The Bridge (Billy Joel album)
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Chicago Tribune | (Mixed)[2] |
| Los Angeles Times | (Not favorable)[3] |
| Rolling Stone | (Not rated)[4] |
The Bridge is the tenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released on July 28, 1986. It was the last studio album produced by Phil Ramone as well as the last to feature Joel's long-time bassist Doug Stegmeyer and rhythm guitarist Russell Javors. The album yielded several successful singles, including "A Matter of Trust" (peaking at No. 10), "Modern Woman" (which also appeared on the Ruthless People soundtrack, peaking at No. 10), and "This Is the Time" (peaking at No. 18).
Joel began work on the album — on which two of his major influences (Ray Charles and Steve Winwood) made guest appearances — in 1985. Charles sang a duet with Joel on the song "Baby Grand", and Winwood played Hammond organ on the song "Getting Closer". Other notable musicians who made guest appearances on the album include jazz musicians Ron Carter and Michael Brecker, who both played on the jazzy track "Big Man on Mulberry Street."
The album also had some New wave influences. For instance, the first song, "Running on Ice," is heavily influenced by the music of The Police, and "Modern Woman" borrows heavily from the styles of Huey Lewis and the News. The final song recorded for the album, "Code of Silence," featured Cyndi Lauper who contributed backing vocals and received co-writing credit for the lyrics; Joel would return the favor by contributing backing vocals on Lauper's song "Maybe He'll Know" for her 1986 album True Colors.
The Bridge was Joel's last album to carry the "Family Productions" logo which had appeared on all of Joel's albums up to that time as part of a deal that Columbia Records made to get Joel out of his first recording contract with Artie Ripp's Family Productions. In the closing song of the album — "Getting Closer" — Joel makes several of what are clearly attacks and observations on the iron-clad contract with Ripp, with references to "my stolen youth", "all the conmen and their acrobats who stomped me in the ground," and "I must live up to contracts."
Track listing
All songs composed by Billy Joel, except "Code of Silence" written by Joel and Cyndi Lauper.
Side One
- "Running on Ice" – 3:15
- "This Is the Time" – 4:59
- "A Matter of Trust" – 4:09
- "Modern Woman" – 3:48
- "Baby Grand" (duet with Ray Charles) – 4:02
Side Two
- "Big Man on Mulberry Street" – 5:26
- "Temptation" – 4:12
- "Code of Silence" (backing vocals by Cyndi Lauper) – 5:15
- "Getting Closer" – 5:00
Personnel
- Billy Joel – piano, synthesizers, vocals, Fender Rhodes on "Getting Closer", electric guitar on "A Matter of Trust"
- Liberty DeVitto – drums, percussion
- Doug Stegmeyer – bass guitar
- David Brown – guitars, acoustic 12-string and electric guitars on "Code of Silence", guitar on "Getting Closer"
- Russell Javors – guitars
- Mark Rivera – tenor saxophone on "Modern Woman", alto saxophone on "Temptation"
Additional personnel
- 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"; orchestration on "Temptation"
- Jimmy Bralower – percussion on "Modern Woman"
- Ray Charles – vocals and piano on "Baby Grand"
- Vinnie Colaiuta – drums on "Baby Grand"
- Dean Parks – guitar on "Baby Grand"
- Neil Stubenhaus - bass 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 – tenor saxophone on "Big Man on Mulberry Street"
- Ronnie Cuber – baritone saxophone on "Big Man on Mulberry Street"
- Marvin 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"
- Philippe Saisse – orchestration on "Temptation"
- Cyndi Lauper – vocals on "Code of Silence"
- Steve Winwood – Hammond B3 organ on'"Getting Closer"
- Neil Jason – bass guitar on "Getting Closer"
- John McCurry – guitar on "Getting Closer"
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 Bongiovi and The Power Station staff
- Digitally recorded at The Power Station, Chelsea Sound (North), RCA Studios, New York, NY and Evergreen Studios, Burbank, CA
- Mixed at The Power Station, New York, NY
- Direct metal mastering at Sterling 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
Charts
Weekly charts |
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[24] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
| Canada (Music Canada)[25] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
| Japan (Oricon Charts) | — | 250,000[13] |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[26] | Gold | 7,500^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[27] | Silver | 60,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[28] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
Singles
| Year | Single | Country | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | "Modern Woman" | United States | Billboard AC | 7 |
| Billboard Hot 100 | 10 | |||
| Billboard Mainstream Rock | 34 | |||
| "A Matter of Trust" | Australia | Kent Music Report | 3 | |
| United States | Billboard Hot 100 | 10 | ||
| Billboard Mainstream Rock | 14 | |||
| Billboard AC | 17 | |||
| United Kingdom | UK Singles Chart | 52 | ||
| 1987 | "This is the Time" | United States | Billboard AC | 1 |
| Billboard Hot 100 | 18 | |||
| Billboard Mainstream Rock | 32 | |||
| "Baby Grand" | Billboard AC | 3 | ||
| Billboard Hot 100 | 75 |
References
- ^ The Bridge at AllMusic
- ^ Brogan, Daniel (1986-09-12). "Turner Outdoes `Dancer` With `break Every Rule` Lp > BILLY JOEL, The Bridge, (Columbia)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2013-11-13.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Pond, Steve (1986-08-10). "RECORD RACK > Billy Bites Off Too Much". articles.latimes.com. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-08-31.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Archived May 7, 2016(Timestamp length), at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Billy Joel – The Bridge – austriancharts.at" (ASP) (in German). Retrieved 2013-11-19.
- ^ http://books.google.ca/books?id=GSQEAAAAMBAJ&lr=&rview=1
- ^ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 45, No. 6," (PHP). RPM. 1986-11-01. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "dutchcharts.nl Billy Joel – The Bridge" (ASP). dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
- ^ http://books.google.ca/books?id=oCQEAAAAMBAJ&lr=&rview=1
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 263. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
- ^ a b "Hit Parade Italia - Gli album più venduti del 1986" (in Italian). hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
- ^ a b Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- ^ "charts.org.nz – Billy Joel – The Bridge" (ASP). Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 2013-11-198.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "norwegiancharts.com Billy Joel – The Bridge" (ASP). Retrieved 2013-11-19.
- ^ "swedishcharts.com Billy Joel – The Bridge" (ASP). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
- ^ "Billy Joel > Artist > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Allmusic – The Bridge > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums
- ^ "Album Search: Billy Joel – The Bridge" (ASP) (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1986". RPM. 1986-12-27. Retrieved 2013-11-13.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ 年間アルバムヒットチャート 1986年（昭和61年） (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2013-11-13.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - ^ "Top 100 Albums of '87". RPM. 1987-12-26. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
- ^ "Billboard.BIZ – Year-end Charts – Billboard 200 – 1987". billboard.biz. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
- ^ NO certyear OR id WAS PROVIDED for AUSTRALIAN CERTIFICATION.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Billy Joel – The Bridge". Music Canada. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
- ^ THE FIELD id (chart number) MUST BE PROVIDED for NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATION.
- ^ "British album certifications – Billy Joel – The Bridge". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 July 2012. Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type The Bridge in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "American album certifications – Billy Joel – The Bridge". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
