Billy Joel: Glass Houses (1980)

Singer, songwriter, musician extraordinaire William Martin Joel began the decade of the 80s with a musical bang, with his seventh album: "Glass Houses". Of course, it comes from the saying: "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones." I wonder if they have any nylon curtains, which leads us into the next album. For now however, let's look at this one.

On 12 March 1980 on the heels of "The Stranger" and the follow-up "52nd Street", "Glass Houses" was released. But just like "52nd Street" before it, this wasn't a continuation of the previous album. No. According to Uncle Wiki this was made in response to the Punk and new wave movements that were going on at the time. As a result, this makes it one of Billy's rockiest albums. It certainly doesn't repeat the jazzier sound of "52nd Street".

Again, "Glass Houses" is produced by stalwart Phil Ramone, and according to Uncle Wiki again (I'm starting to picture this guy who sort of looks like Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken), it was the final album to include the original line-up of Billy's band. They had been recording with him since "The Stranger". The last album band member Richie Cannata appeared on was "Songs in the Attic" the following year.

The response was a great one. The success continued with several more singles, "All for Leyna", "You May Be Right", "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me", "Don't Ask me Why" and "Sometimes a Fantasy". I saw several of the videos years ago on the Billy Joel Video Album that was put out in 1986. The ones that stuck in my mind were "All for Leyna", with Billy's frenzied looking facial expressions behind his keyboard, and "Sometimes a Fantasy" with Billy on the telephone.

Singles wise, "All for Leyna" managed 40 in the UK Singles Chart, while "You May Be Right" went as high as 6 in Canada and 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In Australia, "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" went to Number 10, while it became Billy's first Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. His classic album "The Stranger" hadn't even managed that. More hits followed with "Don't Ask Me Why" scoring Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the final single "Sometimes a Fantasy" managing 21 in Canada.

The album scored Number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, with success following in Australia (at 2), Austria (4), Canada (1), and more. It managed Number 1 in Iceland.

Sales currently stand at 7.1 million copies US while it has become one of the top 50 best-selling albums of the 1980s. Billy also won another Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in 1981.

Clearly, to me, this is a formidable album. And yet I was critical of some parts of it in one of my previous reviews, alluding to something about this album's B side.

I have since re-listened, several times now, and my opinions have been evolving. Let's have a look then.

"You May Be Right" --- SMASH! We almost literally begin with a "BANG" (it is actually the shattering of glass). I cannot go wrong with this song. It is a fucking classic from beginning to end, excuse my language.

"Sometimes a Fantasy" --- things are still moving spectacularly along. It's always the beat and the music itself that's grabbed my attention all these years. I've actually been listening more closely to the lyrics now.

"Don't Ask Me Why" --- this was a song I really discovered through one of the compilation albums. It had sort of escaped me before that, and it is another classic.

"It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" --- if it wasn't for "All for Leyna", this would probably have to be my favourite song on the A side. It deserved its success and then some.

"All for Leyna" --- OK, this is the one ("You were the one..." as he sings on Side B). I don't know what it is about this song but I just love it. It sort of feels like a Jim Steinman piece too, with the angst and drama in the lyrics, the big piano sounds and the band. This is the one I recommend the most.

"I don't want to be Alone" --- the beginning of the B side and as I said my opinions have been evolving on this one. It had lost me before, but now the more I listen to it the more I think it could have been a single as well. If anything else, it's the best part of the latter half.

"Sleeping with the Television on" --- this song had sort of gone over my head before. Suddenly now it's clicking with me. With two down and three to go, the B side is looking pretty solid.

"C’était Toi (You Were the One)" --- it's definitely gone up in my eyes. I hope it continues to.

"Closer to the Borderline" --- this is still the weakest link for me. I had said to a friend before this, "This is the worst song Billy did on this album." And he was like, "Say that to him and he'll punch you in the face." Or maybe he'll replicate the front cover?

"Through the Long Night" --- we wrap up with one of Billy's underrated gems in this closer "Through the Long Night". I would love to hear how it would sound being performed live. This also would have made a good single.

How many singles could this album have? That's one of the things for me that mark it as a classic and I am so glad that the other side of the album has gone up in my opinion. Have a listen to it again sometime, or if you're new to this party, check it out along with "The Stranger" and "52nd Street". If you liked those three, you may want to hang around for the next one.

Thank you for reading,

Ryan.