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The Bridge | 
 enlarge | Artist: Billy Joel
Label: Columbia Records/CBS
Category: Music
List Price: $9.98
Buy Used: $1.25
You Save: $8.73 (87%)
New (11) Used (20) Collectible (2) from $1.25
Rating:  34 reviews
Sales Rank: 103351
Format: Enhanced, Original Recording Reissued, Original Recording Remastered
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 69392
UPC: 074646939222
EAN: 0074646939222
ASIN: B00000DCHJ
Release Date: October 20, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
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| Tracks:
| • | Running on Ice | | • | This Is the Time | | • | A Matter of Trust | | • | Modern Woman | | • | Baby Grand | | • | Big Man on Mulberry Street | | • | Temptation | | • | Code of Silence | | • | Getting Closer |
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| Customer Reviews:
 laidback mid-80s rock November 4, 2008
Gary Selikow (Great Kush)
Away from the doo-wop style and straight back into 80's rock, Billy Joel was again two steps ahead, with the mid-80s sounds.
Highlights are:
A Matter Of Trust (1986): A more upbeat rendition of a similar theme -Innocent Man from his last album . A great feel-good song.
Baby Grand (1983): A superb r&b type duo
about a man's baby grand piano and references to romance, love, failed relationships, fame and fortune.duo with Ray Charles.
This Is The Time: (1983): One of my favourite, favourites. I keep playing it again and again. Here Billy Joel displays the incredible power of the voice at it's best, and references to fading youth and remembering the best of life.
The funky Modern Woman (from the film Ruthless People).
and a collaboration with Cindy Lauper
"Code Of Silence."
 Not a Joel Fan, But . . . April 2, 2007
T. Bickley
I was never and still am not a fan of Billy Joel's music overall but I actually like most of the songs on this CD, especially "Big Man on Mulberry Street," which has a swingy, jazzy, "hep cat" feel to it. Would recommend to Joel fans, Joel fence-sitters, and possibly, those who have never liked his music all that much.
YOU'LL BE IMPRESSED.....BELIEVE ME!! January 13, 2006
14JRNY (San Fernando Valley, CA)
The majority of people that I have discussed Billy Joel with, think of the INNOCENT MAN album. Because they all remember the hits "Uptown Girl", "Tell Her About It", etc. That's all fine and good, but unfortunately, they usually have never heard of his album THE BRIDGE. I say unfortunately, because they have missed out on an incredible album! Now, I do like the INNOCENT MAN album, but there are a few songs on it that I could do without. Plus, I do grow tired of it rather quickly. Maybe that is because so many of the songs were overplayed on the radio. But in regards to THE BRIDGE, I never get tired of it! This album features some of Billy's best songwriting (lyrically & musically). If you're a fan of Billy Joel, you MUST get this album.
You won't be disappointed.
My Top 5 Billy Joel albums (in order):
1. THE BRIDGE
2. THE STRANGER
3. GLASS HOUSES
4. 52nd STREET
5. (tie) STORM FRONT / AN INNOCENT MAN
A Bridge to the Past - A Bridge to the Future March 29, 2005
L.A. Scene (Indian Trail, NC USA)
6 out of 9 found this review helpful
For Billy Joel, the 1980s were an era where Billy Joel began to explore new musical paths that differed very much from his classic 1970s material. In 1980, he released "Glass Houses" which was Billy's multi-faceted Rock album. He would follow this up with 1982's "The Nylon Curtain" in which Billy would write some of his deepest lyrics combined with a social theme. When 1983 came around, Billy would release "An Innocent Man" which would be his "retro-style" tribute to the music of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Despite the fact that Billy had explored many avenues, many core-Billy Joel fans were critical that Billy had abandoned his roots and become a pop artist. After an "An Innocent Man", in 1985 Billy would release his "Greatest Hits Volume I and II". By the time 1986 rolled around, it had been three years since a new Billy Joel album - one of the longest breaks of his career. It would be in this year that Billy Joel would release his 11th studio album - "The Bridge". This would be another transition album. It was a way for Billy to "bridge" back to the past as well as "bridge" ahead to the future. In a lot of ways, "The Bridge" gets an unfair rap for being a weak album. I tend to disagree, while not his late 70s/early 80s material - this is still a very solid effort.
I look at Billy Joel's career as having three phases. The first phase is what I call "Old Billy Joel". This basically includes all of his material from "Cold Spring Harbor" through "Turnstiles". These are perhaps the strongest days as the piano sound, but they also contain most of Joel's least heard material. The next phase is what I call "Middle Billy Joel". This was his most successful period and covers from "The Stranger" to "Billy Joel Greatest Hits Volume 1 and 2". Joel would go through a transition during this phase - expanding his musical horizons and exploring different avenues. The final phase is the "Later Billy Joel" phase - this covers "The Bridge" to "River of Dreams". In this phase, Billy would start to incorporate some of his older styles of music while not abandoning his desire to continue to explore new avenues. "The Bridge" definitely fits into this style. You'll see signs of the old Billy Joel - and signs of the new Billy Joel. On many of the tracks, Billy will once again bring the piano back to center-stage.
While there isn't a prevalent theme on this album, this concept of "bridging" to the past and the future is evident on just about every track:
"Running on Ice": Looking at Billy's music portfolio, this is one of his most overlooked songs. This may be this collection's strongest track. Billy "bridges" back to the past by bringing back some of his trademark rapid-fire piano playing. Overall, I do hear a lot of 80s style on this song - thus you get some "bridging" to the future".
"This is the Time": Another very strong and underrated Billy Joel track. The combination of piano and guitars give this a very classic Billy Joel feel - once again "bridging" to the past. The guitars give this song a very romantic element. It is this romantic element that proves Billy could still write a love song. Billy's vocals are also as strong as ever.
"A Matter of Trust": This song probably suffered from over-playing in the mid 80s. While this song doesn't have a Classic Billy feel, the lyrics do (I also think these lyrics referred to then wife Christie Brinkley who appears in the video). While "This is the Time" had more of a ballad-style romantic theme, the romantic theme here has a harder-Rock edge here. This edge is not something new to Billy.
"Modern Woman": This song gets an unfair rap. This song was used on the "Ruthless People" soundtrack and got a lot of radio airplay. As a result, many still perceive this as a "pop song" as opposed to something of a classic Billy Joel song. This is not totally fair. This song has nice "bridges" to the past and future. The terrific piano and horns give do demonstrate a classic Billy Joel feel. The lyrics (i.e. about a "modern woman") show Billy's "bridge" to the future.
"Baby Grand": This song grows on you. Features a nice duet with Ray Charles. There is a jazz-like theme on this album reminiscent of some of Billy's older work where he incorporated some streetwise Jazz into his music.
"Big Man on Mulberry Street": Back in the days of "The Stranger" and "52nd Street", Billy incorporated a "New York" theme into his music. Billy "bridges" back to the past by bringing this streetwise music back into his music. While not as strong as the material on those albums, it still is solid.
"Temptation": More classic Billy Joel piano "bridges" to the past, but not one of the better songs on this collection.
"Code of Silence": This is a duet with Cyndi Lauper, but its Billy's vocals that will be dominant here. The harmonica to open this track is terrific. This song grew on me as a listened to it. I can hear elements of the old and new Billy Joel in this song.
"Getting Closer": Another song that "bridges" back to the past with classic piano work and vocals. This is a very personal song as Billy sings about some of the people who caused him financial woes in the mid 1980s.
The enhanced CD includes videos for "A Matter of Trust" and "Baby Grand". The lyrics to all of the songs are included. All musician and production credits are listed. While I don't think Billy is able to recapture his past magic completely, I do feel he continues to carve his own niche in music history. This is still a very good album. Highly recommended.
Listen Listen Listen January 19, 2004
B. Nisman (Plainview, NY United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
The secret to the success of any cd lies with the individual. Sometimes it is the hook, melody means a great deal to the experience of course. For others, it's rhythm, and still others lyrics supplanted by strong melody and/or rhythm.
Unfortunately, music is often judged on first go round. Such was the case with me regarding The Bridge. I had dismissed it when it came out, but recently I spent time in my studio (i.e. my car, with wonderful speakers and the solitude of the drive)and studied Billy from the early years through his last original. I was very much impressed with the diversity of this work, and I suggest several listens.....Modern Woman may sound 80ish to some, but I think it stands on its own. Mulberry Street is broad, a large sound with big band, and it is countered by the more typical Joel songs like Matter of Trust and This is the Time.
I think that 'veterans' like myself, guys/gals who grew up in the late 60's and have seen and heard the evolution of rock music, have learned that what initially clicks will sometimes wear down, and often other works grow with time, and that is true because we are changing, ever changing. I suggest a nice car ride, the music turned up, a mug of coffee, and 40 minutes spent with The Bridge. It's not Billy Joel's best, it's far from his worst, and for you, it might very well be special!!!
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