Billy Joel – Storm Front (LP) (NM/VG+)

Billy Joel – Storm Front
LP, Album, Gatefold | Columbia Records | Cat. No. C 44366 | USA | 1989

Direct Metal Mastering (DMM) cut — confirmed in the runout. Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York by Ted Jensen, one of the most respected mastering engineers in the business, whose credits span Bruce Springsteen, Steely Dan, and Beck. DMM cuts directly to a copper master rather than a lacquer, producing a pressing that many audiophiles consider to have superior transient response and clarity over standard lacquer-cut pressings. Pressed at the Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Carrollton, Georgia. Storm Front (1989) was Billy Joel’s last studio album of new material for over a decade and one of his most commercially successful — We Didn’t Start The Fire reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100; The Downeaster “Alexa”, I Go To Extremes, and Shameless all charted significantly. Produced by Mick Jones — the guitarist and co-founder of Foreigner, who transitioned to production in the late 1980s and also appears here on backing vocals (courtesy of Atlantic Records). Richard Marx appears courtesy of EMI/USA. Mixed by Tom Lord-Alge at The Hit Factory, Times Square (all tracks except the title track) and Jay Healy at Right Track Recording (Storm Front). Band: Liberty DeVitto (drums — Joel’s drummer across his entire Columbia run), Schuyler Deale (bass), David Brown (guitar), Jeff Jacobs (synthesizer), Crystal Taliefero and Frank Floyd (backing vocals). Art direction by Christopher Austopchuk; front photography by Frank W. Ockenfels 3, back by Timothy White. Printed inner lyric and credit sleeve included. Spine shows “OC 44366.” Standard retail copy (no promo stamp). NM vinyl; VG+ sleeve.

Condition

• Media: Near Mint (NM or M-) — plays clean; excellent copy
• Sleeve: Very Good Plus (VG+) — nearly perfect
• Printed inner lyric/credit sleeve included

Tracklist

Side A
A1. That’s Not Her Style (5:08)
A2. We Didn’t Start The Fire (4:49)
A3. The Downeaster “Alexa” (3:40)
A4. I Go To Extremes (4:21)
A5. Shameless (4:24)

Side B
B1. Storm Front (5:15)
B2. Leningrad (4:03)
B3. State Of Grace (4:29)
B4. When In Rome (4:44)
B5. And So It Goes (3:36)

Credits
Vocals, Piano, Synthesizer, Organ, Accordion: Billy Joel
Produced By: Mick Jones (Foreigner)
Drums: Liberty DeVitto | Bass: Schuyler Deale
Guitar: David Brown | Synthesizer: Jeff Jacobs
Backing Vocals: Crystal Taliefero, Frank Floyd, Mick Jones, Pattie Darcy Jones
Guest: Richard Marx (courtesy EMI/USA)
Mixed By: Tom Lord-Alge & Jay Healy
Mastered By: Ted Jensen (Sterling Sound, NYC)
Art Direction: Christopher Austopchuk

Details

• Format: LP, Album
• Label: Columbia Records (C 44366 / OC 44366)
• Country: USA (Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Carrollton, GA)
• Released: 1989
• Weight: 230 g
• Mastered: Sterling Sound, NYC (DMM — Direct Metal Mastering)
• Style: Pop Rock, Soft Rock, Classic Rock

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As with all vintage records, minor signs of age and handling are to be expected and are reflected in the grading above.