Tag Archives: Liberty DeVitto

Billy Joel: The Bridge

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On July 09, 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: River of Dreams

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On August 10, 1993, “Columbia” label released “River of Dreams”, the twelve Billy Joel studio album. It was recorded in 1992, at The Boathouse at the “Island Boatyard” in Shelter Island, NY, “Cove City Sound Studios” in Glen Cove, NY and “The Hit Factory” in New York City, and was produced by Billy Joel, Danny Kortchmar, Joe Nicolo and David Thoener. The album was certified 3 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”; Platinum in Austria by “IFPI Austria”; 3 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada; Platinum in Germany by “BMVI”; 2 x Platinum in Ireland by “IRMA”; Platinum in Japan by “RIAJ”; Platinum in Netherlands by “NVPI”; Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”; Platinum in Switzerland by “IFPI Switzerland”; Platinum in UK by “BPI”; and 5 x Platinum in US by “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Billy Joel – lead and backing vocals, clavinet, Hammond organ, piano, organ, synthesizer, keyboards
  • Tommy Byrnes – guitar
  • Mike Tyler – guitar
  • Leslie West – guitar
  • Danny Kortchmar – guitar
  • Jeff Jacobs – synthesizer, additional programming
  • Jeff Lee Johnson – bass
  • Schuyler Deale: bass
  • Chuck Treece – bass
  • M. Stevens – bass
  • Lonnie Hillyer – bass
  • Liberty DeVitto – drums
  • Steve Jordan – drums
  • Zachary Alford – drums
  • Andy Kravitz – percussion
  • Jim Saporito – percussion
  • Richie Cannata – tenor sax
  • Arno Hecht – baritone sax
  • Laurence Etkin – trumpet
  • Osvaldo Melindez – trombone
  • Wrecia Ford – backing vocals
  • Color Me Badd – backing vocals
  • David Witworth – backing vocals
  • Frank Simms, George Simms – backing vocals
  • Crystal Taliefero – backing vocals, vocal arrangements
  • Marlon Saunders – choir vocals, backing vocals
  • Phillip Ballou, Katreese Barnes, Dennis Collins, Will Downing, Frank Floyd, Diane Garisto, Stephanie James, Devora Johnson, Corliss Stafford, Brenda White-King – choir vocals
  • Curtis Rance King, Jr.- choir conductor and contractor
  • Ira Newborn: orchestration
  • Bob Thrasher, Bradshaw Leigh, Dave Wilkerson, Jay Healy – recording
  • Carl Glanville, Joe Nicolo, Phil Nicolo, Dick Grobelny – engineer
  • Dan Hetzel, Brian Vibberts – engineer
  • Niko Bolas, David Thoener, Joe Nicolo, Phil Nicolo – mixing
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Jeff Schock – art concept
  • Christopher Austopchuk – art direction
  • Christie Brinkley – cover painting
  • Sara Rotman – design
  • Glen Erler – photography
  • Lewis Del Gatto: orchestra manager
  • Bill Zampino – production coordinator
  • Andrew Baker, Artie Smith, Courtney Spencer, Dave Hofbauer, David Hewitt, Doug Kleeger, Greg Garland, Howie Mendelson, Jon “J.D.” Dworkow*, Larry DeMarco, Laura Delia, Lester Baylinson, Peter Goodrich, Steve Bramberg – technical support

Track listing:

All tracks by Billy Joel.

  1. No Man’s Land
  2. The Great Wall of China
  3. Blonde Over Blue
  4. A Minor Variation
  5. Shades of Grey
  6. All About Soul
  7. Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
  8. The River of Dreams
  9. Two Thousand Years
  10. Famous Last Words

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: Storm Front

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billy-joel_storm-front

On October 17, 1989, “Columbia” label released “Storm Front”, the eleventh Billy Joel studio album. It was recorded 1988 – 1989, at “The Hit Factory”; “Times Square Studio”;  “Right Track Recording”; The Power Station” in New York, and “The Warehouse Studio” in Vancouver, British Columbia, and was produced by Billy Joel and Mick Jones. The album was certified Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”; 2 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in Germany by “BVMI”; Platinum in Japan by “RIAJ”; Platinum in UK by “BPI”, and 4 x Platinum in the US by “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Billy Joel – lead and backing vocals, acoustic piano, clavinet, accordion, Hammond organ, harpsichord, synthesizers, guitars, percussion
  • David Brown – lead guitar, Midi guitar solo
  • Joey Hunting – rhythm guitar
  • Mick Jones – guitar
  • John Mahoney – keyboards, keyboards programming
  • Don Brooks – harmonica
  • Dominic Cortese – accordion
  • Jeff Jacobs – synthesizers, horn arrangements
  • Schuyler Deale – bass guitar
  • Liberty DeVitto  – drums, percussion
  • Crystal Taliefero – percussion
  • Sammy Merendino – electronic percussion
  • Lenny Pickett – saxophone
  • Itzhak Perlman – violin
  • Kevin Jones – keyboard programming
  • Doug Kleeger – sounds effects
  • Andrew Love, Wayne Jackson: The Memphis Horns
  • Bill Zampino – choral arrangement
  • Chuck Arnold – choral leader
  • Arif Mardin – orchestral arrangement
  • Mick Jones, Richard Marx, Crystal Taliefero, Jeff Jacobs, Patricia Darcy-Jones, Frank Floyd, Brian Ruggles, Joe Lynn Turner, Ian Lloyd, Brenda White King, Curtis King – backing vocals
  • Dana Becker, Tim Crich, Jay Healy, Suzanne Hollander, Joe Pirrera, Gary Solomon – engineer
  • Tom Lord-Alge , Jay Healy – mixing
  • Ted Jensen – mastering

Track lsiting:

All tracks by Billy Joel.

  1. That’s Not Her Style
  2. We Didn’t Start the Fire
  3. The Downeaster ‘Alexa’
  4. I Go to Extremes
  5. Shameless
  6. Storm Front
  7. Leningrad
  8. State of Grace
  9. When in Rome
  10. And So It Goes

 

Billy Joel: The Stranger

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the-stranger

On September 29, 1977, “Family Productions” label released “The Stranger” the fifth Billy Joel studio album. It was recorded July – August 1977, at “A&R Recording, Inc.” in New York City, and was produced by Phil Ramone. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “The Stranger” at number 70 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.  The album became Joel’s critical and commercial breakthrough, and remains his best-selling non-compilation album to date. The album was certified 5 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in Hong Kong by “IFPI Hong Kong”; Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”, and Diamond in the US by “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Billy Joel– vocals, acoustic piano, keyboards, synthesizers, Fender Rhodes
  • Steve Khan– six and twelve string electric guitars, acoustic rhythm guitar, high string guitar
  • Hiram Bullock– electric guitar
  • Hugh McCracken– acoustic guitar
  • Steve Burgh – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Dominic Cortese – accordion
  • Richard Tee– organ
  • Doug Stegmeyer– bass guitar
  • Liberty DeVitto– drums
  • Ralph MacDonald– percussion
  • Richie Cannata– tenor and soprano saxophones, clarinet, flute, organ, tuba
  • Patrick Williams– orchestration
  • Phil Woods– alto saxophone
  • Phoebe Snow– backing vocals
  • Lani Groves – backing vocals
  • Gwen Guthrie– backing vocals
  • Patti Austin– backing vocals
  • Ted Jensen– mastering

Track listing:

All tracks by Billy Joel.

  1. Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)
  2. The Stranger
  3. Just the Way You Are
  4. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
  5. Vienna
  6. Only the Good Die Young
  7. She’s Always a Woman
  8. Get It Right the First Time
  9. Everybody Has a Dream/The Stranger (reprise)

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: 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