The Longest Time

The Longest Time

Infobox Single
Name = The Longest Time


Artist = Billy Joel
Album = An Innocent Man
A-side =
B-side = "Christie Lee"
Released = 1984
Format = 12", CD
Recorded = 1983
Genre = Doo-wop
Length = 3:42
Label = Columbia
Writer = Billy Joel
Producer = Phil Ramone
Certification =
Last single = "An Innocent Man" (1983)
This single = "The Longest Time" (1984)
Next single = "Leave a Tender Moment Alone" (1984)
Misc =

"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 (see 1984 in music) 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. The song is still widely played on the radio 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 presumably in his 40s (played by Joel) in a gym after his 25th high school reunion party. Looking around at posters of several class awards (Most Likely..., Best...), he breaks into song as his band-apparently his high school friends-enters the gym. As they sing, they alternate between their high school and current selves.

Chart positions

External links

*youtube|Smeyf8nhM5Q|Music video for "The Longest Time"


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