The Bridge (Billy Joel album)
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| The Bridge | |||||
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| Studio album by Billy Joel | |||||
| Released | July, 1986 | ||||
| Recorded | The Power Station, Chelsea Sound and RCA Studios, New York, NY and Evergreen Studios, Burbank, CA | ||||
| Genre | Rock | ||||
| Length | 40:06 | ||||
| Label | Columbia | ||||
| Producer | Phil Ramone | ||||
| Professional reviews | |||||
| Billy Joel chronology | |||||
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The Bridge is Billy Joel's 10th studio album released by Columbia Records in 1986 (see 1986 in music) and it was produced by Phil Ramone. This album had several successful singles, including "A Matter of Trust" (peaking at #3), "Modern Woman" (from the Ruthless People soundtrack, peaking at #10), and "This is the Time" (peaking at #18).
Joel began work on the album in 1985 and would become The Bridge in early 1986. Ray Charles contributed vocals and piano to the song "Baby Grand" and Steve Winwood played Hammond organ on the song "Getting Closer." The final song recorded for the album was "Code Of Silence." Cyndi Lauper appears on that song, contributing backing vocals.
Though it broke into the Top Ten, The Bridge was not a success in relation to some of Joel's other albums, but it yielded the hit "A Matter Of Trust." In a departure from his "piano man" persona, Joel is shown in its video as playing a Les Paul-autographed Gibson guitar. In the song "Big Man on Mulberry Street" Joel describes what his childhood street hang life was like. He shows the emotions behind being the big man on Mulberry Street, supposedly the place where he grew up. The ballad "This Is the Time" also charted, and has been a favorite on the prom circuit ever since.[citation needed] "Modern Woman" was also released as a single and was quite successful, but Joel has since said in interviews[citation needed] he does not care for the song, and subsequently it has been left off most of his compilation sets (the exception appears to be My Lives).
Contents |
[edit] Track listing
All songs written by Billy Joel, except where noted.
- "Running on Ice" – 3:15
- "This is the Time" – 4:59
- "A Matter of Trust" – 4:09
- "Modern Woman" – 3:48
- "Baby Grand" – 4:02
- "Big Man on Mulberry Street" – 5:26
- "Temptation" – 4:12
- "Code of Silence" (Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper) – 5:15
- "Getting Closer" – 5:00
[edit] Personnel
- Billy Joel - piano, synthesizers, vocals; Fender Rhodes on "Getting Closer"
- Liberty DeVitto - drums, percussion
- Doug Stegmeyer - bass
- David Brown - guitars
- Russell Javors - guitars
- Peter Hewlett - background vocals on "Running on Ice"
- Rob Mounsey - synthesizers on "Running on Ice"; orchestration on "This Is the Time", "Modern Woman" and "Big Man on Mulberry Street"
- Jeff Bova - synthesizers on "A Matter of Trust" and "Code of Silence"
- Jimmy Bralower - percussion on "Modern Woman"
- Mark Rivera - tenor saxophone on "Modern Woman" and "Temptation"
- Ray Charles - vocals and piano on "Baby Grand"
- Vinny Colaiuta - drums on "Baby Grand"
- Dean Parks - guitar on "Baby Grand"
- Patrick Williams - arrangements on "Baby Grand"
- Ron Carter - acoustic bass on "Big Man on Mulberry Street"
- Eddie Daniels - alto saxophone on "Big Man on Mulberry Street"
- Michael Brecker - baritone saxophone on "Big Man on Mulberry Street"
- Ronnie Cuber - baritone saxophone on "Big Man on Mulberry Street"
- Mark Stamm - trumpet on "Big Man on Mulberry Street"
- Alan Rubin - trumpet on "Big Man on Mulberry Street"
- Dave Bargeron - trombone on "Big Man on Mulberry Street"
- Jeff Bova - orchestration on "Temptation"
- Phillippe Saisse - orchestration on "Temptation"
- Cyndi Lauper - vocals on "Code of Silence"
- David Brown - acoustic twelve string guitar and electric guitar on "Code of Silence"
- Steve Winwood - Hammond B-3 on'"Getting Closer"
- Neil Jason - bass on "Getting Closer"
- David Brown - guitar on "Getting Closer"
- John McClurry - guitar on "Getting Closer"
[edit] Production
- Produced by: Phil Ramone
- Engineer: Jim Boyer
- Associate engineers: Steve Boyer, Fred Tenny, David Dickson and Bradshaw Leigh
- Technical support: Joe Salvatto, Gary Ciuzio, Joe Lopes, Frank Rodriguez, Peter Bergren, Bruce Howell, Cary Butler, Ed Evans, Mark Betts, Steve Buller, Ricki Begin, Audrey Tanaka, Billy Rothschild and Phil Vachon
- Production coordinator: Joseph D'Ambrosio
- Support system: Jim Flynn, Barry Bongiqvi and The Power Station staff
- Digitally recorded at: The Power Station, Chelsea Sound and RCA Studios, New York, NY and Evergreen Studios, Burbank, CA
- Mixed at: The Power Station, New York, NY
- Direct metal mastering at: Sterlin Sound, New York, NY by Ted Jensen
- Acoustic Piano: supplied by Yamaha
- Design: Mark Larson
- Cover painting: Brad Holland
- Photography: Patrick Demarchelier
- Sleeve photos: Larry Busacca, Phil Ramone and Charles Reilly
[edit] Charts
Albums
| Country | Charts | Sales | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak position | Weeks | Certification | ||
| Japan | 2 | 14 | 257,572[1] | |
| United States | 7 | 47 | Platinum | |
| Austria | 18 | 4[2] | ||
| Switzerland | 22 | 4 | ||
| Sweden | 25 | 3 | ||
| United Kingdom | 38 | 10 | ||
Singles
| Country | Single | Position | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | "A Matter of Trust" | 3 | |
| United States | "Modern Woman" | 10 | |
| United States | "This is the Time" | 18 |
