Song of the Day 4/10: Billy Joel, “Captain Jack”

A song for the Delaware Republican Party, which, like the protagonist of this song, has been reduced to just jacking off.

In a way, Philadelphia — in particular this live 1972 performance of what became one of his signature tunes — is responsible for Billy Joel’s subsequent career. WMMR-FM staged an hour-long performance at Sigma Sound Studios for contest winners and a live broadcast (live WMMR concerts were the source of more than a few bootleg LPs back in the day).

Joel had released only one album at that point, 1971’s “Cold Spring Harbor,” which was ignored in most corners but found a fan at the station. “Captain Jack” wouldn’t be released on record until 1973’s “Piano Man” LP, but MMR put its live version in such heavy rotation that some New York stations made their own copies and added it too. All the attention led to Joel’s record deal with Columbia, which bought out an onerous contract he had signed to get his first album released. So, uh, thanks, WMMR.