EP 036 - Concert Classics: Live in Houston, 1979

Glass Houses - A Billy Joel Podcast

By the end of the seventies, Billy Joel had found success with a formula that blended elements of pop, rock, and jazz around a singer-songwriter frame. And, he was about to turn all that on its side. The Live In Houston 1979 bootleg is proof of it.

The video features Billy and the Lords of 52nd Street at the Summit in Houston, TX on November 25th. Their sound has been streamlined since the frenetic free-for-all on 1977’s CW Post radio broadcast. But, they’re not quite as settled into the arena stage show they’ll have perfected by 1982’s Live From Long Island.

Instead, this concert presents a top-tier rock and roll band at the top of their game, with an audience of thousands cheering them on. But, for as revelatory as this concert is, it’s shrouded in a bit of mystery.

The show took place well after the 52nd Street tour ended. It was professionally shot and edited, but never officially released. As a result, the only video footage available is grainy and suffering from generation loss. Finally, the show features three songs from the forthcoming Glass Houses. That album would mark a stylistic shift, and Billy even mentions that producer Phil Ramone is in the audience.

But it’s easy enough to put those lingering questions about the how and why to the side and just enjoy the show. And, that’s what we’re doing with this episode. Join us, as we dig deep into Billy Joel: Houston 1979.

Date: November 25, 1979
City/State: Houston, TX
Venue: The Summit
The band:

• Billy Joel - Vocals, Piano, Keyboards
• Liberty DeVitto - Drums
• Doug Stegmeyer - Bass, Vocals
• Russell Javors - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
• David Brown - Lead Guitar, Vocals
• Richie Cannata - Saxophone, Flute, Keyboards, Accordion, Vocals

The Setlist:

1. Only The Good Die Young
2. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
3. Honesty
4. My Life
5. Piano Man
6. All For Leyna
7. Prelude / Angry Young Man
8. New York State of Mind
9. The Stranger
10. Sometimes A Fantasy
11. Root Beer Rag
12. She's Always A Woman
13. Stiletto
14. Zanzibar
15. You May Be Right
16. Just The Way You Are
17. Big Shot
18. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
19. Get It Right The First Time

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Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Groove Music Marketing