EP 106 - Album Retrospective: The Hassles First Album

Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast

Before Billy Joel was a household name, and before he was even a solo recording artist or known as a piano player, he released his first album on United Artists Records in 1967.

That album was The Hassles, by the band of the same name. Billy, still a teenager, wasn’t in the spotlight. Rather, he was the organ player who contributed a few original songs and vocals.

For this album episode, we’re reviewing the deluxe re-release from 1992. It contains the entire first album, plus 8 additional bonus tracks of b-sides, demos and alternate takes.

This generous serving of blue-eyed-soul and Long Island rock and roll provides Billy’s first step into the music industry at large. And, it reveals a few germs of the melodic instincts, arrangement styles, and vocal prowess that Billy would cultivate into his signature sound just a few years later.

Join us as we dig deep into The Hassles’ self-titled debut album.

------

Email us: [e-mail]

Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast on the web / social media:

• Website: http://www.glasshousespod.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glasshousespodcast/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasshousespod/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/glasshousespod
• Discord: https://discord.gg/6G6cMRFu7T

Support the podcast:

• Paypal: https://paypal.me/glasshousespod
• Venmo: @MGrosvenor

Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices