1986 Billy Joel – The Bridge
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.”
Tracks
1 Running On Ice (Billy Joel) 3:15
2 This Is The Time (Billy Joel) 4:56
3 A Matter Of Trust (Billy Joel) 4:08
4 Modern Woman (Billy Joel) 3:47
5 Baby Grand (Billy Joel) 4:02
6 Big Man On Mulberry Street (Billy Joel) 5:24
7 Temptation (Billy Joel) 4:11
8 Code Of Silence (Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper) 5:13
9 Getting Closer (Billy Joel) 5:00
Biography
Musicians
1 Running On Ice
Bass | Doug Stegmeyer |
Drums | Liberty deVitto |
Guitar | David Brown |
Guitar | Russell Javors |
Piano | Billy Joel |
Synthesizer | Billy Joel |
Synthesizer | Rob Mounsey |
Background Vocals | Peter Hewlett |
Vocals | Billy Joel |
2 This Is The Time
Bass | Doug Stegmeyer |
Drums | Liberty deVitto |
Guitar | David Brown |
Guitar | Russell Javors |
Piano | Billy Joel |
Synthesizer | Billy Joel |
Vocals | Billy Joel |
3 A Matter Of Trust
Bass | Doug Stegmeyer |
Drums | Liberty deVitto |
Guitar | David Brown |
Guitar | Russell Javors |
Piano | Billy Joel |
Synthesizer | Billy Joel |
Synthesizer | Jeff Bova |
Vocals | Billy Joel |
4 Modern Woman
Bass | Doug Stegmeyer |
Drums | Liberty deVitto |
Guitar | David Brown |
Guitar | Russell Javors |
Piano | Billy Joel |
Synthesizer | Billy Joel |
Sax | Mark Rivera |
Percussion | Jimmy Bralower |
Vocals | Billy Joel |
5 Baby Grand
Bass | Neil Stubenhaus |
Drums | Vinnie Colaiuta |
Guitar | Dean Parks |
Piano | Ray Charles |
Vocals | Ray Charles |
Vocals | Billy Joel |
6 Big Man On Mulberry Street
Bass | Doug Stegmeyer |
Bass | Ron Carter |
Drums | Liberty deVitto |
Guitar | David Brown |
Guitar | Russell Javors |
Piano | Billy Joel |
Synthesizer | Billy Joel |
Sax | Eddie Daniels |
Sax | Michael Brecker |
Trombone | Dave Bargeron |
Trumpet | Alan Rubin |
Trumpet | Marvin Stamm |
Vocals | Billy Joel |
7 Temptation
Bass | Doug Stegmeyer |
Drums | Liberty deVitto |
Guitar | David Brown |
Guitar | Russell Javors |
Piano | Billy Joel |
Synthesizer | Billy Joel |
Sax | Mark Rivera |
Vocals | Billy Joel |
8 Code Of Silence
Bass | Doug Stegmeyer |
Drums | Liberty deVitto |
Guitar | David Brown |
12 String Guitar | David Brown |
Piano | Billy Joel |
Synthesizer | Billy Joel |
Synthesizer | Jeff Bova |
Harmonica | Don Brooks |
Vocals | Billy Joel |
Vocals | Cyndi Lauper |
9 Getting Closer
Bass | Neil Jason |
Drums | Liberty deVitto |
Guitar | David Brown |
Guitar | Russell Javors |
Guitar | John McCurry |
Organ | Steve Winwood |
Piano | Billy Joel |
Synthesizer | Billy Joel |
Percussion | Liberty deVitto |
Vocals | Billy Joel |
Liner Notes
Coordinator – Joseph D’Ambrosio
Engineer – Jim Boyer
Engineer (Associate) – Bradshaw Leigh, David Dickson, Fred Tenny, Steve Boyer
Mastered By – Ted Jensen
Orchestrated By – Rob Mounsey (Tracks 2, 4, 6)
Orchestrated By – Jeff Bova, Philippe Saisse (Track 7)
Design – Mark Larson
Painting – Brad Holland
Photography – Patrick Demarchelier, Charles Reilly, Larry Busacca, Phil Ramone
Mastered At Sterling Sound
Mixed At Power Station
Recorded At Power Station
Recorded At Chelsea Sound
Recorded At RCA Recording Studios
Recorded At Evergreen Studios
Phonographic Copyright CBS Inc
Copyright CBS Inc.
Coordinator – Joseph D’Ambrosio
Engineer – Jim Boyer
Engineer (Associate) – Bradshaw Leigh, David Dickson, Fred Tenny, Steve Boyer
Mastered By – Ted Jensen
Orchestrated By – Rob Mounsey (Tracks 2, 4, 6)
Orchestrated By – Jeff Bova, Philippe Saisse (Track 7)
Design – Mark Larson
Painting – Brad Holland
Photography – Patrick Demarchelier, Charles Reilly, Larry Busacca, Phil Ramone
Mastered At Sterling Sound
Mixed At Power Station
Recorded At Power Station
Recorded At Chelsea Sound
Recorded At RCA Recording Studios
Recorded At Evergreen Studios
Phonographic Copyright CBS Inc
Copyright CBS Inc.