We Didn't Start the Podcast — A Show About Billy Joel

Meg Donahue and Adam Ragusea
  • 4.3 (69)
  • MUSIC
  • UPDATED DAILY
We Didn't Start the Podcast — A Show About Billy Joel

An album by album re-watch of Billy Joel's career, with snarky and occasionally informed co-hosts Meg Donahue and Adam Ragusea. This 13-episode miniseries starts with reviews of proto-Joel releases from Billy's boyhood band The Hassles and his infamous organ-metal duo Attila, then proceeds through his solo albums of widely varying quality but uniform Joel-ness. Relive the insufferable sincerity of "Piano Man," the poofy-haired smooth sax lines of "The Stranger," the late-80s cocaine sheen of "Storm Front" and all the (mis)steps between. Talk to us and fellow listeners on Twitter using the hashtag #joelhole.

  1. 13: River of Dreck

    12/28/2016

    13: River of Dreck

    We solemnly read through the 1993 career-suicide note that is Billy Joel's final studio album, "River of Dreams," and usher in the era of OFS (old, fat, sad) Joel. Features: "The River of Dreams," "All About Soul," "No Man's Land" and "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)." #billyjoel #joelhole

    1h 3m
  2. 12: Storm Frontin'

    12/28/2016

    12: Storm Frontin'

    Adam loses his patience with Billy Joel's reckless, shallow populism on Joel's high-gloss 1989 hit album, "Storm Front." Features: "We Didn't Start the Fire," "The Downeaster 'Alexa,'" "I Go to Extremes" and "And So It Goes." #billyjoel #joelhole

    1h 3m
  3. 11: The Bridge to Nowhere

    12/28/2016

    11: The Bridge to Nowhere

    We delight in hearing Billy Joel try to prove that he's a modern man — an '80s man — with his gloriously dated 1986 album, "The Bridge." Features: "A Matter of Trust," "Baby Grand," "Modern Woman" and "Running on Ice." #billyjoel #joelhole

    47 min
  4. 10: A Weirdly Innocent 34-Year-Old Man

    12/28/2016

    10: A Weirdly Innocent 34-Year-Old Man

    We are equally charmed and embarrassed by Billy Joel's 1983 post-divorce nostalgia excursion, "An Innocent Man." Featuring: "Uptown Girl," "The Longest Time," "Tell Her About It," "An Innocent Man" and "Keeping the Faith." #billyjoel #joelhole

    53 min
  5. 9: The Nylennon Curtain

    12/28/2016

    9: The Nylennon Curtain

    Meg is unimpressed as Billy Joel attempts to prove that he's a Serious Adult with his 1982 opus, "The Nylon Curtain," and he just ends up doing a barely-passable John Lennon impression. Features: "Allentown," "Pressure" and "Goodnight Saigon." #billyjoel #joelhole

    1h 4m
  6. 8: Glass Egos

    12/28/2016

    8: Glass Egos

    Ever wanted to hear a 30-year-old who looks like a 45-year-old try to rock out like a 15-year-old? Come listen with us to Billy Joel's 1980 ersatz new wave album, "Glass Houses." Features: "You May Be Right," "Sometimes a Fantasy," "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" and "All for Leyna." #billyjoel #joelhole

    46 min
  7. 7: Prop Trumpet Street

    12/28/2016

    7: Prop Trumpet Street

    Adam is unimpressed by the "I'm really more of a jazz guy" act on Billy Joel's (weirdly) critically-acclaimed 1978 album, "52nd Street." Features: "Big Shot," "Honesty" and "My Life." #billyjoel #joelhole

    42 min
  8. 6: The Sexy Sax Stranger

    12/28/2016

    6: The Sexy Sax Stranger

    We swallow (some of) our snark as we listen to Billy Joel's indisputably great 1976 magnum opus, "The Stranger." It's poofy-haired '70s Joel at his peak, which is to say it's Joel at his peak. Features: "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)," "Just the Way You Are," "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant," "Only the Good Die Young" and "She's Always a Woman." #billyjoel #joelhole

    54 min
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4.3
out of 5
69 Ratings

About

An album by album re-watch of Billy Joel's career, with snarky and occasionally informed co-hosts Meg Donahue and Adam Ragusea. This 13-episode miniseries starts with reviews of proto-Joel releases from Billy's boyhood band The Hassles and his infamous organ-metal duo Attila, then proceeds through his solo albums of widely varying quality but uniform Joel-ness. Relive the insufferable sincerity of "Piano Man," the poofy-haired smooth sax lines of "The Stranger," the late-80s cocaine sheen of "Storm Front" and all the (mis)steps between. Talk to us and fellow listeners on Twitter using the hashtag #joelhole.

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