Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
The back-to-back success of The Stranger and 52nd Street may have brought Billy Joel fame and fortune, even a certain amount of self-satisfaction, but it didn't bring him critical respect, and it didn't dull his anger. If anything, being classified as a mainstream rocker -- a soft rocker -- infuriated him, especially since a generation of punks and new wave kids were getting the praise that eluded him. He didn't take this lying down -- he recorded Glass Houses. Comparatively a harder-rocking album than either of its predecessors, with a distinctly bitter edge, Glass Houses still displays the hallmarks of Billy Joel the pop craftsman and Phil Ramone the world-class hitmaker. Even its hardest songs -- the terrifically paranoid "Sometimes a Fantasy," "Sleepin' With the Television On," "Close to the Borderline," the hit "You May Be Right" -- have bold, direct melodies and clean arrangements, ideal for radio play. Instead of turning out to be a fiery rebuttal to his detractors, the album is a remarkable catalog of contemporary pop styles, from McCartney-esque whimsy ("Don't Ask Me Why") and arena rock ("All for Leyna") to soft rock ("C'etait Toi [You Were the One]") and stylish new wave pop ("It's Still Rock and Roll to Me," which ironically is closer to new wave pop than rock). That's not a detriment; that's the album's strength. The Stranger and 52nd Street were fine albums in their own right, but it's nice to hear Joel scale back his showman tendencies and deliver a solid pop/rock record. It may not be punk -- then again, it may be his concept of punk -- but Glass Houses is the closest Joel ever got to a pure rock album.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
From $10.83/month
Billy Joel, Acordeon - Billy Joel, Composer - Billy Joel, Harmonica - Billy Joel, Lyricist - Billy Joel, Performer - Billy Joel, Piano - Billy Joel, Synthesizer - Billy Joel, Vocal - Bradshaw Leigh, 2nd Engineer - David Brown, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - David Brown, Electric Guitar - Doug Stegmeyer, Acoustic Bass - Jim Boyer, Engineer - Liberty DeVitto, Drums - Liberty DeVitto, Percussion - Michele Slagter, Assistant Producer - Phil Ramone, Producer - Richie Cannata, Flute - Richie Cannata, Organ - Richie Cannata, Saxophone - Russell Javors, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Russell Javors, Electric Guitar - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1980 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Billy Joel, Acordeon - Billy Joel, Composer - Billy Joel, Harmonica - Billy Joel, Lyricist - Billy Joel, Performer - Billy Joel, Piano - Billy Joel, Synthesizer - Billy Joel, Vocal - Bradshaw Leigh, 2nd Engineer - Bradshaw Leigh, Mixing Engineer - Brian Ruggles, Mixing Engineer - Brian Ruggles, Producer - David Brown, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - David Brown, Electric Guitar - Doug Stegmeyer, Bass - Frank Weber, Executive Producer - George Simms, Background Vocal - Jim Boyer, Mixing Engineer - Jim Boyer, Producer - Jim Boyer, Recording Engineer - Kevin Dukes, Electric Guitar - Liberty DeVitto, Drums - Liberty DeVitto, Percussion - Mark Rivera, Saxophone - Michele Slagter, Assistant Producer - Oleg Smirnoff, Translator - Peter Hewlett, Background Vocal - Phil Ramone, Producer - Richie Cannata, Flute - Richie Cannata, Organ - Richie Cannata, Saxophone - Rick London, Executive Producer - Russell Javors, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Russell Javors, Electric Guitar - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1987 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Billy Joel, Acordeon - Billy Joel, Composer - Billy Joel, Harmonica - Billy Joel, Lyricist - Billy Joel, Performer - Billy Joel, Piano - Billy Joel, Synthesizer - Billy Joel, Vocal - Bradshaw Leigh, 2nd Engineer - David Brown, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - David Brown, Electric Guitar - Doug Stegmeyer, Acoustic Bass - Jim Boyer, Engineer - Liberty DeVitto, Drums - Liberty DeVitto, Percussion - Michele Slagter, Assistant Producer - Phil Ramone, Producer - Richie Cannata, Flute - Richie Cannata, Organ - Richie Cannata, Saxophone - Russell Javors, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Russell Javors, Electric Guitar - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1980 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Billy Joel, Acordeon - Billy Joel, Composer - Billy Joel, Harmonica - Billy Joel, Lyricist - Billy Joel, Performer - Billy Joel, Piano - Billy Joel, Synthesizer - Billy Joel, Vocal - Bradshaw Leigh, 2nd Engineer - David Brown, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - David Brown, Electric Guitar - Doug Stegmeyer, Bass - Jim Boyer, Engineer - Liberty DeVitto, Drums - Liberty DeVitto, Percussion - Michael Slagter, Assistant Producer - Michael Stewart, Producer - Phil Ramone, Producer - Richie Cannata, Organ - Richie Cannata, Saxophone - Russell Javors, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Russell Javors, Electric Guitar - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1980 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Billy Joel, Acordeon - Billy Joel, Composer - Billy Joel, Harmonica - Billy Joel, Lyricist - Billy Joel, Performer - Billy Joel, Piano - Billy Joel, Synthesizer - Billy Joel, Vocal - Bradshaw Leigh, 2nd Engineer - David Brown, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - David Brown, Electric Guitar - Doug Stegmeyer, Acoustic Bass - Jim Boyer, Engineer - Liberty DeVitto, Drums - Liberty DeVitto, Percussion - Michele Slagter, Assistant Producer - Phil Ramone, Producer - Richie Cannata, Flute - Richie Cannata, Organ - Richie Cannata, Saxophone - Russell Javors, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Russell Javors, Electric Guitar - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1980 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Billy Joel, Acordeon - Billy Joel, Composer - Billy Joel, Harmonica - Billy Joel, Lyricist - Billy Joel, Performer - Billy Joel, Piano - Billy Joel, Synthesizer - Billy Joel, Vocal - Bradshaw Leigh, 2nd Engineer - David Brown, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - David Brown, Electric Guitar - Doug Stegmeyer, Acoustic Bass - Jim Boyer, Engineer - Liberty DeVitto, Drums - Liberty DeVitto, Percussion - Michele Slagter, Assistant Producer - Phil Ramone, Producer - Richie Cannata, Flute - Richie Cannata, Organ - Richie Cannata, Saxophone - Russell Javors, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Russell Javors, Electric Guitar - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1980 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Billy Joel, Acordeon - Billy Joel, Composer - Billy Joel, Harmonica - Billy Joel, Lyricist - Billy Joel, Performer - Billy Joel, Piano - Billy Joel, Synthesizer - Billy Joel, Vocal - Bradshaw Leigh, 2nd Engineer - David Brown, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - David Brown, Electric Guitar - Doug Stegmeyer, Acoustic Bass - Jim Boyer, Engineer - Liberty DeVitto, Drums - Liberty DeVitto, Percussion - Michele Slagter, Assistant Producer - Phil Ramone, Producer - Richie Cannata, Flute - Richie Cannata, Organ - Richie Cannata, Saxophone - Russell Javors, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Russell Javors, Electric Guitar - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1980 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Billy Joel, Acordeon - Billy Joel, Composer - Billy Joel, Harmonica - Billy Joel, Performer - Billy Joel, Piano - Billy Joel, Synthesizer - Billy Joel, Vocal - Bradshaw Leigh, 2nd Engineer - David Brown, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - David Brown, Electric Guitar - Doug Stegmeyer, Acoustic Bass - Jim Boyer, Engineer - Liberty DeVitto, Drums - Liberty DeVitto, Percussion - Michele Slagter, Assistant Producer - Phil Ramone, Producer - Richie Cannata, Flute - Richie Cannata, Organ - Richie Cannata, Saxophone - Russell Javors, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Russell Javors, Electric Guitar - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1980 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Billy Joel, Acordeon - Billy Joel, Composer - Billy Joel, Harmonica - Billy Joel, Lyricist - Billy Joel, Performer - Billy Joel, Piano - Billy Joel, Synthesizer - Billy Joel, Vocal - Bradshaw Leigh, 2nd Engineer - David Brown, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - David Brown, Electric Guitar - Doug Stegmeyer, Acoustic Bass - Jim Boyer, Engineer - Liberty DeVitto, Drums - Liberty DeVitto, Percussion - Michele Slagter, Assistant Producer - Phil Ramone, Producer - Richie Cannata, Flute - Richie Cannata, Organ - Richie Cannata, Saxophone - Russell Javors, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Russell Javors, Electric Guitar - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1980 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Billy Joel, Acordeon - Billy Joel, Composer - Billy Joel, Harmonica - Billy Joel, Performer - Billy Joel, Piano - Billy Joel, Synthesizer - Billy Joel, Vocal - Bradshaw Leigh, 2nd Engineer - David Brown, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - David Brown, Electric Guitar - Doug Stegmeyer, Acoustic Bass - Jim Boyer, Engineer - Liberty DeVitto, Drums - Liberty DeVitto, Percussion - Michele Slagter, Assistant Producer - Phil Ramone, Producer - Richie Cannata, Flute - Richie Cannata, Organ - Richie Cannata, Saxophone - Russell Javors, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Russell Javors, Electric Guitar - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1980 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
The back-to-back success of The Stranger and 52nd Street may have brought Billy Joel fame and fortune, even a certain amount of self-satisfaction, but it didn't bring him critical respect, and it didn't dull his anger. If anything, being classified as a mainstream rocker -- a soft rocker -- infuriated him, especially since a generation of punks and new wave kids were getting the praise that eluded him. He didn't take this lying down -- he recorded Glass Houses. Comparatively a harder-rocking album than either of its predecessors, with a distinctly bitter edge, Glass Houses still displays the hallmarks of Billy Joel the pop craftsman and Phil Ramone the world-class hitmaker. Even its hardest songs -- the terrifically paranoid "Sometimes a Fantasy," "Sleepin' With the Television On," "Close to the Borderline," the hit "You May Be Right" -- have bold, direct melodies and clean arrangements, ideal for radio play. Instead of turning out to be a fiery rebuttal to his detractors, the album is a remarkable catalog of contemporary pop styles, from McCartney-esque whimsy ("Don't Ask Me Why") and arena rock ("All for Leyna") to soft rock ("C'etait Toi [You Were the One]") and stylish new wave pop ("It's Still Rock and Roll to Me," which ironically is closer to new wave pop than rock). That's not a detriment; that's the album's strength. The Stranger and 52nd Street were fine albums in their own right, but it's nice to hear Joel scale back his showman tendencies and deliver a solid pop/rock record. It may not be punk -- then again, it may be his concept of punk -- but Glass Houses is the closest Joel ever got to a pure rock album.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:34:48
- Main artists: Billy Joel
- Composer: Billy Joel
- Label: Columbia
- Genre: Pop/Rock
(P) 1980 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.
