EP 123 - Album Retrospective: Storm Front

Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast

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.

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Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC

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