Billy Joel: The Bridge (1986)
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 Lauper (co-writing and performing on "Code of Silence"). Steve Winwood also played Hammond organ on the last song "Getting Closer" with jazz musicians Ron Carter and Michael Brecker making an appearance on "Big Man on Mulberry Street". I also want to mention the involvement of Jeff Bova who also played keyboards and synths on one of my favourite albums "Bat out of Hell II: Back into Hell" from Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman.
The song "Code of Silence" co-written with Cyndi Lauper was also a first for Billy, in that it was the only song in his pop songwriting career that listed another writer. Billy was blocked so Cyndi helped him out, I believe, and Billy then returned the favour by recording on Cyndi's song "Maybe He'll Know" from her 1986 album "True Colors".
Historically, this album led to Billy's successful tour of the Soviet Union in 1987 which was documented on the live album from the same year "Концерт" and the expanded CD/new DVD release from 2014 "A Matter of Trust: The Bridge to Russia". I've only heard the first one, and from memory it was very solid. I won't be looking at it this time around, since I'm focusing more on studio releases, but maybe in the future when I hear the 2014 version as well.
OK, let's look at the chart success of this album. Single wise, there was "Modern Woman" which also appeared on the soundtrack for "Ruthless People" (and one of two connections here with Bette Midler that I can think of). "Modern Woman" managed #10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #7 on the US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. In Australia it got to #21, #28 in New Zealand and #27 in Canada.
The second single "A Matter of Trust" (and the most familiar one to me) got to #10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 while reaching a sensational #3 in Australia. In Canada it got to #15 and #48 in New Zealand. I always remember the video of this directed by Russell Mulcahy ("Allentown" and "Pressure" who had also directed Bonnie Tyler and Jim Steinman's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and would go on to direct "The Highlander" with soundtrack by Queen), including that woman screaming "SHUT UP!" in the distance.
A third single followed with "This is the Time" which scored #1 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart while making #18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #32 on Billboard Album Rock Tracks. In Australia, it manages #73. The song was also included in the Italian soap opera "Guiding Light" from the years 1986 to 2007.
A final single was released with Billy’s fantastic duet with Ray Charles on "Baby Grand". I remember the video for this too although I haven't seen it in years. A quote from Billy in the St. Petersburg Times: "Ray Charles was my hero growing up. As big of a pianist or as big of a star I could ever become, I could never be Ray Charles." It must have been incredible working with him here. It's a great moment for me here. Chart wise, it manages #3 Billboard Adult Contemporary.
In terms of album success, "The Bridge" reaches #7 on the US Billboard 200 while rising as high as #2 in Australia, which is what it also reaches in Japan. The chart numbers seem to vary worldwide but overall it doesn't seem to have done that badly (imagine hitting the top 10 in the US, come on.)
Suddenly however I came across this quote on the Wiki page which links to an article from Entertainment Weekly where Billy reviews his own albums ("52nd Street" for some reason is omitted). Billy says here: "Not a happy album. I wasn't simpatico with the musicians, some of whom I'd been working with a long time. I don't think the material was good; I was pressured by management to put it out too fast. By the end, I sort of gave up caring, which for me was unusual. I remember reading bad reviews and agreeing with them." Have a listen to Billy's opinions though on the Complete Album YouTube videos.
"The Bridge" didn't seem to do as well as "An Innocent Man" before that and pretty much everything from "The Stranger". Me, I'm very fond of it, and at the very least it's given us "Big Man from Mulberry Street" which is intense levels of awesome to me.
Cover wise, we have this blue grey image of a great bridge and a river. I think it goes nicely with the art for "The Nylon Curtain" and then when you put the black and white images of "An Innocent Man" (with that great yellow font) and "Greatest Hits" it all just sits nicely together.
Let's have a look at the songs.
"Running on Ice" --- we begin with this great one which is apparently inspired by the music of the Police. For some reason, it makes me think of Michael Douglas in that brilliant 90s movie "Falling Down". I would have liked to have heard the song here. It's obviously a song I can imagine being used in a film or TV show.
"This is the Time" --- this is the bridge for me between this and "A Matter of Trust", two awesome songs from this album. I don't remember paying too much attention to it the first time around, but I love it now.
"A Matter of Trust" --- yes, yes, yes!
"Modern Woman" --- this is the one from the movie Bette Midler was in. Apparently Billy has mentioned in interviews that he doesn't really care for this song, but I think his opinions must have changed a bit if he began performing it in his shows in 2019. I like it, basically.
"Baby Grand" --- Billy and Ray Charles round out the A side with this great moment. I think all Billy Joel fans should hear this one if they haven't already. He's singing with his idol and it's a great little song. They're both singing about their pianos.
"Big Man on Mulberry Street" --- this is just pure awesome!!!! Fuck!!!!
"Temptation" --- really, really like this one, and actually I find that there is not really a weak moment on here.
"Code of Silence" --- this is the one with Lauper. I think it's fantastic. This one always grabs me.
"Getting Closer" --- I feel like I'm least familiar with this one. It probably needs a few more goes. It has lines like "my stolen youth", "all the conmen and their acrobats who stomped me in the ground" and "I must live up to contracts" which according to Wikipedia might be a reference to that first label.
So that brings us to the end of "The Bridge". Not a lot of worrying traffic here then! Next up is 1989's "Storm Front".
Thank you for reading,
Ryan.
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