MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS: #54. Continues next week.

THE CAFFE` LATTE`

200

MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS

Some are the best selling, while others may be obscure, but the albums listed here are all worthy of a listen. No compilation/ best of sets. Only exceptional live albums included. This is a personal listing of the albums I enjoy the most to this day.

#54

GLASS HOUSES:  BILLY JOEL

 [1980] 

Following the popular albums 'The Stranger' and '52nd Street' was no easy task for Billy Joel. Those 2 discs established him as a Grammy winning household name. Musically, Joel landed somewhere between Elton John and Bruce Springsteen. By the end of the 70s, the pop/rock genre had shifted radically. Punk and new wave had changed the musical landscape. Joel astutely drew from this trend for inspiration. 'Glass Houses' was the result. Joel did not turn his back on his fan base. There are the usual polished ballads such as "C'Etait Toi (You Were The One)" and "Through The Long Night". The LP contains radio-friendly tracks such as "You May Be Right", "Don't Ask Me Why", "Sleeping With The Television On" and "Sometimes A Fantasy". He conveys rage and frustration on "All For Leyna". Punk/ New Wave's impact is most obvious on "I Don't Want To Be Alone" and "It's Still Rock And Roll To Me". Those tracks are reminiscent of Joe Jackson, Elvis Costello and Graham Parker. Joel delivers without repeating himself on this album release.

Highiight tracks: All For Leyna; Don't Ask Me Why; C'Etait Toi (You Were The One) & Sleeping With The Television On.