The Bridge (Billy Joel album)
Encyclopedia
The Bridge is Billy Joel
's 10th studio album released by Columbia Records
in 1986 (see 1986 in music
) and was his final album to be produced by Phil Ramone
. This album had several successful singles, including "A Matter of Trust" (peaking at #10), "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 it would become The Bridge in early 1986. Ray Charles
, one of Joel's heroes, sang a duet with Joel on the song "Baby Grand" and Steve Winwood
played Hammond organ on the song "Getting Closer." The first song on the disc, "Running on Ice" is heavily influenced by the music of The Police
. The final song recorded for the album was "Code Of Silence," featuring Cyndi Lauper
contributing backing vocals and getting co-writing credit for the lyrics. It is the only song for which Joel shared a writing credit but Lauper actually did not write any of it. Joel was going through a writer's block and Lauper talked him out of it. He wrote the song and gave her a writer's credit as a gesture of thanks.
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, despite his limited ability to play the guitar (mainly using the guitar for songwriting purposes). The ballad "This Is the Time" also charted, and has been a favorite on the prom circuit ever since. "Modern Woman" was also released as a single and was quite successful, but Joel has since said in interviews he does not care for the song, and subsequently it has been left off most of his compilation sets (the exceptions appear to be My Lives
and The Ultimate Collection
).
The Bridge was Joel's last album to carry the "Family Productions" logo, as he later dropped the logo altogether.
, except where noted.
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
's 10th studio album released by Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 1986 (see 1986 in music
1986 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1986.-January-June:*January 23 – The first induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame takes place...
) and was his final album to be produced by Phil Ramone
Phil Ramone
Phil Ramone is a South-African violinist, composer, recording engineer, and record producer.-Biography:As a young child in South Africa, Ramone was a musical prodigy, beginning to play the violin at age three and performing for Queen Elizabeth II at age ten...
. This album had several successful singles, including "A Matter of Trust" (peaking at #10), "Modern Woman" (from the Ruthless People
Ruthless People
Ruthless People is a 1986 black comedy written by Dale Launer, starring Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, Judge Reinhold and Helen Slater. It also features Bill Pullman as a supporting role in his film debut....
soundtrack, peaking at #10), and "This Is the Time" (peaking at #18).
Joel began work on the album in 1985 and it would become The Bridge in early 1986. Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
, one of Joel's heroes, sang a duet with Joel on the song "Baby Grand" and Steve Winwood
Steve Winwood
Stephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood is an English international recording artist whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is a songwriter and a musician whose genres include soul music , R&B, rock, blues-rock, pop-rock, and jazz...
played Hammond organ on the song "Getting Closer." The first song on the disc, "Running on Ice" is heavily influenced by the music of The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
. The final song recorded for the album was "Code Of Silence," featuring Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
contributing backing vocals and getting co-writing credit for the lyrics. It is the only song for which Joel shared a writing credit but Lauper actually did not write any of it. Joel was going through a writer's block and Lauper talked him out of it. He wrote the song and gave her a writer's credit as a gesture of thanks.
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, despite his limited ability to play the guitar (mainly using the guitar for songwriting purposes). The ballad "This Is the Time" also charted, and has been a favorite on the prom circuit ever since. "Modern Woman" was also released as a single and was quite successful, but Joel has since said in interviews he does not care for the song, and subsequently it has been left off most of his compilation sets (the exceptions appear to be My Lives
My Lives
My Lives is a box set compilation of demos, outtakes, B-sides, soundtrack cuts, live recordings and album cuts by American singer/songwriter Billy Joel. It was released on November 22, 2005...
and The Ultimate Collection
The Ultimate Collection (Billy Joel album)
-Disc two:-Chart positions:-End-of-year charts:-Certifications:...
).
The Bridge was Joel's last album to carry the "Family Productions" logo, as he later dropped the logo altogether.
Track listing
All songs written by Billy JoelBilly Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
, except where noted.
- "Running on Ice" – 3:15
- "This Is the TimeThis Is the Time (song)"This Is the Time" is a song performed by Billy Joel released as the third single from his album The Bridge.The song reached #18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart , with no accompanying music video.The song was featured in NBA Superstars...
" – 4:59 - "A Matter of TrustA Matter of Trust"A Matter of Trust" is a song performed by Billy Joel released as the second single from his album The Bridge.The song was the second top 10 single off the album, after the album's previous single "Modern Woman." The song's music video features Joel performing in a building and also shows various...
" – 4:09 - "Modern WomanModern Woman"Modern Woman" is a song performed by Billy Joel from his album The Bridge.The song was the first single off the album and was also featured on the soundtrack to the film Ruthless People....
" – 3:48 - "Baby GrandBaby Grand"Baby Grand" is the fourth and final single released off Billy Joel's album The Bridge. A duet with Joel and Ray Charles, the song is a ballad dedicated to the baby grand piano, and the relationship it can share with its players. The two originally got together when Charles contacted Joel about the...
" – 4:02 - "Big Man on Mulberry StreetBig Man on Mulberry Street"Big Man on Mulberry Street" is a jazz influenced song by Billy Joel from the 1986 album The Bridge .An extended version of the song was used on a season three episode of Moonlighting. The episode was titled "Big Man On Mulberry Street". In a dream sequence, Maddie Hayes envisions David Addison...
" – 5:26 - "Temptation" – 4:12
- "Code of Silence" (Billy Joel, Cyndi LauperCyndi LauperCynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
) – 5:15 - "Getting Closer" – 5:00
Personnel
- Billy Joel - pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
; Fender Rhodes on "Getting Closer" - Liberty DeVittoLiberty DeVittoLiberty DeVitto is an American rock drummer. He is best known as the drummer for Billy Joel, but has also played with the NYC Hit Squad and has been a session drummer on recordings of other artists.-Career:...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Doug StegmeyerDoug StegmeyerDoug Stegmeyer was a musician best known as the bassist for Billy Joel.-Career:Doug Stegmeyer met Russell Javors in high school. At age 15, Javors was performing songs with childhood friend Liberty DeVitto. From then, the boys, along with Howard Emerson, formed the band Topper.Together they...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - David BrownDavid Brown (musician)David Brown was the primary bass guitar player for the band Santana from 1966 until 1971, then again from 1973 until 1976. David grew up in Daly City, California...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, acoustic twelve string guitarTwelve string guitarThe twelve-string guitar is an acoustic or electric guitar with 12 strings in 6 courses, which produces a richer, more ringing tone than a standard six-string guitar...
and electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
on "Code of Silence", guitar on "Getting Closer" - Russell JavorsRussell JavorsRussell Javors is an American rock guitarist. He is best known as a primary guitarist for Billy Joel from 1976 to 1989.-Career:...
- guitars - Peter Hewlett - background vocals on "Running on Ice"
- Rob MounseyRob MounseyRob Mounsey is an award-winning composer, music producer, and musician. He was born in Berea, Ohio and grew up in Seattle, Washington and several Ohio towns. At the age of 17, he was awarded a BMI Student Composer's Award in New York. He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston from 1971 to 1975...
- synthesizers on "Running on Ice"; orchestrationOrchestrationOrchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...
on "This Is the Time", "Modern Woman" and "Big Man on Mulberry Street" - Jeff BovaJeff BovaJeff Bova is an American Grammy Award winning keyboardist, composer, arranger and record producer. He has been active in music industry since the mid-1970s, contributing to dozens of recordings by significant mainstream artists like Celine Dion, Michael Jackson, Blondie, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker,...
- synthesizers on "A Matter of Trust" and "Code of Silence"; orchestration on "Temptation" - Jimmy Bralower - percussion on "Modern Woman"
- Mark RiveraMark RiveraMark Rivera is a musician, musical director and corporate entertainment provider. In addition to playing soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, Rivera's musical talents encompass vocals, guitar, percussion and keyboards.-Education:...
- tenor saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
on "Modern Woman" and "Temptation" - Ray CharlesRay CharlesRay Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
- vocals and piano on "Baby Grand" - Vinny ColaiutaVinnie ColaiutaVincent Colaiuta is an American drummer based in Los Angeles. Originally from Republic, Pennsylvania, he began playing drums as a child and received his first full drum kit from his parents at the age of 14...
- drums on "Baby Grand" - Dean ParksDean ParksDean Parks is an American session guitarist and record producer from Ft. Worth, TX.-Albums:Dean was member of The North Texas State One O'clock Lab Band before moving to Los Angeles to work with Sonny and Cher in 1970. Dean is best-known through his many contributions to albums by Steely Dan...
- guitar on "Baby Grand" - Patrick Williams - arrangements on "Baby Grand"
- Ron CarterRon CarterRon Carter is an American jazz double-bassist. His appearances on over 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, along with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is also an acclaimed cellist who has recorded numerous times on that...
- acoustic bass on "Big Man on Mulberry Street" - Eddie DanielsEddie DanielsEddie Daniels is an American musician. Though he is best known as a jazz clarinet player, he has also played alto and tenor saxophones, as well as classical music on the clarinet....
- alto saxophoneAlto saxophoneThe alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
on "Big Man on Mulberry Street" - Michael BreckerMichael BreckerMichael Leonard Brecker was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Acknowledged as "a quiet, gentle musician widely regarded as the most influential tenor saxophonist since John Coltrane," he has been awarded 15 Grammy Awards as both performer and composer and was inducted into Down Beat Jazz...
- baritone saxophone on "Big Man on Mulberry Street" - Ronnie CuberRonnie CuberRonnie Cuber is a jazz saxophonist. He has also played in Latin, pop, rock and blues sessions. In addition to his primary instrument, baritone sax, he has also played tenor sax, soprano sax and flute, the latter on an album by Eddie Palmieri. As a leader, Cuber is known for hard bop and Latin jazz...
- baritone saxophone on "Big Man on Mulberry Street" - Mark Stamm - trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
on "Big Man on Mulberry Street" - Alan RubinAlan RubinAlan Rubin , also known as Mr. Fabulous, was an American musician. He played trumpet, flugelhorn, and piccolo trumpet....
- trumpet on "Big Man on Mulberry Street" - Dave BargeronDave BargeronDavid 'Dave' W Bargeron is an American trombonist and tuba player from Athol, Massachusetts, most famous for playing with the jazz-rock group Blood, Sweat, and Tears. He joined the group in 1970, after Jerry Hyman departed, and first appeared on the album Blood, Sweat & Tears 4...
- tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
on "Big Man on Mulberry Street" - Phillippe Saisse - orchestration on "Temptation"
- Cyndi LauperCyndi LauperCynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
- vocals on "Code of Silence" - Steve WinwoodSteve WinwoodStephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood is an English international recording artist whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is a songwriter and a musician whose genres include soul music , R&B, rock, blues-rock, pop-rock, and jazz...
- HammondHammond organThe Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
B-3 on'"Getting Closer" - Neil Jason - bass on "Getting Closer"
- John McClurry - 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 and 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
Album
| Year | Country | Chart | Position | Weeks | Sales/shipments | Cetification (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Australia | Kent Music Report Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... Albums Chart |
2 | |||
| Japan | Oricon Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... Weekly LP Albums Chart (top 100) |
2 | 14 | 250,000+ | ||
| Oricon Weekly CD Albums Chart (top 100) | 2 | 18 | ||||
| Oricon Weekly CT Albums Chart (top 100) | 8 | 16 | ||||
| United States | The Billboard 200 | 7 | 47 | 2,000,000+ | 2x Multi-Platinum | |
| New Zealand | New Zealand Albums Chart | 12 | 23 | |||
| Norway | VG-lista VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... Albums Chart (top 40) |
13 | 6 | |||
| Italy | Italian Albums Chart | 17 | ||||
| Austria | Austrian Albums Chart (top 30) | 18 | 4 | |||
| Holland | Dutch Albums Chart | 20 | 8 | |||
| Switzerland | Swiss Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... Albums Chart (top 30) |
22 | 4 | |||
| Sweden | Albums Chart (top 50) | 25 | 3 | |||
| Germany | German Albums Chart | 34 | 9 | |||
| United Kingdom | UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... (top 100) |
38 | 10 | 60,000+ | Silver |
Singles
| Year | Single | Country | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | "Modern Woman" | United States | Billboard AC Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
7 |
| Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
10 | |||
| Billboard Mainstream Rock Mainstream Rock Tracks Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue... |
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 |