# Rock/pop/folk songs with great piano in them? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 6, 2001, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026 "2001-04-06T04:17:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wartime\_Consigliori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9d8465/32.png) [@Wartime\_Consigliori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wartime_Consigliori)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/21 "2001-04-06T14:19:10Z")
_Jessica_ by the Allman Brothers Band. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/22 "2001-04-06T14:43:31Z")
Paradise Theater by Styx. It’s been a little while since I’ve listened to it so I can’t remember if the piano is prominent through out the entire album but it is very prominent in the first, second & last tracks (A.D. 1928, Rickin’ The Paradise & A.D. 1958) of side 1. There’s also some nice sax in track 6 (Lonely People). ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/23 "2001-04-06T15:01:29Z")
On seeing the title of this thread, the opening chords of “Bennie and the Jets” by Elton John came unbidden into my mind. My next thought was “Bennie”!?! how 'bout “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding”? I forced my brain to stop rolling through the extensive list of Sir Elton’s songs with great piano so I could post this. :: going to put _Goodbye Yellow Brick road_ into CD player :: ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/24 "2001-04-06T15:23:08Z")
1. “Recovering the Satellites” by Counting Crows (songs like “Have You Seen Me Lately?” and “Miller’s Angels”) 2. “August and Everything After” by Counting Crows (not as much piano, but “Raining in Baltimore” is fantastic) 3. “Cold Spring Harbor” by Billy Joel (his first CD, and it gets a little hokey in places, but “Got to Begin Again,” “Nocturne,” and “Tomorrow Is Today” have great piano parts, IMHO) 4. “Whatever and Ever Amen” by Ben Folds Five (specifically, “Smoke,” “The Battle of Who Could Care Less,” and “Selfless, Cold, and Composed”) 5. IMHO, I thought that Billy Joel’s piano playing on “River of Dreams” was very underrated. Everyone knows he’s a great piano player. But something changed on that album. I think it was Dan Kortchmar’s influence. ---
**Author:** ![SoMoMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@SoMoMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoMoMom)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/25 "2001-04-06T15:25:19Z")
Well, I know that **Snooooopy** already said Bruce Hornsby but really, I don’t think he can be mentioned enough. Bruce Hornsby, _Bruce Hornsby_, _ **Bruce Hornsby** _. (He’s my favorite piano player.) My sister sent me a (taped) copy of an album she has called _December_. It’s not rock. I don’t know the name of the artist. It is so pretty though. It would be worth searching that one out. I’ll check with Sis and see if she remembers the artist and get back to you if she does. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/26 "2001-04-06T16:38:55Z")
but I enjoy piano work in rock music myself. So from a fan’s perspective, let me add: - The second half of the rock classic **Layla** by Derek & the Dominoes. - I’ll definitely second Styx’ **Paradise Theater** album. On that album **The Best of Times** also prominently features Dennis DeYoung’s piano-playing, in addition to the tracks already mentioned. Actually, most Dennis DeYoung vehicles on various Styx albums ( **Come Sail Away** , **Lady** ) are piano-driven. - Supertramp has been mentioned - but their haunting & ironic piano work on **The Logical Song** was not. - Billy Preston’s 1970’s work features loads of funk piano-playing, for a change of pace. Best known song is **Will It Go Round in Circles**. - Give a listen to **Sister Christian** by Night Ranger. - No mention of ELO? **Don’t Bring Me Down** , **Turn to Stone** , and **Evil Woman** , among others, all amply demonstrate Jeff Lynne’s prowess on the ivories. - The J Geils Band’s **Freeze Frame** album has plenty of overlooked keyboard work on **Angel in Blue** and **Freeze Frame**. - Hard-to-find piano track - **I Love You** by the Climax Blues Band. - Hard-to-find piano track II - **Let Me Love You Tonight** by the Pure Prarie League, with young Vince Gill on vocals. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/27 "2001-04-06T16:42:35Z")
I’ll secod (or third, or fourth) Billy Joel. he has great piano in virtually every album he’s made. His best, IMHO, is a song from _Turnstiles_ called “Angry Young Man” - a five minute song with a three minute piano intro. Simply terrific. P.S. - You guys seem to have forgotten rocks songs with a great pianao piece at the _end_. The best of these is definitely the original version of Clapton’s “Layla”. ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/28 "2001-04-06T17:39:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SoMoMom \* > \*\* > My sister sent me a (taped) copy of an album she has called _December_. It’s not rock. I don’t know the name of the artist. It is so pretty though. It would be worth searching that one out. I’ll check with Sis and see if she remembers the artist and get back to you if she does. \*\* If it’s the album I’m thinking of, (all piano, no vocals, a few Christmas songs thrown in) the artist is George Winston. Usually found in the New Age section under the Wyndam Hill collection stuff. He’s awesome btw. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/29 "2001-04-06T18:05:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Superdude \* > > 1. IMHO, I thought that Billy Joel’s piano playing on “River of Dreams” was very underrated. Everyone knows he’s a great piano player. But something changed on that album. I think it was Dan Kortchmar’s influence. I have to agree with you about this. Joel’s piano on that album was phenomenal. When I bought it I must have listened to it 20 times in a row without stopping. I also agree regarding “Layla” – that piano bit at the end is unbelievable. And, I do have that CD by George Winston, and it is pretty good. There are so many good suggestions in this thread! The GC is two steps away from being tone deaf, and tends to like 80s punk bands anyway, so he is absolutely of no help whatsoever with this type of question. – Save the servers! Type sigs manually! ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/30 "2001-04-06T18:15:35Z")
“head over heels” and “believe” by tears for fears “shadowboxer” and a whole lot of other songs on Fiona Apple’s 2 cd’s. She’s great. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/31 "2001-04-06T19:10:52Z")
I also agree with Tori Amos and Ben Folds Five (although their first album is a must have (i forget the name now) but has one of the best songs they’ve ever wrote “Tom and Mary” Also I suggest some of Harry Connick Jr.s more funky stuff like She and Star Turtle. ---
**Author:** ![SoMoMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@SoMoMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoMoMom)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/32 "2001-04-06T20:37:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tequila Mockingbird \* > \*\* > If it’s the album I’m thinking of, (all piano, no vocals, a few Christmas songs thrown in) the artist is George Winston. Usually found in the New Age section under the Wyndam Hill collection stuff. He’s awesome btw. \*\* That sounds familiar. We’ll go with that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![chief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@chief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chief)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/33 "2001-04-06T21:29:13Z")
Check out the Jayhawks, some great piano stuff in their songs. Also, the Black Crowes song Descending has an awesome piano intro and ending! ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/34 "2001-04-06T21:51:08Z")
Most of the songs on Bruce Springsteen’s “Darkness on the Edge of Town” have great piano work on them especially the title song and “Racing in the Street”. The ending of the latter is equally as moving as the end of “Layla”. You can also check out “New York City Serenade” on his “The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle” for more great piano work. The piano on Darkness was provided by Roy Bittan, and on The Wild etc, it was provided by David Sancious. Keith ---
**Author:** ![Tyklfe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tyklfe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyklfe)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/35 "2001-04-06T22:08:23Z")
I would have to go with either Billy Joel’s _Piano Man_ or Tori Amos’s _Winter_. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/36 "2001-04-06T22:52:00Z")
If you like Marc Cohn, try another album of his: _The Rainy Season_. I listen to that all the time. Plus, anything Warren Zevon. ---
**Author:** ![Silvio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Silvio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silvio)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2001, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/37 "2001-04-07T00:01:47Z")
Anything by The Band, which had two fine piano players, especially the first two albums. Check out, for instance, the fine boogie woogie piano on “Rag Mama Rag” on THE BAND, which continues for a few minutes after the rest of the song ends, just because it’s too good to stop. There is a lot of fine, if understated piano on Beatles music, for instance, “Lady Madonna”, “Let it Be” , “Rocky Racoon”, and George Martin’s fine solo on “In My Life”. I have to second Elton John’s “Funeral for a Friend” and “Love Lies Bleeding” as an extremely intense piano moment. Has anyone mentioned Fats Domino? Great, great stuff. As well as Dr. John, aka Mac Rebeneck (sp?) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2001, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/38 "2001-04-07T00:35:49Z")
Mrs. Alessan heard of this thread, and asked - nay, _demanded_ - that I mention Randy Neuman’s incredible _Dixie Flyer_. Listen to it late at night, in the dark. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2001, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/39 "2001-04-07T00:47:44Z")
Simon and Garfunkel-“Bridge Over Troubled Waters” The Beatles, “Lady Madonna” John Lennon, “Jealous Guy” Ditto on Fiona Apple. ---
**Author:** ![VitrolicBump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a587f6/32.png) [@VitrolicBump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VitrolicBump)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2001, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026/40 "2001-04-07T01:06:29Z")
Here’s my list: Loreena McKennit-“Dante’s Prayer” U2-“October” Depeche Mode-“Somebody” Mark Isham-“My Wife with the Champagne Shoulders” Michael Nyman-“The Promise” Counting Crows-“Colorblind” Train(?)-“Drops of Jupiter” Tears for Fears songs If you like synth - check out Duran Duran. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-pop-folk-songs-with-great-piano-in-them/61026.md?page=3)