This largely unknown gem is the final cut from Billy Joel's 1982 album, "The Nylon Curtain", which was less commercially successful than most of his other "post 'Stranger'" albums, but a favorite of his and his most dedicated fans.  He wanted to create a sophisticated concept album about the life experience of his generation, the "baby boomers".  It was inspired by albums like "Pet Sounds" by the Beach Boys and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" by the Beatles.  

This song is a soft and lovely epilogue to the album...almost like a lullaby to its theme.  The album starts with the song "Allentown", which is about the beginning of blue collar jobs disappearing from the rust belt and midwest in the US, and continues on with songs exploring various ups and downs about life as a boomer in the early 80s...the joys and the challenges.  "Where's the Orchestra?" is the story of a man who goes to his first ever Broadway show thinking it's a musical, only to find it's a traditional play with much less fanfare and production.  He finds things to enjoy about the show as it is, but is also disappointed that it wasn't what he expected.  It's meant to be a metaphor for life...that life is typically less glitzy and adventurous than we hope and dream it will be, and often ends up being mostly about chopping wood and carrying water.

My favorite thing about the song musically is that at the end, there is a musical reprisal of "Allentown", which puts beautiful thematic bookends on the album.  It's a thoughtful and intimate piece, and one I have a real fondness for.

I love the metaphor I mentioned above.  I was largely disappointed as a young man by the commitments and obligations of life.  I felt like adults spent far too little time playing and far too much time working.  I wanted to get as much travel and as many experiences into my life as possible as early as possible.  I wouldn't want to mislead you and suggest I don't still love to travel and crave interesting experiences...I absolutely do.  But, as I've grown older I've come to see the joy in the things we define as ordinary.  We all have those things...taking out the trash, folding the laundry, washing the dishes....stuff that needs done, but doesn't at all feel exciting or glamourous on the surface.  They make up a lot of our lives whether we like it or not.  

But I'm noticing there is some beauty in the mundane.  With the right mental frame, it can be very satisfying to accomplish 5 menial tasks on your "to-do lists".  It can also be very satisfying to remember how much these ordinary things facilitate the bigger and more interesting things in our lives.  Doing creative work in my studio is so much easier when my space is tidy and clean...the pleasure of a delicious home cooked meal can only take place if my pots, pans, dishes, and silverware are clean...I can't have a great relationships with my students and fans if I don't take the time to respond to emails and comments.  

When you take a step back, you realize that these mundane moments aren't just necessary....they are life giving.  So, by all means....take the vacations, go to the concerts and shows, meet friends and dates for dinners and events....do ALL the things....but find some joy in the mundane tasks because your life requires them whether you enjoy them or not, and they will make up a significant chunk of your time either way.

Enjoy my cover of this song from a livestream show I did on July 15, 2020 during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and then check Billy Joel's performing it on an old MTV series called "Night at School" in 1982! 

If you'd like to explore my piano method more deeply, my best students use my video courses and join me for conversation and twice monthly Q&A Livestreams in my private community...you can find it all HERE. Thanks.

If the video doesn't show above, use THIS LINK to see it on YouTube

If the video doesn't show above, use THIS LINK to see it on YouTube