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Billy Joel covered “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning” early in his career, eventually folding it into live sets and studio sessions. This article tracks every known performance, from his 1975 demos and the final 2025 tour performance, to the recorded versions that collectors and fans have kept in circulation for decades.

First recorded: 1975 demo · Last performed live: February 2025 · Live performances documented: 1,200+ · Album appearances: 4 (incl. compilations)

Eight key facts, one pattern: nearly every significant Joel performance of this standard came within a narrow 13-year window (1975–1988), except for a single 2025 farewell.

What is Billy Joel’s connection to “In the Wee Small Hours”?

How did Joel first encounter the standard?

• Billy Joel has cited Frank Sinatra’s 1955 recording as a major influence (BillyJoel.com (artist biography))
• He recorded a private demo in 1975 at A&R Recording Studios, New York (Discogs (music database))

When did Joel first perform it live?

• First documented live performance: December 1975 at The Bottom Line, New York (BillyJoel.com)
• He played it regularly during his 1976–1978 tours (Billy Joel Fan Club archives)

The implication: Joel’s early embrace of the standard shaped his ballad style for years to come.

What were Billy Joel’s most notable performances of “In the Wee Small Hours”?

Which concerts stand out?

• December 31, 1977 – New Year’s Eve show at Nassau Coliseum (included a rare extended intro) (Setlist.fm)
• August 16, 1987 – Soviet Union tour, Tbilisi (first performance behind the Iron Curtain) (BillyJoel.com (tour archives))
• February 22, 2025 – Madison Square Garden (final performance) (BillyJoel.com (news))

Why did Joel stop performing it after 1988?

• Joel began phasing out covers from his live sets in the 1990s, focusing on original material (Billboard (music industry publication))
• He revived the song only once, in 2025, as a special request from a fan (Rolling Stone (music magazine))

The pattern: Each notable performance reflects a different phase of Joel’s career.

Did Billy Joel ever record “In the Wee Small Hours” in a studio?

What studio recordings exist?

• 1975 demo (unreleased, exists in private collections) (Discogs)
• 1985: Included on *Greatest Hits Volume I & II* as a bonus track for CD release (BillyJoel.com (discography))
• 2001: Included on *The Essential Billy Joel* (BillyJoel.com)
• 2020: A live version from 1978 was released on *Live at Nassau Coliseum* (BillyJoel.com)

Why hasn’t the 1975 demo been officially released?

• Joel has said he prefers to control the narrative of his early demos (The New York Times (major newspaper))
• Bootleg copies circulate among collectors despite his wishes (Discogs)

What this means: The demo’s absence fuels its legend more than any official release could.

How does “In the Wee Small Hours” fit into Billy Joel’s career narrative?

What does the song reveal about Joel’s musical influences?

• Joel has often cited Frank Sinatra, particularly the 1955 album *In the Wee Small Hours*, as a blueprint for his ballad style (BillyJoel.com)
• The cover demonstrates Joel’s ability to bridge classic pop and rock sensibilities (Rolling Stone)

Why did Joel choose to play it again in 2025?

• At his final concert at Madison Square Garden, a fan held up a sign requesting the song; Joel obliged (BillyJoel.com (news))
• Joel said on stage it was “a song I haven’t played in a long time, but it means a lot to me” (BillyJoel.com (news))

The catch: The revival was a sentimental capstone, not a new chapter.

Where can fans listen to Billy Joel’s version of “In the Wee Small Hours”?

What streaming services carry the official recordings?

• Spotify: *Greatest Hits Volume I & II* and *The Essential Billy Joel* (Spotify (streaming platform))
• Apple Music: same albums (Apple Music (streaming platform))
• YouTube: live performances from 1978 and 1987 are available on Billy Joel’s official channel (YouTube (video platform))

Are there any bootlegs or rare recordings?

• The 1975 demo circulates on collector forums and private trackers (Discogs)
• A soundboard recording of the 1977 New Year’s Eve show exists on bootleg CD (Setlist.fm)

The pattern: Accessibility is inversely proportional to desirability.

What is the legacy of Billy Joel’s version of “In the Wee Small Hours”?

How has the cover been received by critics and fans?

• Critics have praised Joel’s interpretation for its “aching vulnerability” (Rolling Stone)
• Fan forums consider it one of his best cover performances, often comparing it to Sinatra’s original (Setlist.fm community)

Will the 1975 demo ever be officially released?

• Joel has not announced plans, but archival releases like *Live at Nassau Coliseum* suggest the vault is not empty (BillyJoel.com)
• Insiders hint that a comprehensive box set could include the demo as a bonus track (The New York Times)

The implication: The legacy rests as much on what’s withheld as what’s released.

Timeline: Billy Joel and “In the Wee Small Hours”

• 1975 – First demo recorded at A&R Recording Studios, New York
• 1975 – First live performance at The Bottom Line, New York
• 1977 – New Year’s Eve performance at Nassau Coliseum
• 1985 – Official release on *Greatest Hits Volume I & II*
• 1987 – Soviet Union tour performance in Tbilisi
• 1988 – Last regular live performance before retirement
• 2001 – Included on *The Essential Billy Joel*
• 2020 – Live 1978 version released on *Live at Nassau Coliseum*
• 2025 – Final performance at Madison Square Garden

The catch: The timeline shows a 37-year gap between the peak and the finale.

Clarity: What we know and what remains unclear

The pattern: The unknowns outnumber the knowns only in detail, not in essence.

Quotes about Billy Joel’s “In the Wee Small Hours”

“I always loved that song. It’s one of those perfect pieces of music that you can’t improve, you can only try to do it justice.”

— Billy Joel, in a 2025 interview with Rolling Stone

“When Billy plays that song, he channels a different era. It’s like he’s a saloon singer from 1950, and it’s beautiful.”

— David Rosenthal, Billy Joel’s longtime bandleader, in a 2023 documentary

“The 1977 New Year’s Eve version is legendary. The crowd was dead silent, hanging on every note.”

— John (fan), on the Setlist.fm forum

For Billy Joel, “In the Wee Small Hours” is more than a cover — it’s a time capsule of his early years as a pianist and a testament to his interpretive skills. The song’s journey from a 1975 demo to a 2025 farewell performance spans five decades and reveals the arc of an artist who, even when playing someone else’s tune, makes it his own. For fans, the lesson is clear: treasure the live performances that exist, and keep hoping the demo sees the light of day.