By Dennis Hartley

(Originally posted on Digby’s Hullabaloo on July 19, 2025)

Last night I watched part one of Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin’s new HBO/MAX documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes (part two drops July 25th). So far, it’s an absorbing “warts and all” portrait of the singer-songwriter. Some of the more revelatory moments stem from learning the inspiration behind specific songs. One example is his 1974 single “The Entertainer”. It wasn’t a huge hit (peaking at #34), but has an interesting backstory, as Joel recounts:

The song “The Entertainer” was basically autobiographical about putting out “Piano Man”. The magic number in those days to putting out a single was the 3-minute mark. The original [album version] of “Piano Man” was a much longer recording, and [the record label execs] said “We’ve got to edit it.” I said, “What do you mean, you’ve got it edit it?” I was very touchy about that…don’t be chopping my song up. I was starting to become disenchanted with the music business, and “The Entertainer” was my way of complaining about it, I suppose.

Joel’s former manager (and ex-wife) Elizabeth Weber elaborates:

When he wrote “The Entertainer”, it became such a negative to a number of people in the music business. They look [at it like] “I’m out here, slogging away every day to get your records on the radio…and you say these things about me?!” – and they stopped working for him completely. They were so mad that they were doing the best they could and this was the gratitude that they got.

To which Joel appends:

Essentially, “The Piano Man” was about a guy kvetching about playing in a piano bar, and the followup [single] was the guy kvetching about having a hit record in the music business. So it’s sorta like, I’m doing well-let me screw this up somehow.

There’s a profound lesson about the music business in there somewhere. I’m not 100% sure what it is, but it did give me an idea (which is always dangerous). I got to thinking about other great songs that kvetch about stoking the star-making machinery behind the popular song (to coin a phrase). The more I thought about it, the more songs I came up with. After much careful deliberation (and one eye on an approaching deadline), I’ve whittled it down to my 20 top picks:

“An Elpee’s Worth of Toons” – Todd Rundgren – In which the artist muses on his career choice.

There’s something at the heart of it that’s simply awful
A man who makes a living off a plastic waffle

“Barracuda” – Heart – Ann and Nancy are looking at YOU, Mr. Music Exec.

You lying so low in the weeds
I bet you gonna ambush me
You’d have me down, down, down, down on my knees
Now wouldn’t you, barracuda? Oh

“Destiny Calling” – James – Help I’m a commodity.

Cover us in chocolate
Sell us to the neighbours
Frame us in a video
Clone us in a test tube
Sell us to the multitude
Guess that’s the price of fame

“Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You” – Sugarloaf – One of the more quotable selections here.

(I said, “You got my number?”
He said, “Yeah, I got it when you walked in the door”)

“EMI” – The Sex Pistols – The Pistols’ F.U. to the label that originally signed them but then dropped them like a hot potato several months later. Can’t imagine why.

Ever, ever, ever
And you thought that we were faking
That we were all just money making
You do not believe we’re for real

Or you would lose your cheap appeal?

“Empty V” – Doug Powell – Re: Music Television…where did the music go? A valid question.

Video killed the radio star
And then committed suicide

“The Entertainer” – Billy Joel – You know the story.

I am the entertainer
I bring to you my songs
I’d like to spend a day or two
But I can’t stay that long
No, I’ve got to meet expenses
I got to stay in line
Gotta get those fees to the agencies
And I’d love to stay but there’s bills to pay
So I just don’t have the time

“Free Man in Paris” – Joni Mitchell – Trying to escape the pressure cooker.

I was a free man in Paris, I felt unfettered and alive
Nobody was calling me up for favors
No one’s future to decide
You know I’d go back there tomorrow
But for the work I’ve taken on
Stoking the star maker machinery behind the popular song

“Have a Cigar” – Pink Floyd – Roger Waters vents spleen about cigar-chomping glad-handers.

Come in here, dear boy, have a cigar, you’re gonna go far
You’re gonna fly, you’re never gonna die
You’re gonna make it if you try, they’re gonna love you
Well, I’ve always had a deep respect and I mean that most sincere
The band is just fantastic, that is really what I think
Oh, by the way, which one’s pink?

“I Love My Label” – Nick Lowe – Somewhat good-natured, but wary of the corporate masters.

Oh, I’m so proud of them up here
We’re one big, happy family
I guess you could say I’m the poor
Relation of the parent company

“Million-Dollar Riff” – Skyhooks – In search of the hit formula. And the filthy lucre.

Well there’s a thousand guitars all over the land
And a thousand drummers and a thousand bands
And a thousand agents with their ears to the ground (Gimme Gimme)
They’re all lookin’ for the riff with the million dollar sound

“Overnight Sensation” – The Raspberries – He’s not in it for the money. No, really.

Well if the program director don’t pull it
It’s time to get back the bullet
So bring the group down to the station
You’re gonna be an overnight sensation

“Radio, Radio” – Elvis Costello – I prefer his early, angrier songs.

You either shut up or get cut up, they don’t wanna hear about it
It’s only inches on the reel-to-reel
And the radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools
Tryin’ to anesthetize the way that you feel

“So You Want to Be a Rock ‘N’ Roll Star” – The Byrds – Anyone can do it!

Then it’s time to go downtown
Where the agent man won’t let you down
Sell your soul to the company
Who are waiting there to sell plasticware

“Tinseltown Rebellion” – Frank Zappa – FZ was never one to mince words.

The Tinsel Town aficionados
Come to see and not to hear
But then again this system works
As perfect as a dream
It works for all of those record company pricks
Who come to skim the cream
From the cesspools of excitement
Where Jim Morrison once stood
It’s the Tinsel Town Rebellion
From downtown Hollywood

“Top of the Pops” – The Kinks – You’re #1 …with a few caveats.

And now I’ve got friends that I never knew I had before.
It’s strange how people want you when you record’s high
‘Cos when it drops down they just pass you by
Now my agent just called me and said it me:
“Son your record’s just got to Number One.”
And do you know what this means?
This means you can earn some real money!

“The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man” – The Rolling Stones – Do the hustle.

Well they laugh at my toupee, they’re sure to put me down
Well I’m sitting here thinking just how sharp I am
Yeah I’m sitting here thinking just how sharp I am
I’m a necessary talent behind every rock and roll band

“Video Killed the Radio Star” – The Buggles – We hold this truth to be self-evident.

In my mind and in my car
We can’t rewind we’ve gone too far
Pictures came and broke your heart
Put the blame on VCR

“Workin’ for MCA” – Lynyrd Skynyrd – Seems this fella knew what to expect.

Oh, suckers took my money since I was seventeen
If it ain’t no pencil pusher, then it got to be a honky tonk queen
But I’ll sign my contract, baby, and I want you people to know
That every penny that I make, I’m gonna see where my money goes

“The Worst Band in the World” – 10cc – Hey, as long as the check clears…who cares?

Well we’ve never done a days work in our life
And our records sell in zillions
It irrigates my heart with greed
To know that you adore me
Up yours, up mine
But up everybody’s that takes time
But we’re working on it
Working on it (Ooh)