Hello all, and welcome back to Tuning Thursdays, where you can kick back, imbibe your preferred libations, and plan to plan what you’ll do for the rest of the day. Last week, we mused on the foundations of true happiness as we listened to George Hamilton IV strum his way through the “West Texas Highway.”

This week, it’s one of Billy Joel’s first great hits as we listen to “Captain Jack,” a seven-minute-long ballad exploring the highs and lows of heroin abuse. It’s a rough song to handle lyrically, but in terms of musical talent and taste, it definitely has to rank among his top ten greatest.

The singer-songwriter, circa 1978. Photo: Getty Images

It came to be during a radio concert for a station in Philadelphia, as a then undiscovered Joel played the song live as part of a set. Soon after, it became the station’s most-requested song, although Joel had no idea the song was growing in popularity, as he was living in the West Coast to try and escape his contract with Family Productions. He was unable to get the song put on a record until he signed with Columbia Records in 1972, after months of red tape and hassle over leaving his first label.

The song made its way onto Joel’s hit album Piano Man in 1973, which put Joel on the map, and paved the way for future successes like The Stranger and Turnstiles. How does Chevy factor in though?

The subject of the song, a young New England teenager, is a pathetic nothingburger who floats about his boring urban life taking heroin, screwing his girlfriend, and just generally wasting his days away. He’s lived a lush, silver spoon lifestyle, never wanting for anything in his pool-equipped home, polished education, and “brand new Chevrolet,” which we’ll imagine is a Chevelle coupe.

Alas, there’s a lot to be desired, but rather than confront those urges, the young man shoots up smack and sails away to his “special island” courtesy of the local drug dealer, known as “Captain Jack.” It’s pretty bleak, but noteworthy for its confrontation of drug addiction and its abysmal effects.

Look forward to seeing you next week. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go see my dealer. I hear he has the new parts in.