Worse Comes to Worst

"Worse Comes to Worst"
Single by Billy Joel
from the album Piano Man
B-side"Somewhere Along the Line"
ReleasedJune 1974[1]
RecordedDevonshire Sound, Los Angeles
GenreRock
Length2:48 (single)
3:28 (album)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Billy Joel
Producer(s)Michael Stewart
Billy Joel singles chronology
"Piano Man"
(1974) 		"Worse Comes to Worst"
(1974) 		"Travelin' Prayer"
(1974)

"Worse Comes to Worst" is a song by singer Billy Joel released as the second single from his 1973 album Piano Man. It reached #80 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2]

Reception

Cash Box said that "this rocking, funky tune that will open up an entirely new audience" for Joel, stating that it contains "some great guitar licks throughout backing Billy's vocals and some fine harmonies."[3] Record World said that Joel "gets funkier with another personal tale of love, stardom and glory set in today's uncertain circumstances" and that "tinges of organ and steel drums blend into a trendsetting Latin-rock variant."[4] Billboard recommended the song.[5]

Music lecturer Ken Bielen describes "Worse Comes to Worst" as being "a little bit country, a little bit rock and a little bit gospel."[6]

Chart positions

Chart (1974) Peak
position
Canadian Singles Chart[7] 62
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[8] 80

References

  1. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. p. 436. ISBN 978-0-86241-541-9.
  2. ^ Bordowitz, H. (2006). Billy Joel: The Life & Times of an Angry Young Man. Random House. pp. 75, 238. ISBN 9780823082483.
  3. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. June 1, 1974. p. 15. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  4. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. June 8, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  5. ^ "Billboard's Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. June 1, 1974. p. 50. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
  6. ^ Bielen, K. (2011). The Words and Music of Billy Joel. ABC-CLIO. p. 28. ISBN 9780313380167.
  7. ^ "RPM Singles Volume 21 Edition 24". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. August 3, 1974. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  8. ^ "Billy Joel - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2014-01-31.