Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno

The beauty of live music is that a song never sounds the same twice. Billy Joel’s no exception to this rule. And, with some songs nearly 50 years old by now, many of his older numbers have seen drastic changes over the years. 

In the first installment of our Evolution of a Song series, we tracked how "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" and "Everybody Loves You Now" changed from their first appearances to their most recent. 

This time, we’re reaching far back into the catalog with "The Entertainer." This was an early concert staple that got shelved for years before becoming a standard again over the last decade. 

What’s also notable about this song is that the version on the Streetlife Serenade album couldn’t be replicated live. It features more and more instruments, from synthesizers to banjos, layering onto the recording with every verse. 

This episode starts with a barebones live recording that predates the official recording. Then, we’ll track the song through numerous lineup changes and shows at bigger and bigger venues. Finally, we’ll finish with a performance from 2023. 

Join us, as we dig deep into the evolution of "The Entertainer."

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Email us: glasshousespodcast@gmail.com
 
Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media:

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Support the podcast:

Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod


Venmo: @MGrosvenor

 
Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC
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Billy Joel’s world tour supporting the Storm Front album was a huge success by all metrics. But behind it was a story almost as tumultuous as the album title and front cover portrayed. 

The tour was a necessity to earn back millions of dollars that Billy’s former manager, Frank Weber, had stolen from him over the previous few years. It also featured a revamped lineup that saw both bassist Doug Stegmeyer and guitarist Russell Javors out of the lineup for the first time since 1976.
Starting in December of 1989, Billy and the band hit the road for more than 170 shows over 16 months in 15 countries. The tour capped off Billy’s 80s run by introducing two new players who would become long-standing band members. 

It also featured his landmark Yankee Stadium performances, which were commemorated in a Disney Channel & Home Video release in 1990 and a re-release on Blu-ray, CD and vinyl in 2022. 

Join us as we dig deep into the Storm Front Tour.

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Email us: glasshousespodcast@gmail.com
 
Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media:

Website: https://www.glasshousespod.com


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/


Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/glasshousespod 

Discord: https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T


 
Support the podcast:

Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod


Venmo: @MGrosvenor

 
Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2014 was a renaissance for Billy Joel. It’s almost hard to believe, given all the time he’s spent in the spotlight a decade later. But, he’d been relatively quiet in the late aughts and early 2010s. That made the flurry of activity this year all the more surprising. 

Billy kicked off his Madison Square Garden residency in January of 2014, which he supported with a number of high-profile media appearances. The unprecedented run earned him plenty of press throughout the year, and his SiriusXM Radio channel debuted that spring. That all occurred alongside his regular touring schedule and other milestones. 

In retrospect, the experiment that was the first year of the residency laid the foundation for the next ten years and Billy’s recent resurgence with new music, television specials, and more. 

We’ll cover all that and more in this episode. And, we have a number of firsthand accounts of shows this year. Join us, as we dig deep into 2014.

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Email us: glasshousespodcast@gmail.com
 
Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media:

Website: https://www.glasshousespod.com


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/


Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/glasshousespod 

Discord: https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T


 
Support the podcast:

Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod


Venmo: @MGrosvenor

 
Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What the new compilation Billy Joel Live Through the Years - Japan Edition lacks in new material, it more than makes up for in providing context to 40-plus years of music. 

The double-disc set, only released in Japan, features 32 live tracks recorded between 1972 and 2008. Starting with the Sigma Sound radio broadcast and culminating with a limited-release single, it tracks how Billy’s live show evolved through multiple bands and increasingly larger venues and audiences.

Join us as we dig deep into Billy Joel: Live Through the Years - Japan Edition. 
 
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Email us: glasshousespodcast@gmail.com
 
Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media:

Website: https://www.glasshousespod.com


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/


Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/glasshousespod 

Discord: https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T


 
Support the podcast:

Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod


Venmo: @MGrosvenor

 
Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The River of Dreams album was Billy Joel’s introduction to a new generation of fans in the early 90s. With chart-topping songs, a notorious Grammy appearance, and an extensive world tour, it was a landmark in Billy’s career. 

But for drummer Zachary Alford, it was one of his first experiences in a major label session, and another step in his quickly-blossoming career. 

Hot on the heels of high-profile world tours, Zachary got the call to come in cold to a session at the Hit Factory in New York. That day, Billy and producer Danny Kortchmar were set to record “All About Soul.” Zack tracked his parts, and would go on to record a total of seven songs, 6 of which made the album. 

Now, 30 years after the album’s release, Zachary shared his memories of those sessions and much more. His journey from working with multiple bands in Manhattan, to touring the world with B-52s, Bruce Springseen, David Bowie and others, and his memories of developing his style and skill set are a master class for aspiring musicians and anyone looking for an honest peek behind the curtain. 

Join us as we dig deep into the River of Dreams sessions, and the mindset of an acclaimed professional musician.
 
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Email us: glasshousespodcast@gmail.com
 
Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media:

Website: http://www.glasshousespod.com


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/


Twitter: https://twitter.com/glasshousespod 

Discord: https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T


 
Support the podcast:

Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod


Venmo: @MGrosvenor

 
Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC
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Before Billy Joel was a household name, and before he was even a solo recording artist or known as a piano player, he released his first album on United Artists Records in 1967. 

That album was The Hassles, by the band of the same name. Billy, still a teenager, wasn’t in the spotlight. Rather, he was the organ player who contributed a few original songs and vocals. 
 
For this album episode, we’re reviewing the deluxe re-release from 1992. It contains the entire first album, plus 8 additional bonus tracks of b-sides, demos and alternate takes. 
 
This generous serving of blue-eyed-soul and Long Island rock and roll provides Billy’s first step into the music industry at large. And, it reveals a few germs of the melodic instincts, arrangement styles, and vocal prowess that Billy would cultivate into his signature sound just a few years later. 
 
Join us as we dig deep into The Hassles’ self-titled debut album. 
 
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Email us: glasshousespodcast@gmail.com
 
Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media:

Website: http://www.glasshousespod.com


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/


Twitter: https://twitter.com/glasshousespod 

Discord: https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T


 
Support the podcast:

Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod


Venmo: @MGrosvenor

 
Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices