Another live version of the song was released on Live at Shea Stadium: The Concert in 2011. Still another live version was also included on Disc 1 of Joel's 12 Gardens Live album, issued in 2006. Critical reception Critical response to the song has been mixed. In The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, Paul Evans called "The Ballad of Billy the Kid" one of the "ambitious story songs" on Piano Man and Dennis Hunt of The Los Angeles Times agreed that the song showed Joel's "knack for story songs." But other critics have dismissed the song. For example, The New York Times critic Laura Sinagra called the song a "bombastic throwaway" and Tom Phalen of The Seattle Times was also critical of the song, arguing that Joel's "outlaw" character doesn't match Joel's light, catchy "Marlboro Man melodies." Bordowitz comments on the "interesting, if somewhat jejune parallel" in the lyrics between a teenage rebel in the 1800s American West and in the 1900s American suburbs. Pop culture reference "The Ballad of Billy the Kid" is featured during the Family Guy episode "Dial Meg for Murder". References Billy Joel songs 1974 singles 1973 songs Songs about Billy the Kid Songs written by Billy Joel Song recordings produced by Michael Stewart (musician) Columbia Records singles