Preserving Glass Houses: Billy Joel’s 1980 Album
5/100 Albums in 2023
My heart continues to take me backward in time for the 100 Albums challenge.
I'm not sure how Billy Joel got added to my record collection. However, I remember spinning Glass Houses (1980) when I wanted something upbeat and a little silly.
Billy Joel isn’t a go-to musician for me. I did spin a lot of one record when I was in high school though. While several music aficionados proclaimed their love of Turnstiles from 1976 when I inquired about Billy Joel fans on Twitter, it’s Glass Houses with which my record needle became familiar.
Following are the two songs that made the album worth listening to all the way through based on my personal preference.
These are the kinds of songs to sing loudly while driving or in the shower or in the rain. They’re a little sarcastic, a little sassy, and a lot rock n’ roll.
Friday night, I crashed your party
Saturday, I said I’m sorry
Sunday came and trashed me out again
I was only having fun
Wasn’t hurting anyone
And we all enjoyed the weekend for a change
— “You May Be Right,” Billy Joel, Glass Houses, 1980
Oh, it doesn’t matter what they say in the papers
Cause it’s always been the same old scene
There’s a new band in town but you can’t get the sound
From a story in a magazine
Aimed at your average teen
— “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me,” Billy Joel, Glass Houses, 1980
Glass Houses clocks in at a sparse 34 minutes 52 seconds.
A good party aperitif perhaps.
As a GenXer who listened to “We Didn’t Start the Fire” in 8th-grade Geography, that’s likely my other favorite song from Billy Joel, but it’s not on this album.
Do you have a fave Billy Joel song or album? Let us know in the comments.
Aimée Brown Gramblin is practically a superspy because that’s basically what writers are, right? She dabbles in nonfiction articles, emits poetry, and lives her life as a WIP memoirist. She sometimes dabbles in pop culture musings.
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