babyteen Posted August 26, 2007 Report Share Posted August 26, 2007 In the Billy Joel song, "Allentown", I often wonder where he got the idea for the steam whistle and the pile driver. Did he actually record them while in Pennsylvania? Or did he obtain them from a sound effects disc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Seeker Posted August 26, 2007 Report Share Posted August 26, 2007 As far as I know, he made most of those effects himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indigoboo Posted August 27, 2007 Report Share Posted August 27, 2007 Yea, I remember in the video for that song, it was a live performance, and one of the guys in the band had a really long (6ft maybe) pipe and was hitting it with a hammer or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babyteen Posted August 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2007 So, I'm guessing that what you're trying to say is, Billy actually went to a steel mill in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to record the sound of the steam whistle and the pile driver? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Seeker Posted August 27, 2007 Report Share Posted August 27, 2007 I'm sure Allentown isn't the only place where you can find steam whistles and pile drivers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babyteen Posted August 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 I'm still wondering, if Billy really did record those sound effects, that is, the steam whistle and the pile driver, did he actually record them while at a steel mill in Pennsylvania? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babyteen Posted August 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 What I probably meant to say is, maybe Billy went to a steel mill in Pennsylvania to record the steam whistle and the pile driver. Perhaps he went to Bethlehem Steel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Seeker Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 It's possible, and I don't know what's true, but I think there are much easier ways of recording those sounds than driving all the way to a steel mill in Bethlehem, so I doubt it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 My best memory is that Billy had performed a concert in Allentown and was inspired to write the song. By that time all of the steel mills in Allentown had long since been shut down so the sounds would have had to come from elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babyteen Posted August 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Was he in Allentown, New Jersey? Or is that Allentown, Pennsylvania? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 Allentown, PA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSYCHOcatholic Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 Didnt he cause quite a stir with the City Officials because he sang that song in Allentown? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 Was he in Allentown, New Jersey? Or is that Allentown, Pennsylvania? there are a couple nice golf courses in Allentown, NJ...probably not a good subject for a song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babyteen Posted August 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 I heard someone say that Billy was actually given the key to the city of Allentown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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