Glass Houses

Infobox Album |
Name = Glass Houses
Type = Album
Artist = Billy Joel


Released = March, 1980
Recorded = 1979
Genre = Rock
Length = 35:06
Label = Columbia
Producer = Phil Ramone
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jz6gtra9kl3x~T1 link]
* Rolling Stone (not rated) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/billyjoel/albums/album/241142/review/5942679/glass_houses link]
Last album = "52nd Street" (1978)
This album = "Glass Houses" (1980)
Next album = "Songs in the Attic" (1981)

"Glass Houses" is the seventh album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released in 1980 (see 1980 in music). It features Joel's first song to peak at #1 on Billboard's Pop Singles chart, "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me." The album itself topped the Pop Albums chart for six weeks and became the fourth best-selling album in the United States in the year of its release.cite web|title=Billboard.com - Year End Charts - Year-end Albums - The Billboard 200
publisher=billboard.com|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1980|accessdate=2008-09-11]

Opening with the sound of glass shattering, "Glass Houses" has more of a hard rock feel than Joel's prior albums. Accordingly, the response to this album was quite mixed. "Glass Houses" alienated many long-time fans, while at the same time, attracted many new fans to his music. The album was conceived as a reply to punk in general, and The Jam's second album "This Is the Modern World" in particular.Fact|date=August 2007

Background

The album cover consists of Joel poised to throw a rock through the big two story window of his real life modern water front glass house in Oyster Bay. He moved into it in 1977, after getting turned down for an apartment at The Dakota.

It was the third collaboration between Joel and producer Phil Ramone, following "The Stranger" and "52nd Street".

Track listing

All songs written by Billy Joel.

#"You May Be Right" – 4:15
#"Sometimes a Fantasy" – 3:40
#"Don't Ask Me Why" – 2:59
#"It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" – 2:57
#"All for Leyna" – 4:15
#"I Don't Want to Be Alone" – 3:57
#"Sleeping With the Television On" – 3:02
#"C'Était Toi (You Were the One)" – 3:25
#"Close to the Borderline" – 3:47
#"Through the Long Night" – 2:43

Personnel

*Billy Joel – synthesizer, harmonica, piano, accordion, keyboard, vocals
*Dave Brown – acoustic guitar, guitar, electric guitar
*Richie Cannata – organ, flute, keyboard, saxophone, wind
*Liberty DeVitto – percussion, drums
*Russell Javors – acoustic guitar, guitar, electric guitar
*Doug Stegmeyer – bass

Production

*Producers: Phil Ramone
*Engineer: Jim Boyer
*Assistant engineer: Bradshaw Leigh
*Mastering: Ted Jensen
*Photography: Jim Houghton

Chart positions

Album

References