Billy Joel Returns to Adult Contemporary Chart with 'Turn the Lights Back On'

Billy Joel's “Turn the Lights Back On” has limits Advertising signAdult Contemporary chart (dated February 10) at No. 11. The song – his first release in 17 years – marks his first entry in the survey since 1998.

Making Joel's chart comeback even more impressive, “Turn the Lights Back On” debuts in just its first day of airing, following its 7 a.m. launch. ET Thursday (Feb. 1) from Columbia Records. Concentrated play on iHeartMedia-owned radio stations, including WLTW New York and KOST Los Angeles, as well as Cumulus Media outlets, led to the song's launch on the format.

“Lights” marks Joel's first recording released on Adult Contemporary since his March 7, 1998 chart-topping #13 cover of Gerry Goffin and Carole King's “Hey Girl” (which previously became a hit for Freddie Scott, in 1963, and Donny Osmond, in 1971). Joel last reached the top 10 on the chart in August-September 1997, when his version of Bob Dylan's “To Make You Feel My Love” reached No. 9, becoming his 23rd top 10.

Joel first charted with the breakthrough classic “Piano Man”, which reached No. 4 in April 1974.

“Turn the Lights Back On,” meanwhile, marks Joel's highest debut on the chart, beating “To Make You Feel My Love”'s No. 23 bow.

Notably, Joel, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, appeared as a writer on Adult Contemporary amid his nearly 26-year hiatus from the charts as a recording artist: Fall Out Boy's cover of “We Didn't” t Start the Fire” rose to No. 16 in December. (Joel's original #5 hit in 1989.)

“Turn the Lights Back On” was written by Joel, Arthur Bacon, Wayne Hector and Freddy Wexler.

“The melody, the chords, the chord progression, even the time signature was something that immediately struck me, and that's how I relate to music,” Joel said of his reaction to what Wexler was working on. “That particular verse in that song, I had those thoughts, I could have written those lyrics verbatim. I've chewed on these words and I've thought about these words, and I've said these words over and over again. It was all sort of in place – and who am I to fight that?”

All charts dated February 10 will be updated on Advertising sign Tuesday, February 5.