Storm Front (album)

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Storm Front is the eleventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released on October 17, 1989. It features one of Joel's three No. 1 hits, "We Didn't Start the Fire", a fast-paced song that cataloged a list of historical events, trends, and cultural icons from after World War II (when Joel was born) until 1989, and "Leningrad", a story-song about a friendship between an American and a Russian during the final years of the Cold War.

"I Go to Extremes", a song describing the ups and downs of his emotional life, placed at No. 6. Other songs that placed in the top 100 were "And So It Goes" (No. 37), "The Downeaster 'Alexa" (No. 57), and "That's Not Her Style" (No. 77). The cover depicts the maritime storm warning flag indicating wind forces 10-12, the highest intensity on the Beaufort scale.

Video Storm Front (album)

Cover versions

In 1991, Garth Brooks recorded "Shameless" on his album Ropin' the Wind. Brooks' cover version was also released as a single and reached the top of the US country charts, and also entered the UK Singles Chart.
Paul Anka covered "I Go to Extremes" on his 2007 album Classic Songs, My Way.
Jennifer Warnes covered "And So It Goes" for her 2001 album The Well.

Maps Storm Front (album)

Track listing

All songs written by Billy Joel.

Side one

"That's Not Her Style" - 5:10
"We Didn't Start the Fire" - 4:50
"The Downeaster 'Alexa'" - 3:44
"I Go to Extremes" - 4:23
"Shameless" - 4:26

Side two

"Storm Front" - 5:17
"Leningrad" - 4:06
"State of Grace" - 4:30
"When in Rome" - 4:44
"And So It Goes" - 3:38

Billy Joel - Billy Joel on STORM FRONT - from THE COMPLETE ALBUMS ...

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Personnel

Storm Front marked a radical change in Joel's backing band. Since his last studio album (The Bridge), both Russell Javors and Doug Stegmeyer, long-time members of Joel's band, were discharged from their respective duties as rhythm guitarist and bass guitarist. Javors was replaced with Joey Hunting for the record and by Tommy Byrnes on tour while Stegmeyer was replaced by Schuyler Deale. Band regulars Liberty DeVitto, David Brown and Mark Rivera were retained. Joel also hired the percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Crystal Taliefero beginning with this album.

Billy Joel - vocals, acoustic piano, clavinet, accordion, Hammond organ, harpsichord, synthesizers, guitars, percussion
Liberty DeVitto - drums (1-9), percussion (2)
David Brown - lead guitar (1-9), Midi guitar solo on "Storm Front"
Joey Hunting - rhythm guitar (2)
Crystal Taliefero - backing vocals (1, 2, 5, 6, 9), percussion (2)
Schuyler Deale - bass guitar (1-9)
Jeff Jacobs - synthesizers, backing vocals (1), horn arrangements (6)

Additional musicians

Don Brooks - harmonica on "That's Not Her Style"
Mick Jones - guitar on "Storm Front", guitar solo on "State of Grace"; backing vocals on "That's Not Her Style", "I Go To Extremes" and "State of Grace"
John Mahoney - keyboards on "We Didn't Start the Fire", keyboard programming on "Leningrad"
Sammy Merendino - electronic percussion on "We Didn't Start the Fire"
Kevin Jones - keyboard programming on "We Didn't Start the Fire"
Doug Kleeger - sounds effects and arrangements on "We Didn't Start the Fire"
Dominic Cortese - accordion on "Leningrad"
Itzhak Perlman - violin on "The Downeaster 'Alexa'"
Lenny Pickett - saxophone on "Storm Front" and "When in Rome"
Andrew Love, Wayne Jackson - The Memphis Horns on "Storm Front"
Bill Zampino - choral arrangement on "Leningrad"
Chuck Arnold - backing vocals and choral leader on "Leningrad"
Arif Mardin - orchestral arrangement on "Leningrad"
Hicksville High School Chorus - backing vocals on "Leningrad"
Richard Marx - backing vocals on "Storm Front" and "That's Not Her Style"
Patricia Darcy-Jones - backing vocals on "That's Not Her Style", "Shameless", "Storm Front" and "When in Rome"
Frank Floyd - backing vocals on "That's Not Her Style", "Shameless" and "Storm Front"
Brian Ruggles - backing vocals on "That's Not Her Style"
Joe Lynn Turner - backing vocals on "I Go To Extremes" and "State of Grace"
Ian Lloyd - backing vocals on "I Go To Extremes" and "State of Grace"
Brenda White King - backing vocals on "When in Rome"
Curtis King - backing vocals on "When in Rome"

Production

Produced by Billy Joel and Mick Jones
Mixed by Tom Lord-Alge (Tracks 1-3) and Jay Healy (Tracks 3-10).
Engineered by Jay Healy
Assistant Engineers - Dana Becker, Tim Crich, David Dorn, Suzanne Hollander, Joe Pirrera and Gary Solomon.
Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound (New York, NY).
Art Direction - Chris Austopchuk
Back Photo - Timothy White
Front Photo - Frank Ockenfels