Root Beer Rag

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"Root Beer Rag"
Label to the US single release as B-side of "Big Shot"
Instrumental by Billy Joel
from the album Streetlife Serenade
A-side	"Big Shot" (US) "Until the Night" (UK) "Honesty" (Japan & others)
Released	October 11, 1974 (album) 1979 (single)
Recorded	Devonshire Sound, North Hollywood, CA
Genre	Ragtime
Length	2:59
Label	Columbia Records
Songwriter(s)	Billy Joel
Producer(s)	Michael Stewart

"Root Beer Rag" is a composition from Billy Joel's 1974 album Streetlife Serenade. An instrumental track in a very fast ragtime style, it was later released as the B-side of several singles from Joel's 52nd Street album, including "Big Shot" in the US, "Until the Night" in the UK, and "Honesty" in Japan and some European countries. A live version was included with the DVD that was part of the 30th anniversary re-release of The Stranger.

The piece is in C major (though the recording is sped up a microtone (1/4 of a tone)) and is one of three studio instrumentals that Joel has released. Joel has played the piece in concert frequently over the years, stating that he uses it as "a kind of instrumental palate cleanser."^[1] He further stated that it requires his "full attention as the notes spill out."^[1]