"Storm Front" was a fantastic album & probably my fav of Joel's. I especially liked the blues/hard rock of "That's Not Her Style", the dramatic & cool "Downeaster Alexa" & of course..... the 5 min history lesson & massive hit - "We Didn't Start the Fire". P.S. Luv that cool boat collection behind Billy as well.
Billy Joel is a very humble person. He has a lot of talent and personal integrity, and he has found that perfect balance of social commentary with some depth and combined it with a great way to appeal to the masses with a great beat and rhythm to his songs. Unfortunately, it is hard to find that inspiration when being kicked and beaten while you are down. When he found out about all of the backstabbing, Christie was too small minded to stand by him even though getting justice made him strong.
Actually, Billy Joel has written since. The trick is to find those sources of inspiration or for inspiration to find him. He branched off into the off broadway theatre scene most recently.
This was the album when he got a little pissed off and it shows, and I love it. He actually broke the piano keys during the filming of the “I Go to Extremes” video. The whole world was a little turbulent at the moment with so many changes happening in the world, so there was *that* storm going on too, aside from the stuff going on in his own world. So much good material on this album that still plays really well live. Leningrad STILL makes me cry, and is even more moving if you get to see him perform it live. Go check out the freshly remastered Yankee Stadium live album (or Blu-Ray) from this tour too, and prepare to get your mind blown. So, so good. 🤘
This album, specifically the song “We Didn’t Start the Fire”, was my introduction to Billy Joel. Yes, most of his earlier stuff is better, but this stuck with me all these years. Best Song on the Album: And So It Goes Runner-Up: I Go to Extremes
Thanks Billy for these album background notes! Been going thru a couple of Bio's I've been able to find on/line (unathorized I presume, though?)...with all the crap you went thru with some of the folks who were suppose to be looking out for you, i'ts just amazing how you were able to survive and come up with such beautiful music. A lesser man would have just been totally devastated. Wish Columbia would put out a couple of DVD's on the college lecture tours you have done? Thanks for sharing!!!
@@clintonlogan1899 If you mean what the poster above you was saying, he means Christie Brinkley was at the front of the crowd and had a camera and was filing the show. He just inadvertently spelt it as Christy like the male Irish name.
Storm Front is also my favorite album too. This album makes me happy and relaxed as cool as rock and roll. I like the history that he talked about in “We Didn’t Start the Fire” and “Leningrad” because I also learned about those same history events at school. We Didn’t Start the Fire makes me want to think of a party song with a crowd and the sounds effects are cool in the song. I love the way Billy Joel yells in this album. His yelling makes me crazy. The Downeaster ‘Alexa’ makes me want to go on an ocean on a boat. I Go to Extremes makes my body feel soft and fast with the keyboards. Shameless makes me want to imagine a museum in my head. Some of the sounds that Billy Joel has in the album are kind of similar to what Survivor Band has in their album. Some of these songs make me want to do exercises and fitness. What I don’t like about the album is the violin on the Downeaster Alexa, the orchestration on Leningrad, and the saxophone on When in Rome. Most of the stuff in this album is excellent. Even though I may not remember what he did in this album, Billy Joe did a really good job making this album. Billy Joel”a last song, “And So It Goes” is a nice way to end the album. The piano and synthesizers make me body relaxed and calm when I to this soothing song. The key of the song also makes me think of nature in a park, the synthesizers during the instrumental breaks make me think of a river or a forest of trees, this songs also makes me want to do meditation and relaxation to calm me down and relax my body, and everything in album is awesome. I love this album! This whole album makes really to go a museum (either the discovery cube, perot museum, space museum, and angkor wat) Greatjob Billy Joel!
Even the B-side song "Elvis Presley Boulevard" was left off of The Nylon Curtain album. Elvis Presley Boulevard was a B-side song to Allentown. Also, another B-side song "You Picked A Real Bad Time" was left off of River Of Dreams album and it was a B-side song to All About Soul. Sometimes, there are some songs that were left off from studio albums for many reasons that we don't know.
i wouldn't say that. the reason the marriage fell apart wasn't her fault alone there were tons of rumors flying around at the time including rumors of Billy Joel's own adultery. i'm not going to argue what really happened cause i outright don't know i'm only a fan. but to say she broke his heart is unfair when people have seen them both on good terms with eachother.
I might have to re-listen to this whole album again some time. It was extremely popular, but some of the songs that became hits are not ones I like all that much. “I Go to Extremes” and “And So it Goes” top the list, for me…I just remembered, I like “State of Grace,” too.
His most underrated album. Some people call it his worst because you- know- what is on it. But it’s not even close to his worst. Does sound very 80s but in a good way
That's Not Her Style We Didn't Start The Fire The Downeaster "Alexa" I Go To Extremes Shameless Storm Front Leningrad State of Grace When In Rome And So It Goes
Hey look, I know I'm six years late. But I just wanna clear this up in case anyone sees this comment. Christie Brinkley did not break Billy Joel's heart. It started before Billy Joel recorded the river of dreams album in the early nineties. Billy's brother in law, and former financial agent (if I recall correctly) embezzled thousands upon thousands of dollars from Billy, and did not end up going to jail for this crime, which is outrageous on its own. Then, in order to recover from this immense theft, if you will, he went on tour for the album for a LONG time, not spending a lot of time with his daughter or Christie. She ended up divorcing him because of the fact. She didn't cheat on him, and yes I understand that you don't need to just cheat on someone to break their heart, but the situation goes a lot deeper than just "oh Christie left him, so now he's sad and doesn't make albums" Billy has also stopped making albums because he doesn't want to drag his legacy down, like what Elton John is doing, and so he gave the audience his "famous last words", so to say
@@gameshowguy2000 the inspiration for I Go to Extremes is from his ups and downs as an artist and a person, relating to his depression from earlier years
I've always thought that "We Didn't Start the Fire" sounds an awful lot like "E=MC2 by Big Audio Dynamite ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cHTDkJ-bQqM.html
I hate that Billy tears apart any of his songs. He’s too looped into inspiration being a rip off. And he dropped tracks in the intellecual pop format that were the best of example. Sting, Gabriel, Collins, Prince, Madonna, Jackson - your rivals and contemporaries. You held your island man! And you invited the sensitive composers out of all of them by leading with example. And So It Goes, Vienna, Lullabye die without your ego pumping air into those gorgeous captures. Billy, if ever anyone you know reads this comment and it comes your way, let off that steam my man. You are part and parcel to the most important elements of the American songbook. What you think is corny in hindsight was not then, and was certainly delivered with the best of your chops and navigation. To waste time criticizing your catalogue personally against your perceived masters is fine, but don’t tell us it’s not proper in your humility. You are wrong to dislike any parts of your catalog. And you gave us license to advise so long, long ago. You are our man.
