| "The Longest Time" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Billy Joel | ||||
| from the album An Innocent Man | ||||
| B-side | "Christie Lee" | |||
| Released | March 1984 | |||
| Recorded | 1983 | |||
| Genre | Doo-wop[1], acapella | |||
| Length | 3:40 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Billy Joel | |||
| Producer(s) | Phil Ramone | |||
| Billy Joel singles chronology | ||||
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"The Longest Time" is a doo-wop song by Billy Joel, released in 1984 as the fourth single from the 1983 album An Innocent Man. Following the theme of the album in paying tribute to Joel's musical influences, the song is presented in the style of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. It reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.[2] In the United Kingdom the song reached number 25 on the UK Singles Chart.
The song features Joel on lead vocals, all backing vocals, and percussive sounds such as finger snaps and hand claps.[3] When the song is covered by vocal groups, the bass part is typically sung.[4] Phil Ramone and Joel had intended to feature a vocal group but Joel recorded each of the parts himself.[5]
- ^ Molanphy, Chris (April 30, 2020). "Still Billy Joel to Me Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 127.
- ^ "The Longest Time by Billy Joel Songfacts". songfacts.com.
- ^ Duchan, Joshua S. (2012). Powerful Voices: The Musical and Social World of Collegiate A Cappella. University of Michigan Press. p. 39. ISBN 9780472118250.
- ^ Schruers, Fred (2014). Billy Joel. Crown Publishing Group. p. 199. ISBN 9780804140201.