This week we are joined by Billy Joel: And So It Goes Executive Producer Steve Cohen as we continue our look behind the documentary.  We also discuss revisiting Cold Spring Harbor as well as the recently unearthed 3-Camera full show film shoot from Sparks in 1981 and more! Images Courtesy of HBO and Myrna Suarez Music courtesy of Sony Music. ------   Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠glasshousespodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.glasshousespod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter / X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/glasshousespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@glasshousespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Support the podcast: Paypal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://paypal.me/glasshousespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To celebrate the release of the HBO documentary “Billy Joel: And So It Goes,” we’re going behind the scenes with directors Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin.  We’re also getting behind the keyboards with Billy Joel fans who reacted in real time to Part One of the film starting when it officially dropped at 8pm EST on Friday, July 18, 2025.  And, coinciding with the release, we’re also reviewing the latest album and streaming sales numbers and gold and platinum certifications for Billy’s songs and albums.  There’s much more to come in our cover of Part Two. But for now, join us as we dig deep into Part One of “Billy Joel: And So It Goes.”  Images & documentary clips Courtesy of HBO. Music courtesy of Sony Music. ------   Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠glasshousespodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.glasshousespod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter / X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/glasshousespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@glasshousespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Support the podcast: Paypal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://paypal.me/glasshousespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billy Joel's biggest fans know Jon Small as the drummer for The Hassles and Attila, the bands the two played in as teenagers and young adults in Long Island.  Some may even recognize Small's further contributions to Billy's career as the director or producer of virtually all Billy's music videos and concert movies. But, his behind-the-camera impact on popular music goes far beyond just one artist.  As one of the first music video directors and producers of the MTV era, Small helped define the format with landmark videos and live concert recordings for everyone from the Beach Boys to Aerosmith and Run DMC to Shania Twain and Kenny Chesney.  In June of 2025, Small spoke with Glass Houses on the eve of the Hassles’ induction into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.  We published the first part of that conversation two episodes ago. Now, we're revisiting the rest of our fascinating, freewheeling fireside chat as Jon chronicled his almost accidental foray into music videos, and stories behind some of the biggest videos of the MTV era and beyond . In July of 2025, Jon Small was honored by the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame when the Hall inducted the Hassles.  A staple of the greater New York music scene in the late 60s, the group is best known today for featuring a teenage Billy Joel.  Jon Small was the drummer, and he amd Billy went on to form the short-lived Attila before Billy launched his solo career.   ------   Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠glasshousespodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.glasshousespod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter / X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/glasshousespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@glasshousespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Support the podcast: Paypal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://paypal.me/glasshousespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Last Play At Shea” promised to tell the story of Billy Joel’s historic back-to-back 2008 concerts at the iconic Long Island baseball stadium. But it’s not long into the running time that the story becomes much larger than one of music’s biggest stars performing at one of the country’s most legendary venues.  After quickly establishing how Billy’s shows will be the last performances at Shea Stadium, the 2010 documentary explains just why it’s so significant. As a companion to the concert film “Live at Shea Stadium,” “Last Play at Shea” explores the stadium’s origin, cultural significance, and historic moment.  It also tells the concurrent story of Billy’s journey from a kid on Long Island to regional teenage rock and roll royalty, and the soften rocky road that led to his current status as one of the 21st century’s most recognized songwriters.  Join us as we dig deep into the stories, history, and highlights of Shea Stadium and Billy Joel. ------   Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠glasshousespodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.glasshousespod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter / X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/glasshousespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@glasshousespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Support the podcast: Paypal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://paypal.me/glasshousespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a busy month in the Billy Joel world – and Michael and Jack were there for it.  June kicked off with the premier of the “Billy Joel: And So It Goes” documentary at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. As the first event for this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, the red carpet features A-list celebrities like Tom Hanks and Robert De Niro along with many familiar faces and names for Billy fans.  Next, Billy’s team also announced new vinyl releases. And, later in the month, Billy’s pre-solo Long Island band The Hassles will be inducted into the Long Island Music &  Entertainment Hall of Fame.  This episode features a roundup of all these events with some special guests.  First up, Jon Small, drummer for The Hassles, longtime Billy Joel production team member, and celebrated music video director, talks about The Hassles’ Hall of Fame induction and tells some great stories from the band’s heyday.  Following that is a roundup of the Glass Houses coverage of the Beacon Theatre red carpet including some interview clips.  Lastly, a recap of the team’s time in New York, as told by the hosts and Jeff Fisher, Jenni Nordaby, and Alexis Parente, who were also along for the visit.  Join us as we dive deep into celebrity moments, world premiers, industry afterparties, renowned recording studios, fireside stories, and more. ------   Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠glasshousespodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.glasshousespod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter / X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/glasshousespod⁠⁠⁠⁠  Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@glasshousespod⁠⁠⁠⁠   Support the podcast: Paypal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://paypal.me/glasshousespod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A 1972 Billy Joel performance doesn’t sound like the concerts he’s been performing over the last 50 years. Instead, two live recordings from that year reveal an artist still finding his way – even if a few key elements were already in place.  That year, Billy opened for Taj Mahal at the Boarding House in San Francisco on January 22. Then, he played the ill-fated and mostly-forgotten Mar Y Sol Pop Festival in Puerto Rico on April 2. The lineup is his first core live band: Al Hertzberg on guitar, Rhys Clark on drums, and Larry Russell on bass.  Despite releasing his first solo album, Cold Spring Harbor, at the end of 1971, these shows barely acknowledge those recordings. Instead, he showcases two songs that would end up on his next record and go on to become fan favorites and concert staples. And, his first foray into an international festival foreshadowed his future engagements in Cuba and the USSR.  In just a few months, Billy’s performance with this group and a similar setlist at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia would be the stepping stone to his now-classic Piano Man album. But for now, these two concert recordings show a young solo artist fighting to find his identity and forge his own path in the music world. Audio courtesy of Activer Music. - Billy Joel - Live At The Boarding House, San Francisco (January 22, 1972) - Billy Joel - Live At Mar y Sol Pop Festival, Vega Baja, Puerto Rico ( April 2, 1972) ------   Email us: ⁠⁠⁠glasshousespodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.glasshousespod.com⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/⁠⁠⁠ Twitter / X: ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/glasshousespod⁠⁠⁠  Discord: ⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T⁠⁠⁠ Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@glasshousespod⁠⁠⁠   Support the podcast: Paypal: ⁠⁠⁠https://paypal.me/glasshousespod⁠⁠⁠ Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1992 wasn’t a prolific year for Billy, nestled between the end of one of his longest tours supporting a monster hit album and releasing his final pop album the next year.  But, his decisions here would determine the next phase of his career. Throughout the year, he spent just as much time looking to the past as he did preparing for his future.  It was the year Billy began working on River Of Dreams while various record companies released his work from the late 60s with The Hassles and Attila. His only new releases were a trio of songs for movie soundtracks, each written before he became a musician, as Paul Simon inducted him into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.  These and other events, releases, and milestones found Billy spending 1992 stuck somewhere between an elder statesman of music and a brash kid still playing rock and roll. ------   Email us: ⁠⁠glasshousespodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: ⁠⁠https://www.glasshousespod.com⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/⁠⁠ Twitter / X: ⁠⁠https://x.com/glasshousespod⁠⁠  Discord: ⁠⁠https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T⁠⁠ Youtube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@glasshousespod⁠⁠   Support the podcast: Paypal: ⁠⁠https://paypal.me/glasshousespod⁠⁠ Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billy Joel banked on his recent success when he wrote and recorded the 1980 album Glass Houses. The songs were much more streamlined and guitar-driven than his previous two platinum-selling releases, and arranged to be played in arenas and coliseums rather than theaters and colleges.  But, just as the record’s New Wave leanings drew ire from the critics, the Glass Houses tour received mixed reactions. Almost every pundit who applauded Joel’s songwriting and his band’s energy was met by another who felt the songs were hollow and the shows lackluster. Of course, many of the songs are still concert staples today. And, Billy still sells out the world’s largest and most celebrated venues 45 years after their release.  That makes it even harder to believe Billy’s 8 plus-month, worldwide tour from 1980 to 1981 could have been his last run at the superstar level. Join us, as we explore the dates, setlists, and reviews of Billy Joel’s Glass Houses tour. ------   Email us: ⁠glasshousespodcast@gmail.com⁠   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: ⁠https://www.glasshousespod.com⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/⁠ Twitter / X: ⁠https://x.com/glasshousespod⁠  Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T⁠ Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@glasshousespod⁠   Support the podcast: Paypal: ⁠https://paypal.me/glasshousespod⁠ Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we know Glass Houses as one of Billy Joel’s biggest albums. The 1980 release became his third-consecutive album to quickly go platinum. It kept the band playing some of the biggest venues in the world, and features a handful of songs that are still  live staples. At the time, however, it was a drastic departure from Billy’s previous hit records. He’d shed much of the classical and jazz influences that marked The Stranger and 52nd Street. The scaled-back arrangements reflected then-modern New Wave and Power Pop with a more stripped-down and guitar-driven approach.  It was the first time in arguably a decade that Billy made a conscious effort to create an album based on the popular music of the time. As a result, more critics were lukewarm, and even hostile, to the songs.  Over time, the record cemented its status as a seminal release. After all, it’s the one we named this podcast after. Now, we’re finally giving it an official listen-through.  Join us as we drop the needle on Billy Joel’s 1980 album Glass Houses. ------   Email us: glasshousespodcast@gmail.com   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: https://www.glasshousespod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/ Twitter / X: https://x.com/glasshousespod  Discord: https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@glasshousespod   Support the podcast: Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billy Joel’s 1980 release, Glass Houses, is considered classic rock in 2025. But at the time,  listeners and critics heard a huge leap into then-current New Wave – and not necessarily a good one.  The album was a stripped-down departure from the more lush arrangements on the Stranger and 52nd Street, released in 1977 and 1978  respectively. Some contemporary reviewers applauded the songwriting and genre hopping. Others, expecting something closer to Steely Dan or Dire Straits, were disappointed to hear songs much more informed by Elvis Costello and The Knack.  Ultimately, Glass Houses spawned several hit songs and concert staples including You May Be Right, Don’t Ask Me Why, and It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me. It continued Joel’s streak of chart-toppers and platinum-selling albums, and is still one of his most popular releases. In our second of four Glass Houses episodes, we’re comparing what the critics had to say in print, and how listeners responded with album and ticket sales. Join us as we dig deep into the initial mixed reception and ultimate triumph of this classic album. ------   Email us: glasshousespodcast@gmail.com   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: https://www.glasshousespod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/ Twitter / X: https://x.com/glasshousespod  Discord: https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@glasshousespod   Support the podcast: Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With a pair of award-winning, chart-topping albums under his belt, Billy Joel entered A&R Recording in 1979 with the intention of abandoning the sound that made him a superstar. He did so by showcasing the musicians who were instrumental to his success.  The result was Glass Houses. Released on March 12, 1980, the album lurched Billy out of the classically-informed, jazz-influenced, singer-songwriter idiom he’d cultivated over three releases. Written in the wake of Punk and New Wave, his first record of the decade was stripped down, guitar-focussed and often confrontational.  Glass Houses was the second of Billy’s solo albums, and his first since 1976 to not use session musicians. With the backing  tracks recorded almost completely live, it put his tight knit backing band, now known as the Lords of 52nd Street, front and center.  The stylistic shift yielded a platinum-selling record with a handful of Top Ten hits and concert staples to this day. It also set the precedent for Billy’s genre-hopping success throughout the 80s. But, in retrospect, it was an album that could have flopped, and one that could only have been successful in a brief timeframe.  In our first of four episodes covering Glass Houses, we’ll explore the making of the record, from what was on the charts at the time, to how the songs evolved from rough demos to polished gems, and when and how the band put it all together.  Join us as we dig deep into the making of Glass Houses.  ------   Email us: glasshousespodcast@gmail.com   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: https://www.glasshousespod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/ Twitter / X: https://x.com/glasshousespod  Discord: https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@glasshousespod   Support the podcast: Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even though Billy Joel was a superstar by the 1980s, he still had to promote each new album. That included appearances on late night television shows.  Billy was never a fan of music videos or performing on television, saying music shouldn’t have to be a visual art. But as the landscape of late night shows changed over the years, he found more opportunities that suited his style.  He offset his spotlight moments on Late Night with David Letterman by sitting in with Paul Schaffer’s famed house band. His revamped live band got the spotlight in late 80s and early 90s Saturday Night Live appearances. Later, Billy debuted new songs and revisited his back catalog with his live band and members of the show’s musical groups while visiting other late-night hosts.  Then, as his 2010s renaissance blossomed with his Madison Square Garden residency, Billy guested on network programs that made the cultural leap into online and viral videos.  Join us as we dig deep into Billy Joel’s late night TV appearances from 1986 to 2024. ------   Email us: glasshousespodcast@gmail.com   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: https://www.glasshousespod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/ Twitter / X: https://x.com/glasshousespod  Discord: https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@glasshousespod   Support the podcast: Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With more than 50 years of performances as a solo artist, Billy Joel’s songs and stage show have evolved alongside the formats for musical performances on late night television programs. Spots like these have always been valuable for developing artists to introduce themselves to new audiences. More established musicians often appear on them near the promotional kickoff for a new album or tour.  Over the next two episodes, we’re exploring Billy Joel’s appearances on late night TV. Our first installment follows Billy as a budding singer-songwriter in the early 1970s, performing on a handful of post-primetime shows featuring live rock and roll performances.  Billy was never a fan of television appearances, and even early in his career, he bends their formats whenever he can.  Along with fiery renditions of his early songs, Billy uses his airtime to defend his positioning as compared to his contemporaries, do a few impressions and even jam on a few cover songs. Later, he fulfills the “Live” part of his second Saturday Night Live appearance, but does so from an unexpected location.  Join us as we dig deep into Billy Joel’s late night TV appearances from 1973 to 1982. ROBBY COSENZA / THE FANGED ROBOT ALBUM ------   Email us: glasshousespodcast@gmail.com   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: https://www.glasshousespod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/ Twitter / X: https://x.com/glasshousespod  Discord: https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@glasshousespod   Support the podcast: Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Late night television has been an important showcase for musical talent for well over half a century. The casts and crews make producing these shows seem effortless. But the truth is that it takes split-second timing and a tight knit team to get each episode on the air.  In this two-part series, we’re exploring Billy Joel’s late-night TV appearances from the mid 70s through the current decade. But before we dive deep into these performances, we’ll get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the machinery behind the broadcasts. First up is our conversation with audio engineer and Roots music supervisor Steve Mandel. A longtime friend of the podcast, Steve has worked with the hip hop group The Roots since the mid-90s. He and the band have collaborated on nearly 3,000 episodes of Jimmy Fallon’s late-night talk shows over the past 16 years.  In this episode, we explore the precise timing and careful choices that go into every episode. Steve also recounts his experiences meeting Billy the times he was a guest on the Tonight Show.  Join us as we dig deep into part 1of Billy Joel and late night TV. ------   Email us: glasshousespodcast@gmail.com   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: https://www.glasshousespod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/ Twitter / X: https://x.com/glasshousespod  Discord: https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@glasshousespod   Support the podcast: Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's felt like seven years since we've been trapped on this desert island with only 12 Billy Joel songs to listen to.  If you missed Part One of this series, Jack and I picked one song from each of Billy's studio pop albums that we would want if we were trapped on a desert island.  So far, we've gone from 1971's Cold Spring Harbor to 52nd Street in 1978. Along the way, we picked up on songwriting motifs and lyrical themes that span Billy's catalog.  Now, we're concluding our picks starting with Glass Houses in 1980 and continuing through 1993's River of Dreams. Join us as we dig deep into our Desert Island Billy Joel song picks. ------   Email us: glasshousespodcast@gmail.com   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: https://www.glasshousespod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/ Twitter / X: https://x.com/glasshousespod  Discord: https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@glasshousespod   Support the podcast: Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are the 12 Billy Joel songs you can't live without? That's what we are discussing over the next two episodes.  We picked one track from each pop studio album that we would want if we were trapped on a desert island. Our choices were rarely the hits, and not necessarily our favorite go-to songs, either. Ultimately, the exercise revealed new insights into Billy's songwriting style and common themes throughout his catalog.  Join us as we dig deep into our Desert Island Billy Joel song picks. ------   Email us: glasshousespodcast@gmail.com   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: https://www.glasshousespod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/ Twitter / X: https://x.com/glasshousespod  Discord: https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@glasshousespod   Support the podcast: Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We often record way more than we can release on our bi-weekly episodes. That's why we always save the last episode of the year for odds and ends It's our collection of outtakes and diversions that made for great conversation but wouldn't find a home in the episode we were recording. This year we've got two heaping spoonfuls: First is an impromptu discussion about record collections that became a eulogy of sorts for a musical Legend who passed away earlier this year.  Then we've got a second helping of our great conversation with Dan Orlando. It's a continuation of our previous episode with the piano player and singer for the Lords of 52nd Street that we published a few weeks ago. The turkey may need to be microwaved, but there's still plenty of meat on that bone. So join us as we raid the Tupperware for some great leftovers from 2024. ------   Email us: glasshousespodcast@gmail.com   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: https://www.glasshousespod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/ Twitter / X: https://x.com/glasshousespod  Discord: https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@glasshousespod   Support the podcast: Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since joining the Lords of 52nd Street in 2021, Dan Orlando's post as piano player and lead singer has become much more than a job, albeit a crucial one, in a legacy act. The group features the music of Billy Joel played by Liberty DeVitto, Richie Cannata and Russell Javors, who played live and in the studio on most of Billy's biggest hits. Over the last few years, the ties between Dan and his bandmates have extended far beyond their performances. The experience also rejuvenated his passion for writing, recording and producing new music. That includes Heritage Trail, Dan's most recent album, released earlier this year, and more recordings and collaborations on deck for 2025. In our conversation, Dan speaks about the impact his bandmates have had on him, discovering new aspects of songs he grew up on, and creating music for himself and others.  Join us as we catch up with The Lords of 52nd Street’s own Dan Orlando. More from Dan Orlando: https://danorlandojr.com ------   Email us: glasshousespodcast@gmail.com   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: https://www.glasshousespod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/ Twitter / X: https://x.com/glasshousespod  Discord: https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@glasshousespod   Support the podcast: Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The third disc of Billy Joel's My Lives Box Set reveals an aspect of his performances that the previous tracks only hinted at: His ability to channel other artists.  The first two discs of the four-CD/one-DVD set focuses on unreleased songs, alternate versions of well-known tracks, and compositions that evolved into songs that Billy eventually released.  Moments on those tracks hint at Billy's ability to mimic other singers. And the fact that his first drafts of songs are often written with different artists in mind.  These points come to the forefront on Disc Three, which spotlights cover songs that BIlly released in the 90s. They include cuts for movie soundtracks and additional tracks for his Greatest Hits Volume III release.  These previously-rare tracks offer a glimpse into how Billy could approach someone else's work. And, perhaps, an alternate version of where his career could have gone after River of Dreams.  Join us as we dig deep into My Lives: Disc Three ------   Email us: glasshousespodcast@gmail.com   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: https://www.glasshousespod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/ Twitter / X: https://x.com/glasshousespod  Discord: https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T   Support the podcast: Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In April of 1976, Billy Joel hit the road with the first incarnation of the now-legendary Lords of 52nd Street lineup. The band toured in support of the album Turnstiles, the first official audio document of this group. And, late that year, they recorded the first concert home video of Billy’s career.  That program, entitled “Billy Joel Tonight,” was filmed over two nights at the Palmer Auditorium in December. This band was already a cohesive unit when the tour began. But, after 8 months and dozens of shows, they were a unified force to be reckoned with for this recording.  The video was available only through Time Life, and has been out of print for decades. The closest official digital release are the individual songs on Billy’s YouTube channel. Still, it ranks with Live From Long Island and CW Post as a seminal live document.  For this episode, we’re listening along to the unedited, uninterrupted original video. It includes stage banter not on the YouTube videos.  Join us as we dig deep into Billy Joel Tonight: Live at Palmer Auditorium in New London, CT - December 5th and 6th, 1976. WATCH BILLY JOEL TONIGHT ------   Email us: glasshousespodcast@gmail.com   Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media: Website: https://www.glasshousespod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/ Twitter / X: https://x.com/glasshousespod  Discord: https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T   Support the podcast: Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod Venmo: @MGrosvenor   Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices