"Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" is a song written and recorded by Billy Joel originally appeared on his 1977 album The Stranger as its opening track.
| "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Side-A label of U.S. vinyl single | ||||
| Single by Billy Joel | ||||
| from the album The Stranger | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | September 1977[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1977 | |||
| Genre | Pop rock[2][3] | |||
| Length | 3:28 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Billy Joel | |||
| Producer(s) | Phil Ramone | |||
| Billy Joel singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" on YouTube | ||||
The song critiques the ambitions of working- and lower-middle-class New Yorkers who strive for material success as evidence of social mobility, working long hours to afford the outward signs of having "made it".[4] Joel describes characters with blue-collar occupations attempting to distance themselves from their working class roots by acquiring status symbols, such as upgrading from a Chevy to a Cadillac or purchasing a home in Hackensack, New Jersey. He implies these efforts are ultimately futile. According to Joel, Anthony is not a real person, but rather "every Irish, Polish, and Italian kid trying to make a living in the US".
The recording concludes with the sound effect of a car, bass player Doug Stegmeyer's 1960s Corvette, starting and driving away, symbolizing departure.
Live performances of the song can be heard on 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert and 12 Gardens Live.
Reception
Billboard described "Movin' Out" as an "upbeat narrative that is sort of a commentary on upward mobility."[5] Cash Box said that "growling cellos and a pulsating rhythm section set the mood for Joel's threatening indictment of middle-class values" and that it has "one of the best choruses he has written in some time, combined with unusual echo effects, a yapping horn section, and a melodic guitar finale that wraps it all up nicely."[6] Record World said it is "a typically expressive Joel song, with New York City references and an unusual, piano-dominated structure."[7]
Versions
The 45RPM single slightly differs from the album version as the sound effects of the car near the end of the song were removed. The single was originally released in Autumn of 1977, but was pulled when Joel's previous single started climbing the charts.[8] It was re-released in March 1978.[8]
Personnel
- Billy Joel – lead and backing vocals, piano
- Steve Khan and Hiram Bullock – electric guitars
- Richie Cannata – saxophones
- Doug Stegmeyer – bass guitar
- Liberty DeVitto – drums
Broadway musical
The Twyla Tharp Broadway dance musical Movin' Out, featuring the songs of Billy Joel, opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City on October 24, 2002, and played 1,307 performances before closing in December 2005. The show's lead piano player and singer was Michael Cavanaugh. It toured the US extensively from 2004 to 2007, with Darren Holden as lead Piano Man, and Matt Wilson, James Fox and Matthew Friedman as second Piano Men. The show transferred to the Apollo Victoria Theatre in the West End of London on April 10, 2006; James Fox played lead piano and sang, with Darren Reeves as second piano man. It closed early, on May 22, owing to poor ticket sales.[citation needed]
Movin' Out is also the title of the original Broadway cast album taken from the musical.
Track listing
- Europe
- "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" – time: 3:28
- "She's Always A Woman" – time: 3:21
- UK
- "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" – time: 3:28
- "Vienna" – time: 3:34
- United States
- "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" – time: 3:28
- "Everybody Has A Dream" – time: 4:36
Charts
Year-end charts
| Chart (1978) | Rank |
|---|---|
| Canada RPM Top Singles[14] | 106 |
| U.S. (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)[15] | 118 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[16] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
In popular culture
The title of the Family Guy episode, Movin' Out (Brian's Song), is a reference to the title of the song.
The song was featured in the film The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).
The song was covered by TV Series, Glee (Season 5, Episode 6).
A sample of the song appears as the opening and beat to the unreleased Kanye West song Mama’s Boyfriend.