who take pride at working long hours in order to afford the outward signs of having "made it". Named characters have stereotypically ethnic names (Anthony, Mama Leone, Sergeant O'Leary, Mr. Cacciatore) and their jobs are blue-collar. Joel considers their rejection of their working-class roots (trading a Chevy for a Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
and buying a house in Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
) to be ultimately futile; in the end, the rewards are a "heart attack" or "a broken back". Near the end of the recording is the sound of a car starting up and driving away, and it was actually the bass player's (Doug Stegmeyer
Doug Stegmeyer
Doug Stegmeyer was a musician best known as the bassist for Billy Joel.-Career:Doug Stegmeyer met Russell Javors in high school. At age 15, Javors was performing songs with childhood friend Liberty DeVitto. From then, the boys, along with Howard Emerson, formed the band Topper.Together they...
) 1960s Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car by the Chevrolet division of General Motors that has been produced in six generations. The first model, a convertible, was designed by Harley Earl and introduced at the GM Motorama in 1953 as a concept show car. Myron Scott is credited for naming the car after...
that was used. However, in the single mix, the car engine sound was removed.
According to Joel, Anthony isn't a real person, but rather "every Irish, Polish, and Italian kid trying to make a living in the U.S."
The song originally appeared on his 1977 album, The Stranger
The Stranger (album)
The Stranger is the fifth studio album by musician Billy Joel, released in 1977 . While his four previous albums had been moderate chart successes, this was his breakthrough album, and is generally regarded by critics as his magnum opus, spending six weeks at #2 in the U.S. album charts...
. A live performance of it can be heard on 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert
2000 Years: The Millennium Concert
2000 Years: The Millennium Concert is a two-disc set and the third live album by Billy Joel, released in 2000.The album was recorded on New Year's Eve 1999 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, during Joel's The Night of Two Thousand Years Tour...
.
Broadway musical
The Twyla TharpTwyla Tharp
Twyla Tharp is an American dancer and choreographer, who lives and works in New York City.-Early years:Tharp was born in 1941 on a farm in Portland, Indiana, and was named after Twila Thornburg, the "Pig Princess" of the 89th Annual Muncie Fair in Indiana.she spend hours working on it to help her...
Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
dance musical Movin' Out
Movin' Out (musical)
Movin' Out is a jukebox musical featuring the songs of Billy Joel.Conceived by Twyla Tharp, the musical tells the story of a generation of American youth growing up on Long Island during the 1960s and their experiences with the Vietnam War...
, featuring the songs of Billy Joel, opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre
Richard Rodgers Theatre
The Richard Rodgers Theatre, is a Broadway theater in New York City, built by Irwin Chanin in 1925. When it was first opened, it was called Chanin's 46th Street Theatre. Chanin almost immediately leased it to the Shuberts, who bought the building outright in 1931 and renamed it the 46th Street...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, on October 24, 2002, and played 1,307 performances before closing in December 2005. The lead piano player and singer of the show was Michael Cavanaugh
Michael Cavanaugh (musician)
Michael Cavanaugh is an actor, musician and singer most famous for playing the piano/lead vocals in the band for the Broadway musical Movin' Out...
. It toured the US extensively from 2004 through 2007, featuring Darren Holden as lead Piano Man, and Matt Wilson
Matt Wilson
Matthew Wilson may refer to:* Matt Wilson , Irish international footballer of 1880s.* Matt Wilson , of Trip Shakespeare and the Flops* Matt Wilson , New York jazz drummer & composer* Matthew Wilson, British rally driver...
, James Fox
James Fox (singer)
James Fox, real name . is a pop music singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist. He represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 in Istanbul...
and Matthew Friedman
Matthew Friedman
Matthew Friedman is a musician, singer and performer from New York, New York. Friedman played the role of the Piano Man in the first national touring company of the musical, Movin' Out. He served the same role in the show's second national tour...
as second Piano Men. The show transferred to London's West End on April 10, 2006, at the Apollo Victoria Theatre
Apollo Victoria Theatre
The Apollo Victoria Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Wilton Road near Victoria station in the City of Westminster. Opened as a cinema and variety theatre, the Apollo Victoria became a venue for musical theatre, beginning with The Sound of Music in 1981, and including the long-running...
, where James Fox
James Fox (singer)
James Fox, real name . is a pop music singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist. He represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 in Istanbul...
played lead piano and sang, with Darren Reeves as second piano man. However, it closed early on May 22 due to poor ticket sales.
Movin' Out is also the title of the original Broadway cast album taken from the above musical.
Covers
The song has been covered by:- The FormatThe FormatThe Format was an American indie rock band formed by Arizona natives Nate Ruess and Sam Means. The band announced a hiatus on February 4, 2008. Their style can be considered a mixture of indie, alternative, punk and folk music, with elements of 1960s and 1970s pop music...
(live) - Indie band The Pale PacificThe Pale PacificThe Pale Pacific is an indie rock/powerpop band based in Seattle and Bellingham, Washington, currently on the SideCho label. Members include frontman Gabe Archer on lead vocals, keyboard, and guitar, Gabe's cousin Cameron "Cam" Nicklaus on guitar, Justin Harcus on bass, and Greg Swinehart on drums...
- Ska band The SupervillainsThe SupervillainsThe Supervillains are a four-piece reggae band from St. Cloud, Florida.-Massive:After spending 2006 and 2007 supporting "Grow Yer Own" on the road with the likes of Pepper, Slightly Stoopid, Fishbone, Streetlight Manifesto, Mu330, Inner Circle, Authority Zero, the Expendables, the Mad Caddies, and...
- Bethany Joy GaleottiBethany Joy GaleottiBethany Joy Galeotti is an American actress, musician, director, writer, and producer.Galeotti is best known for her on screen portrayals of Michelle Bauer Santos on Guiding Light and Haley James Scott on One Tree Hill...
(during the 'One Tree Hill Tour'). - Comedy group StellaStella (Comedy Group)Stella is a comedy trio consisting of Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black, and David Wain . The group formed in 1997 as a weekly nightclub comedy attraction, performing at New York City nightclub Fez from 1997 until February 2005...
has performed a comedic version with altered lyrics - Juelz SantanaJuelz SantanaLaRon Louis James , better known by his stage name Juelz Santana, is an American rapper, producer, and actor. He appeared on Cam'ron's 2002 singles, "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma"...
featuring Cam'ronCam'ronCameron Giles , better known by his stage name Cam'ron or "Killa Cam", is a Grammy-nominated American actor. He is the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats , and also of The U.N. group....
- You Oughta Know (produced by The HeatmakerzThe HeatmakerzThe Heatmakerz is a hip-hop production duo, originally from Kingston, Jamaica, now living in New York. The duo, consisting of Rsonist and Thrilla , rose to fame after providing beats to various releases of The Diplomats. The bulk of albums like Diplomatic Immunity and Juelz Santana's debut From Me...
)
Chart positions
| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 99 |
| Canadian Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
11 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 31 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
35 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
17 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
40 |