By Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno
4.9
6262 ratings
The podcast currently has 128 episodes available.
In April of 1976, Billy Joel hit the road with the first incarnation of the now-legendary Lords of 52nd Street lineup. The band toured in support of the album Turnstiles, the first official audio document of this group. And, late that year, they recorded the first concert home video of Billy’s career.
That program, entitled “Billy Joel Tonight,” was filmed over two nights at the Palmer Auditorium in December. This band was already a cohesive unit when the tour began. But, after 8 months and dozens of shows, they were a unified force to be reckoned with for this recording.
The video was available only through Time Life, and has been out of print for decades. The closest official digital release are the individual songs on Billy’s YouTube channel. Still, it ranks with Live From Long Island and CW Post as a seminal live document.
For this episode, we’re listening along to the unedited, uninterrupted original video. It includes stage banter not on the YouTube videos.
Join us as we dig deep into Billy Joel Tonight: Live at Palmer Auditorium in New London, CT - December 5th and 6th, 1976.
WATCH BILLY JOEL TONIGHT
------
Email us: [email protected]
Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media:
Support the podcast:
Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A storm arrived in Syracuse, NY in February of 1990 — two of them, actually.
The region was hit by a major storm, dumping more than eight inches of snow. At the same time, Billy Joel brought his Storm Front tour to the Carrier Dome.
This show was about two months into a string of dates that ended a two-year touring hiatus. And, it featured a lineup that was drastically different from his touring bands over the previous 14 years.
Taking place just a few months before the well-documented Yankee Stadium performances, the Syracuse show is a glimpse into a typical night on this tour. It’s also a snapshot of a short-lived lineup that also helped revamp Billy’s sound.
Join us as we dig deep into Billy Joel’s performance at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY, on February 2, 1990.
WATCH THE BILLY JOEL SYRACUSE 1990 CONCERT HERE
------
Email us: [email protected]
Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media:
Support the podcast:
Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1989’s Storm Front album found Billy Joel charting a new course for his career. Gone were longtime collaborators, including producer Phil Ramone and key band members Russell Javors and Doug Stegmeyer.
Behind the scenes, Billy was embroiled in a lawsuit with his former manager as tens of millions of dollars hung in the balance. And, at least one song may allude to his marriage to Christie Brinkley already showing signs of strain.
Despite these shakeups and unforeseen challenges, Billy delivered yet another multi-platinum album that earned him a new generation of fans.
Co-produced by Billy and Mick Jones of the band Foreigner, the guitar-driven album was yet another abrupt stylistic turn in the 80s. And, listening to it 35 years later, it’s much more apparent that Storm Front was something of a high-wire act.
Surrounded by a different creative team in a quickly-changing musical landscape, Billy managed to update his sound without coming off as an old head trying to sound young. And, he notched another bona fide timeless classic in “We Didn't’ Start the Fire,” a song that still lives in pop culture today.
Alongside that single’s massive success are a handful of songs that in turn betray familiar themes, commentaries on then-current events, and a few fan favorites.
Join us, as we dig deep into Billy Joel’s 1989 album Storm Front.
------
Email us: [email protected]
Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media:
Support the podcast:
Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Depending on the time of year, 1974 is either a period of uncertainty in Billy Joel’s career, or the first signposts of the superstardom to come.
He begins the year touring behind the Piano Man record, which ultimately falls off the charts. Record label execs then hurry Billy into the studio to record what he regards as its lackluster follow-up Streetlife Serenade.
But by the end of 1974, Billy’s setting up for the success he’ll soon enjoy. Most notably, Doug Stegmeyer joins the band on the Streetlife Serenade tour. The bassist will go on to play with Billy for the next thirteen years. And, he’ll bring in many of the core members for Billy’s band in time for them to record and tour behind his next album, Turnstiles.
Press clippings from this year feature some of the first mentions of ideas and themes that will blossom over the next few decades. Reviewers note his penchant for energetic live shows and theatrical songwriting. In interviews, Billy also discusses his aspirations toward classical composers.
It all adds up to a year that may seem low-key at first glance, but a closer look reveals the pieces falling into place for his upcoming reign at the top of the charts.
Join us as we dig deep into Billy Joel in 1974.
------
Email us: [email protected]
Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media:
Support the podcast:
Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fall of 2024 is upon us! What is typically time for our next playlist installment, we're adjusting the title and format of the series slightly and are happy to announce the Glass Houses Side Quests. Expanding the concept of the playlists, the options are limitless from more music concepts to long form conversations with friends, musicians, and other creatives.
For this first installment, Michael is up with a conversation with music and fellow podcaster Clint Wells. Clint is a guitar player, singer, and songwriter and serves as the guitarist in the Morgan Wade band. Clint is also the host of the long-running podcast Metal Up Your Podcast, which celebrates all things Metallica.
Enjoy!
METAL UP YOUR PODCAST
MORGAN WADE
------
Email us: [email protected]
Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media:
Support the podcast:
Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There's an often-overlooked part of Billy Joel's rise to fame as a recording artist: His track record as a songwriter for others.
Before he was a superstar, Billy's songs were covered by dozens of performers from around the world. The trend arguably peaked in the late 70s with multiple renditions of his now-classic songs New York State of Mind and Just the Way You Are. But, the bulk of these recordings revolved around his earlier albums and lesser-known composition.
We covered a large sample of Billy Joel cover songs on a previous episode. This time, we're joined by the director of the Billy Joel archives, John Jackson. He put together an extensive list of pre-1980 recordings and tracked the trends surrounding them. In our conversation, he also provides insight and context about the recording industry's practices during this era.
Join us as we dig deep into cover versions of Billy Joel's songs from the 1970s.
PLAYLIST : Billy Joel - 1970s Covers
------
Email us: [email protected]
Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media:
Support the podcast:
Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Billy Joel's 10-year monthly residency at Madison Square Garden is now in the past. But its legacy has been preserved for the public to enjoy. In fact, the same can be said for his entire career.
In this last installment of our series covering Billy at the Garden, we sit down for a lengthy interview with Steve Cohen. As Billy's lighting director for 50 years, Cohen also produced the CBS special documenting the 100th residency show.
The special, which aired in April 2024, is currently up for four Emmy awards. A few days after the nominations were announced, Cohen gave us an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at putting the show together - and a hint of what's to come.
We're also exploring the Billy Joel exhibit at the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame. Currently on display in Stony Brook, NY, it features hundreds of rare items from handwritten sheet music to a Grand piano.
Join us, as we dig deep into what goes into documenting Billy Joel’s historic Madison Square Garden residency, and his career as a whole.
------
Email us: [email protected]
Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media:
Support the podcast:
Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The opening strains of Miami 2017 took on a new meaning on July 25, 2024. It was the final show of Billy Joel’s 10-year monthly residency at Madison Square Garden, and the classic opener kicked off the night.
Suddenly, the song’s theme about thousands of people hunkering down to hear these songs for maybe the last time felt almost too real. While this certainly wasn’t Billy’s last show ever, it was the end of an era.
And, we were fortunate enough to be there for it. Michael flew in from the west coast for an extended visit that included a journey to Long Island and our first face-to-face meetings with many friends of the podcast.
The show itself was deceptively low-key. Aside from a few guests, there were no big surprises in the setlist. And there was little ruminating from the man himself about the unprecedented run. Instead, Billy and the band did what they do best: Put on a show that’s more intimate than in any other venue. One that’s become a pilgrimage for some and a ritual for others.
In this episode, we’ll discuss this performance and our recollection from being in the room when it happened. We’ll also discuss our Billy-related travels and meetups that, for us, became a part of the concert experience.
Join us as we dig deep into Billy Joel’s final Madison Square Garden Residency show.
------
Email us: [email protected]
Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media:
Support the podcast:
Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Starting in the mid-2000s, BIlly Joel cemented his Madison Square Garden legacy with two unprecedented engagements. The first was a dozen shows spread over 4 months in 2006. The setlists were filled with songs that were rarely, if ever performed live, and The recordings from these dates made up his live album 12 Gardens Live, released later the same year.
Then came the residency: one show a month at the famed venue from 2014 through 2024, with the exception of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Billy’s team kicked off the series without an idea of how long it would last. Virtually all the shows were sellouts, and they were recognized especially for their frequent guest performers.
These two runs came after Billy went into quasi-retirement in the early 2000s. Now, with the residency closing this year, we’re diving deep into the second half of Billy Joel’s 150 shows at Madison Square Garden.
Billy Joel Playlist of Madison Square Garden guests through the years
Original Jim Bruer Audio & Video
Kevin Bacon Billy Joel TikTok Video
------
Email us: [email protected]
Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media:
Support the podcast:
Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
When BIlly Joel plays his final show at Madison Square Garden on July 25, 2024, he’ll be closing out a nearly 50-year run of shows. And, in this episode, we’re diving deep into the first half of that legacy.
Starting in December 1978, Billy has played multiple nights at the Garden on all but one album tour. His engagements also included Face to Face shows with Elton John and the Millenium Concert, which took place on New Year’s Eve 1999. Looking back on all those performances produces a time capsule of each era of his career: Which hits were most prominent on certain dates, which singles dropped off the setlists, and which songs cemented their places in history as they became fixtures at these shows.
Join us, for the first installment of a two-part look at BIlly Joel’s historic run at Madison Square Garden.
------
Email us: [email protected]
Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media:
Support the podcast:
Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The podcast currently has 128 episodes available.
16,474 Listeners
8,245 Listeners
1,274 Listeners
956 Listeners
10,415 Listeners
1,988 Listeners
416 Listeners
13,943 Listeners
5,100 Listeners
8,125 Listeners
9,057 Listeners
36,401 Listeners
5,213 Listeners
12,314 Listeners
149 Listeners