EP 136 - Album Retrospective: Glass Houses (Part 3)

Today, we know Glass Houses as one of Billy Joel’s biggest albums. The 1980 release became his third-consecutive album to quickly go platinum. It kept the band playing some of the biggest venues in the world, and features a handful of songs that are still  live staples.

At the time, however, it was a drastic departure from Billy’s previous hit records. He’d shed much of the classical and jazz influences that marked The Stranger and 52nd Street. The scaled-back arrangements reflected then-modern New Wave and Power Pop with a more stripped-down and guitar-driven approach. 

It was the first time in arguably a decade that Billy made a conscious effort to create an album based on the popular music of the time. As a result, more critics were lukewarm, and even hostile, to the songs. 

Over time, the record cemented its status as a seminal release. After all, it’s the one we named this podcast after. Now, we’re finally giving it an official listen-through. 

Join us as we drop the needle on Billy Joel’s 1980 album Glass Houses.

------

Email us: [email protected]

Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media:

• Website: https://www.glasshousespod.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/
• Twitter / X: https://x.com/glasshousespod 
• Discord: https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@glasshousespod

Support the podcast:

• Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod
• Venmo: @MGrosvenor

Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices