Customer Reviews

Glass Houses (180 Gram Vinyl) (Ltd. Edition Gatefold Cover)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Never exactly a critics darling, Billy Joel consistently produced a series of strong albums throughout his career. "Glass Houses" which many thought was created under the influence of "New Wave" (and also pokes fun at it as well)proved to be an enduring classic. Although it may lack the jazz accented and larger-than-life Phil Spector like production of songs like "Until the Night", "Glass Houses" made its reputation on pure rock 'n' roll energy.

Featuring Joel's long time touring band including drummer Liberty DeVito, Doug Stemeyer, Richie Cannata and new (at the time) players David Brown and Russell Javers (both on guitar), "Glass Houses" opens with one of Joel's best rip-roaring rock tunes "You May Be Right".

The ironically titled album which refers to Joel's critics and, perhaps, indirectly to Joel himself, was always an underrated gem in Joel's catalog. It stands up with the best work he did during this period and while it may lack the serious themes of "The Nylon Curtain" or the jazzy touch of "52nd Street", it more than makes up it with melodic, well crafted songs with some witty lyrics as well.

Audio Fidelity has had a mixed batting average of late; "The Pretenders" and "The Soft Parade" were both peak limited something that should never happen to a audiophile CD. Likewise, "Morrison Hotel" and another title or two had some issues that occurred during the manufacturing phase so clearly quality control was an issue with those releases.

This release at first glance might appear also have problems--"Compact Disc" is misspelled on the gold disc as "Compack"--not a promising sign. Luckily, the mastering by Steve Hoffman associate Kevin Gray is superb. Hoffman can be a polarizing figure--there are those who love his approach to mastering and those that feel he is full of hot air. Gray does a terrific job of bringing out the subtle touches on the mastertape he is working from. He's on with "Glass Houses" which sounds marvelous. There's plenty of rich detail and a warm, rich analog sound and no sign of peak limiting on this release.

My only complaint is that like a lot of AF releases the artwork while decent, isn't as top notch as I'd like to see even compared to the original CD booklet for the album. Still, it does include all the lyrics as well as the photos that were on the original inner sleeve for the vinyl so that's a big plus.

A less than perfect booklet and misspelling aside what matters here is how this sounds and it sounds terrific.

I'd highly recommend this release for Joel fans as it is superior to just about every version released of this album on CD.

I just don't get it? Let's take a tape from the 80s and send it through completely flat to a new gold CD. Bad decision. This CD just plain sounds horrible. There is not passion, there is no life, there is no excitement here. This release sounds completely sterile and analytical. Do I sound disappointed? Yes I am very disappointed. Mobile Fidelity and other audiophile labels are using tools at their disposal to do classy remasterings of old classics. Why can't AF?

I'm starting to feel burned and let down by AF. Or, I just have to make sure any AF I get is mastered by Steve Hoffman and no other.

Beware, stick with the original or Ted Jensen remastered CD of this. Don't waste your money on this one.

Audio Fidelity has remastered Billy Joel: Glass Houses in 20bit HD. This has full dynamic range, it has not been volume leveled like past remasters. Audio Fidelity has made this a Limited Numbered Edition so only a limited pressing will be done, AF will stop making this 24 karat Gold CD.

If your a collector of rare CDs this will end up being a collectors item in the near future so, get it now!

I would 100% recommend this CD.

About: It not saying "From the Original Master Tapes" see important comment.

I've owned various copies of this classic Billy Joel album (i.e. cassette and the 1998 remastered CD),but this AF limited-edition gold disc is probably the definitive one. The sound here is vivid,dynamic and analog-sounding. You can hear details that never sounded more clear,like the synth solo on "All For Lenya" or the expanding soundstage between the verses and the choruses on songs like "It's Still Rock N' Roll To Me" "Sometimes A Fantasy" and "I Don't Want Be Alone". Audio Fidelity has been very hit-and-miss in the sound quality department,since I was dissapointed with some of their titles,such as Styx's "The Grand Illusion" and Alice Cooper's "School's Out",but thrilled with Stevie Wonder's "Talking Book" and Billy Joel "52nd Street",and this one (remastered by Kevin Gray)falls in the latter catagory. Those looking for a loud, crispy sound better hold on to the 1998 one,but Billy Joel fans and audiophiles will be very pleased with this release.

Quite simply, this cd blows away all other versions of Glass Houses out there. The 1998 remaster used compression and that was not necesary.

Kevin Gray did a wonderful job in mastering this cd. He really brought out the sound of the guitars and I am hearing guitar parts I never noticed before. This is a positive thing because this was intended to be more of a rock album.

A previous reviewer called this a mellow sounding remaster. I disagree. The sound is quite dynamic and the soundscape is great. Previous cd's sounded like there was a veil over the speakers or sounded harsh & digital. This cd eliminates those issues.

Kevin Gray used the original master tapes and this album is pure ear candy as a result. His choice of EQ really highlights the playing of what was/is Billy Joel's best band ever:

Liberty DeVitto: Drums
Doug Stegmeyer: Drums
David Brown: Lead Guitars
Russell Javors: Rhythm Guitars
Richie Cannata: Saxophones, Flutes & Keyboards

The low end has more punch and definition without sounding overbearing. The guitars chime through the mix and the keyboard work of Billy & Richie (yes he played quite a bit of stuff besides just "fills") sounds clear as a bell. In particular, the guitars carry some serious bite on "All For Leyna" and "Close To The Borderline".

I'm not going to go into the technical terms of mastering because that stuff is left to the professionals. I will conclude in saying this cd sounds wonderful and sounds ever better at high volume.

This is a limited edition so go snag it before it goes out print. You'll not regret purchasing this disc. Audio Fidelity hit one out of the park. The sound of this cd is fantastic.

For a very pricey 'gold' cd the remastering on this release is very poor. All the detail that was there on the 1998 remaster is gone and in it's place is a muffled sound rather like someone has placed a pillow against the speaker. I would be very careful with these Audio Fidelity releases. They've now taken off the legend " From the original mastertapes" off the cover packaging and you therefore have to wonder what source they've been using. It seems that in the rush to release as many albums onto this format AF seem to use any source they can find. This was the case with a Simon and Garfunkel release where many Amazon reviewers had noted the source used was an old 1980's cd!! So stick with the 1998 remaster which at least has used the origianl mastertapes.

What are these guys that give this reissue 5 stars on?The sound of this release by AF sounds aboslutly very very bad. Murky, dark, veiled, flat, no top, no bottom, no midts. It sounds bad, bu any standard. Period. AF release bad sounding reissues without exception. I will NEVER buy a AF cd again. The Sony remaster for 1/4 of the price sound much better.