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| “The Longest Time” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Billy Joel from the album An Innocent Man |
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| B-side | "Christie Lee" | ||||
| Released | 1984 | ||||
| Format | 12", CD | ||||
| Recorded | 1983 | ||||
| Genre | Doo-wop | ||||
| Length | 3:40 | ||||
| Label | Columbia | ||||
| Writer(s) | Billy Joel | ||||
| Producer | Phil Ramone | ||||
| Billy Joel singles chronology | |||||
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"The Longest Time" is a doo-wop single by musician Billy Joel. The song was released as a single in the early spring of 1984 as the fourth single off of the album An Innocent Man, it reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100, #1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart, and #25 on the UK Singles Chart.
In the summer of 1983, when the album was released, oldies station WCBS-FM opted to play "The Longest Time" in regular rotation along with the first single "Tell Her About It". At that time WCBS-FM mixed in some new songs with the oldies. The song got very favorable reviews and the public wanted "The Longest Time" to be the follow up single. But instead, that fall an equally popular song called "Uptown Girl" was the second single. Late in November, "The Longest Time" was again passed over for the title song from the album, "An Innocent Man". "The Longest Time" was finally released in late winter/early spring of 1984. The song is a radio staple today on Adult Contemporary stations as well as oldies and Classic hits outlets.
The song features Joel on vocals and all backing vocals. Joel recorded 14 different background tracks which were mixed into the song at the studio.
Music video
The music video starts with a man (played by Joel) in a gym after his 25th high school reunion party. Looking around at posters of several class awards, he breaks into song as his band, apparently portrayed as his high school friends, enters the gym. As they sing, they alternate between their high school and current selves. The video was entirely filmed at Pratt Institute In Brooklyn.
Chart positions
| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 25 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 14 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 1 |
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