Tag Archives: Family Productions

Billy Joel: The Bridge

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On July 29, 1986, “Family Productions” and “Columbia” labels released “The Bridge”, the tenth Billy Joel studio album. It was recorded 1985 – 1986, at “The Power Station”, “Chelsea Sound”, “RCA Studios”, in New York City and “Evergreen Studios”, in Burbank, California, and was produced by Phil Ramone. The album was certified Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”, 2 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”, and 2 x Platinum in the US by “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Billy Joel– lead and backing vocals, acoustic piano, synthesizers, electric guitar, Fender Rhodes
  • Ray Charles– acoustic piano, lead vocals
  • David Brown – guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar
  • Russell Javors– guitar
  • Liberty DeVitto– drums, percussion
  • Doug Stegmeyer– bass guitar
  • Mark Rivera– tenor and alto saxophone
  • Rob Mounsey– synthesizer, orchestration
  • Jeff Bova– synthesizer, orchestration
  • Steve Winwood– Hammond B3 organ
  • Dean Parks– guitar
  • John McCurry– guitar
  • Neil Stubenhaus– bass guitar
  • Ron Carter– acoustic bass
  • Neil Jason– bass guitar
  • Vinnie Colaiuta– drums
  • Jimmy Bralower – percussion
  • Eddie Daniels– alto saxophone
  • Michael Brecker– tenor saxophone
  • Ronnie Cuber– baritone saxophone
  • Dave Bargeron– trombone
  • Marvin Stamm– trumpet
  • Alan Rubin– trumpet
  • Don Brooks– harmonica
  • Patrick Williams– arrangements
  • Philippe Saisse– orchestration
  • Peter Hewlett – backing vocals
  • Cyndi Lauper– harmony vocals
  • Jim Boyer – engineer
  • Steve Boyer, David Dickson, Bradshaw Leigh, Fred Tenny – engineer assistant
  • Ricki Begin, Peter Bergren, Mark Betts, Steve Buller, Cary Butler, Gary Ciuzio, Ed Evans, Bruce Howell, Joe Lopes, Frank Rodriguez, Billy Rothschild, Joe Salvatto, Audrey Tanaka, Phil Vachon – technical support
  • Ted Jensen– mixing
  • Mark Larson – design
  • Brad Holland – cover painting
  • Patrick Demarchelier – photography
  • Larry Busacca, Phil Ramone, Charles Reilly – sleeve photography
  • Joseph D’Ambrosio – production coordinator

Track listing:

All tracks by Billy Joel, except where noted.

  1. Running on Ice
  2. This Is the Time
  3. A Matter of Trust
  4. Modern Woman
  5. Baby Grand
  6. Big Man on Mulberry Street
  7. Temptation
  8. Code of Silence – Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper
  9. Getting Closer

Billy Joel: An Innocent Man

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On August 8, 1983, “Family Productions” label released “An Innocent Man”, the ninth Billy Joel studio album. It was recorded in 1983, at “Chelsea Sound” and “A&R Recording, Inc.” in New York, and was produced by Phil Ramone.

Personnel:

  • Billy Joelv– lead and backing vocals, Baldwin acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3 organ
  • David Brown – lead electric and acoustic guitars
  • Eric Gale– electric guitar
  • Russell Javors– rhythm electric and acoustic guitars
  • Leon Pendarvis – Hammond B3 organ
  • Toots Thielemans– harmonica
  • Richard Tee– acoustic piano
  • Doug Stegmeyer– bass guitar
  • Liberty DeVitto– drums
  • Ralph MacDonald– percussion
  • Mark Rivera– alto and tenor saxophone, percussion
  • David Sanborn– alto saxophone
  • Michael Brecker– tenor saxophone
  • Ronnie Cuber– baritone saxophone
  • Jon Faddis– trumpet
  • Joe Shepley – trumpet
  • John Gatchell – trumpet
  • String Fever – strings
  • Tom Bahler, Rory Dodd, Frank Floyd, Lani Groves, Ullanda McCullough, Ron Taylor, Terry Textor, Eric Troyer, Mike Alexander – backing vocal
  • David Matthews – horn and strings arrangements
  • Tom Bahler – backing vocals arrangements
  • Billy Zampino – musical advisor
  • Jim Boyer, Bradshaw Leigh – engineer
  • Mike Allaire, Scott James – engineer assistant
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Christopher Austopchuk, Mark Larson – design
  • Gilles Larrain – photography
  • Laura Loncteaux – production coordinator

Track listing:

All tracks by Billy Joel, except for the chorus for “This Night,” credited to L. v. Beethoven.

  1. Easy Money
  2. An Innocent Man
  3. The Longest Time
  4. This Night
  5. Tell Her About It
  6. Uptown Girl
  7. Careless Talk
  8. Christie Lee
  9. Leave a Tender Moment Alone
  10. Keeping the Faith

Billy Joel: Glass Houses

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Billy_Joel_-_Glass_Houses

On March 10, 1980, “Family Productions/ Columbia” label released “Glass Houses”, the seventh Billy Joel studio album.  It was recorded in 1979 and was produced by Phil Ramone. The album was commercial success with sales of 7.1 million copies in the US alone. In 1981, Joel won a “Grammy Award” for “Best Male Rock Vocal Performance”.

Personnel:

  • Billy Joel – lead vocals, acoustic piano, synthesizers, harmonica, electric pianos, accordion
  • David Brown – acoustic and electric guitars
  • Russell Javors– acoustic and electric guitars
  • Doug Stegmeyer– bass guitar
  • Liberty DeVitto– drums, percussion
  • Richie Cannata– saxophones, organs, flute
  • Jim Houghton – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Billy Joel.

  1. You May Be Right
  2. Sometimes a Fantasy
  3. Don’t Ask Me Why
  4. It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me
  5. All for Leyna
  6. I Don’t Want to Be Alone
  7. Sleeping with the Television On
  8. C’était Toi (You Were the One)
  9. Close to the Borderline

Billy Joel: Piano Man

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Billy Joel - Piano Man

On November 9, 1973, “Family Productions / Columbia” label released “Piano Man”, the second Billy Joel studio album. It was recorded in September 1973, at the “Devonshire Sound” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Michael Stewart.

Personnel

  • Billy Joel – vocals, harmonica, keyboards, piano
  • Larry Carlton– guitar
  • Richard Bennett– guitar
  • Dean Parks– guitar
  • Fred Heilbrun – banjo
  • Eric Weissberg– banjo
  • Michael Omartian– accordion
  • Wilton Felder– bass
  • Emory Gordy, Jr.– bass
  • Ron Tutt– drums
  • Rhys Clark – drums
  • Billy Armstrong – violin
  • Susan Steward – backing vocals
  • Laura Creamer– backing vocals
  • Mark Creamer – backing vocals

Track listing

All tracks by Billy Joel.

  1. Travelin’ Prayer
  2. Piano Man
  3. Ain’t No Crime
  4. You’re My Home
  5. The Ballad of Billy the Kid
  6. Worse Comes to Worst
  7. Stop in Nevada
  8. If I Only Had the Words to Tell You
  9. Somewhere along the Line
  10. Captain Jack

Billy Joel: 52nd Street

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Billy_Joel_52nd_Street

On October 13, 1978, “Family Productions” label released “52nd Street”, the sixth Billy Joel studio album. It was recorded July – August 1978, at the  “A&R Recording, Inc”., 799 7th Avenue at 52nd Street, New York City. The album won 1979 “Grammy for Album of the Year”. In 2003, “52nd Street” was ranked by the magazine “Rolling Stone” number 352  on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of all Time”.

Personnel:

  • Billy Joel – vocals, acoustic piano, Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers
  • Steve Khan – acoustic and electric guitar, backing vocals
  • David Spinozza– acoustic guitar
  • Eric Gale– electric guitar
  • Hugh McCracken– nylon string guitar
  • Doug Stegmeyer– bass, backing vocals
  • Liberty DeVitto– drums
  • Ralph MacDonald– percussion
  • David Friedman – orchestral chimes, percussion
  • Richie Cannata– saxophones, organ, clarinet
  • Freddie Hubbard– flugelhorn, trumpet
  • Mike Mainieri– vibes, marimba
  • Donnie Dacus& Peter Cetera – backing vocals
  • Frank Floyd, Babi Floyd, Zack Sanders, Milt Grayson, Ray Simpson – backing vocals
  • George Marge – sopranino recorder
  • Robert Freedman – horn and string orchestration
  • Dave Grusin– horn orchestration
  • David Nadien – concert master

Track listing:

All tracks by Billy Joel.

  1. Big Shot
  2. Honesty
  3. My Life
  4. Zanzibar
  5. Stiletto
  6. Rosalinda’s Eyes
  7. Half a Mile Away
  8. Until the Night
  9. 52nd Street