Ryan's Reviews

9 July 1986 saw the release of Billy Joel's tenth studio album "The Bridge". It was an album that would mark a period of transition for Billy, which is fitting given that it was called "The Bridge". This was the last album produced by Phil Ramone. It was also the last one to feature the talents of bassist Doug Stegmeyer and rhythm guitarist Russell Javors. Doug and Russell had played in Billy's band more or less since the time of "The Stranger". Phil had been producing since "The Stranger". Then there was Family Productions who had released Billy's first album "Cold Spring Harbor" in 1971. As part of the agreement with Columbia Records when Billy was released from his contract, Family got their label on the next ten albums. "The Bridge" was the last one to include it. Artistically, "The Bridge" would also see Billy collaborate with musicians like Ray Charles (on the song "Baby Grand") and Cyndi

By 1985, Billy Joel had released about a dozen albums including "Cold Spring Harbor" (1971, reissued and remixed in 1983), "Piano Man" (1973), "Streetlife Serenade" (1974), "Turnstiles" (1976), "The Stranger" (1977), "52nd Street" (1978), "Glass Houses" (1980), the live album "Songs in the Attic" (1981) which had reclaimed many of the earlier songs, "The Nylon Curtain" (1982), and the recent mega release of "An Innocent Man" two years prior. Among his repertoire were gems like "Piano Man", "Captain Jack", "The Entertainer", "Say Goodbye to Hollywood", "New York State of Mind", "The Stranger", "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant", "Just the Way You Are", “Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)", "Only the Good Die Young", "She's Always a Woman", "My Life", "Big Shot"