The Longest Time

"The Longest Time" is a doo-wop song by Billy Joel, released in 1984 as the fourth single from the 1983 album An Innocent Man. Following the theme of the album in paying tribute to Joel's musical influences, the song is presented in the style of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. It reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.^[2] In the United Kingdom the song reached number 25 on the UK Singles Chart.

The song features Joel on lead vocals, all backing vocals, and percussive sounds such as finger snaps and hand claps.^[3] When the song is covered by vocal groups, the bass part is typically sung.^[4]Phil Ramone and Joel had intended to feature a vocal group but Joel recorded each of the parts himself.^[5]

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, ending with their high school selves walking out of the restroom and interacting with a puzzled janitor (Nick Stewart). The video was entirely filmed at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and was directed by Jay Dubin.

Personnel

Billy Joel – lead and backing vocals, finger snaps, hand claps
Doug Stegmeyer – bass guitar

Additional personnel

Tom Bahler – vocal arranger

Chart performance

Certifications

References

↑Molanphy, Chris (April 30, 2020). "Still Billy Joel to Me Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
↑Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 127.
↑"The Longest Time by Billy Joel Songfacts". songfacts.com.
↑Duchan, Joshua S. (2012). Powerful Voices: The Musical and Social World of Collegiate A Cappella. University of Michigan Press. p. 39. ISBN 9780472118250.
↑Schruers, Fred (2014). Billy Joel. Crown Publishing Group. p. 199. ISBN 9780804140201.
↑Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
↑"RPM 50 Singles". collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012.
↑"Israeli Charts". Retrieved June 26, 2026. Search "Billy Joel" for Israeli chart history.
↑"Official Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
↑"Top 20 Airplay Chart"(PDF). Music & Media. 14 May 1984. p. 11. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
↑"Billy Joel Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
↑"Billy Joel Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
↑"Talent Almanac 1985: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 51. December 22, 1984. p. TA-19.
↑"New Zealand single certifications – Billy Joel – The Longest Time". Radioscope. Retrieved December 21, 2024.Type The Longest Time in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
↑"British single certifications – Billy Joel – The Longest Time". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 6, 2024.Select singles in the Formats field. Type The Longest Time Billy Joel in the "Search:" field.
↑"American single certifications – Billy Joel – The Longest Time". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 18, 2025.

External links

'The Longest Time' Music Video on YouTube

[Molanphy_2020-1] Molanphy, Chris (April 30, 2020). "Still Billy Joel to Me Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved April 2, 2024.

[2] Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 127.

[3] "The Longest Time by Billy Joel Songfacts". songfacts.com.

[4] Duchan, Joshua S. (2012). Powerful Voices: The Musical and Social World of Collegiate A Cappella. University of Michigan Press. p. 39. ISBN 9780472118250.

[5] Schruers, Fred (2014). Billy Joel. Crown Publishing Group. p. 199. ISBN 9780804140201.

[auchart-6] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[7] "RPM 50 Singles". collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012.

[8] "Israeli Charts". Retrieved June 26, 2026. Search "Billy Joel" for Israeli chart history.

[9] "Official Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 December 2023.

[10] "Top 20 Airplay Chart"(PDF). Music & Media. 14 May 1984. p. 11. Retrieved 27 April 2024.

[11] "Billy Joel Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 December 2023.

[12] "Billy Joel Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 December 2023.

[13] "Talent Almanac 1985: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 51. December 22, 1984. p. TA-19.

[New_ZealandBilly_JoelThe_Longest_TimesingleCertRef-14] "New Zealand single certifications – Billy Joel – The Longest Time". Radioscope. Retrieved December 21, 2024.Type The Longest Time in the "Search:" field and press Enter.

[United_KingdomBilly_JoelThe_Longest_TimesingleCertRef-15] "British single certifications – Billy Joel – The Longest Time". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 6, 2024.Select singles in the Formats field. Type The Longest Time Billy Joel in the "Search:" field.

[United_StatesBilly_JoelThe_Longest_TimesingleCertRef-16] "American single certifications – Billy Joel – The Longest Time". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 18, 2025.

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

Music video

Personnel

Chart performance

Certifications

References

External links

関連するトピック

doo-wop

Billy Joel

single

An Innocent Man