In Spain, in 1979 when I purchased the single vinyl "My life" it had "52nd street" as a B side. I didn't have many records at the time cause I was a child so "My life", "Blame it on the boogie" and "September" (Jacksons and Earth, Wind and fire, resp.) and their B sides sounded on and on and on on my record player.
"52nd street" was not so catchy as "My life", but it taught me that there were some other rhythms, obscure and jazzy, with a lot of smoke and alcoholic odor, that remained from then on forever. I came to discover Ray Charles and Billy Holiday, so I suppose it worthed the listening. And 52nd street and Billy Joel's dark blue voice stood and stays there as a favourite... playing in my teenager room, forever.