Glass Houses Billy Joel

BUY THIS ITEM

  • $7.99 List price
    $6.39 Online price
    (Save 20%)
    $5.75 Member price
    Join Now
    • skip to cart
  • Add To List uiAction=GetAllLists&page=List&pageType=list&ean=074646938621&productCode=MU&maxCount=100&threshold=3

GET FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OF $25 OR MORE

DELIVERY & GIFT DETAILS:

Usually ships within 24 hours

Delivery Time and Shipping Rates

Eligible for gift wrap & gift message.

Enter a zip code

CD - Remastered / Enhanced

  • Release Date: 10/20/1998
  • Original Release: 1980
  • Sales Rank: 2,996
  • Label: SONY
  • UPC: 074646938621

Listener Rating: (3 ratings)

See All Detailed Ratings

 
  • Overview
  • Tracks
  • Editorial Reviews
  • Customer Reviews
  • Details & Credits
Track List
Click on LISTEN or link to hear an audio clip.
To listen to samples you'll need a Windows Media Player

Glass Houses

1LISTENYou May Be Right 4:15
2LISTENSometimes A Fantasy 3:39
3LISTENDon't Ask Me Why 2:59
4LISTENIt's Still Rock and Roll to Me 2:57
5LISTENAll For Leyna 4:15
6LISTENI Don't Want To Be Alone 3:57
7LISTENSleeping WIth The Television On 3:02
8LISTENC'Etait Toi (You Were The One) 3:25
9LISTENClose To The Borderline 3:47
10LISTENThrough The Long Night 2:44

About this Artist

Editorial Reviews

The back-to-back success of The Stranger and 52nd Street may have brought Billy Joel fame and fortune, even a certain amount of self-satisfaction, but it didn't bring him critical respect, and it didn't dull his anger. If anything, being classified as a mainstream rocker -- a soft rocker -- infuriated him, especially since a generation of punks and new wave kids were getting the praise that eluded him. He didn't take this lying down -- he recorded Glass Houses. Comparatively a harder-rocking album than either of its predecessors, with a distinctly bitter edge, Glass Houses still displays the hallmarks of Billy Joel the pop craftsman and Phil Ramone the world-class hitmaker. Even its hardest songs -- the terrifically paranoid "Sometimes a Fantasy," "Sleepin' With the Television On," "Close to the Borderline," the hit "You May Be Right" -- have bold, direct melodies and clean arrangements, ideal for radio play. Instead of turning out to be a fiery rebuttal to his detractors, the album is a remarkable catalog of contemporary pop styles, from McCartney-esque whimsy ("Don't Ask Me Why") and arena rock ("All for Leyna") to soft rock ("C'etait Toi [You Were the One]") and stylish new wave pop ("It's Still Rock and Roll to Me," which ironically is closer to new wave pop than rock). That's not a detriment; that's the album's strength. The Stranger and 52nd Street were fine albums in their own right, but it's nice to hear Joel scale back his showman tendencies and deliver a solid pop/rock record. It may not be punk -- then again, it may be his concept of punk -- but Glass Houses is the closest Joel ever got to a pure rock album. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

  • Listener Rating:
  • Ratings: 3Reviews: 1

Spend your money on the speakers- not the sneakersby Anonymous

Reader Rating:
See Detailed Ratings

August 06, 2000: I would consider this album to be some of Billy Joel's best work. This was when Billy started focusing on harder and truer rock after the ''folky'' period (Cold Spring Harbor) and also the ''jazzy'', lighter period- he had just released the very jazz-oriented 52nd Street the year before which won him a Best Album of the Year Grammy. With Glass Houses he breaks into new territory- literally, it's the first thing you hear. The #1 ''It's Still Rock and Roll to Me'', ''Sometimes a Fantasy'' and ''Close to the Borderline'' display his more frequent use of electric guitars and heavier drums- great songs to play loud when you're stuck in traffic. Pay particular attention to the lyrics on ''Rock and Roll''- I think those were the overwhelming reason why this song was #1. ''All For Leyna'', a pathetically poignant song, (everyone has had a Leyna) employs a lot of extremely '80's synthesizer sounds- new wave, perhaps. ''You May Be Right''- a favorite of mine and one of the biggest hits (next to ''Rock and Roll'') has fabulous lyrics, a catchy tune and this strangely familiar opening riff like something off of the Beatles' ''Day Tripper''. Like Mr. Joel says, ''You might enjoy some madness for awhile''... The mid-tempo songs and ballads don't fall short either. ''Don't Ask Me Why''- I can guarantee that you will recognize the song the moment you hear it (but, uh, don't ask me why). It wasn't that big of a hit for its time (so I've heard) but the melody is absolutely contagious. ''I Don't Want to Be Alone'' and ''Through the Long Night''- good stuff and both sound *completely* different from each other with syncopated beats versus a Paul McCartney flavor respectively- a very welcome change from some of today's monotonous slow songs. ''C'?tait Toi''- you be your own judge on that one. It's my least favorite here but it is an interesting song, complete with French lyrics, and definitely has musical merit to it. However, I think the most underrated Billy Joel song of all time has to ''Sleeping with the Television On''. This song is so well-written with perfect metaphors, biting lyrics and snappy sounds- even the intro sound clip. It is incredible- it has it all. It is my favorite on the album- but the decision was not easy. Decide for yourself and get some mileage from your speakers- buy this album