An Innocent Man

by Billy Joel

Overview

Recording The Nylon Curtain exhausted Billy Joel, and even though it had a pair of major hits, it didn't rival its predecessors in terms of sales. Since he labored so hard at the record, he decided it was time for a break -- it was time to record an album just for fun. And that's how his homage to pre-Beatles pop, An Innocent Man, was conceived: it was designed as a breezy romp through the music of his childhood. Joel's grasp on history isn't remarkably astute -- the opener "Easy Money" is a slice of Stax/Volt pop-soul, via the Blues Brothers (quite possibly the inspiration for the album), and the label didn't break the pop charts until well after the British Invasion -- but he's in top form as a craftsman throughout the record. Only once does he stumble on his own ambition ("This Night," which appropriates its chorus from Beethoven). For the rest of the record, he's effortlessly spinning out infectious, memorable melodies in a variety of styles, from the Four Seasons send-up "Uptown Girl" and the soulful "Tell Her About It" to a pair of doo wop tributes, "The Longest Time" and "Careless Talk." Joel has rarely sounded so carefree either in performance or writing, possibly due to "Christie Lee" Brinkley, a supermodel who became his new love prior to An Innocent Man. He can't stop writing about her throughout the album -- only three songs, including the haunted title track, aren't about her in some form or fashion. That giddiness is infectious, helping make An Innocent Man an innocent delight that unwittingly closes Joel's classic period. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	07/11/2025
Label:	Sony Legacy
UPC:	0196587008116

Tracks

1. Easy Money
2. An Innocent Man
3. The Longest Time
4. This Night
5. Tell Her About It
6. Uptown Girl
7. Careless Talk
8. Christie Lee
9. Leave a Tender Moment Alone
10. Keeping the Faith

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Billy Joel   Primary Artist,Organ,Piano,Vocals,Harmonica,Keyboards,Lead Vocals,Synthesizer,Fender Rhodes,Organ (Hammond),Vocals (Background)
Michael Brecker   Guest Artist,Saxophone,Sax (Tenor)
Ronnie Cuber   Guest Artist,Saxophone,Sax (Baritone)
Ralph MacDonald   Guest Artist,Percussion
Jon Faddis   Guest Artist,Trumpet
David Sanborn   Guest Artist,Saxophone,Sax (Alto)
Eric Gale   Guest Artist,Horn,Guitar,Strings,Guitar (Electric)
Toots Thielemans   Guest Artist,Soloist,Harmonica
Mike Alexander   Vocals (Background),Vocals
John Gatchell   Trumpet
Tom Bahler   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Rory Dodd   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Mark Rivera   Vocals,Saxophone,Percussion,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor),Vocals (Background)
Eric Troyer   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Mark Rivers   Soloist,Sax (Alto)
Ron Taylor   Vocals,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Liberty DeVitto   Drums,Percussion
Dominic Cortese   Accordion
Michael Alexander   Vocals
Dave Brown   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Finest Hour   Strings
Joseph J. Shepley   Trumpet
Ullanda McCullough   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Terry Textor   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Bill Zampino   Percussion
David Brian Brown   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Charles McCracken   Cello
Lani Groves   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Eddie Daniels   Wind
David Matthews   Horn
Joe Shepley   Horn,Trumpet
Leon Pendarvis   Organ,Organ (Hammond)
Russell Javors   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Frank Floyd   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Rob Mounsey   Synthesizer
Doug Stegmeyer   Bass,Bass (Electric)
Richard Tee   Organ,Piano

Technical Credits

Tom Bahler   Vocal Arrangement
Jen Wyler   Authoring
Mark Larson   Cover Design
Gilles Larrain   Photography
Michael Allaire   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Laura Loncteaux   Production Coordination
Bill Zampino   Advisor,Music Advisor
John Naatjes   Tape Research
Patrick Demarchelier   Photography
Mike Maire   Assistant Engineer
Christopher Austopchuk   Cover Design
Ted Jensen   Remastering,Digital Remastering
Billy Joel   Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Performer
Scott James   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
David Matthews   Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Phil Ramone   Producer
Jim Boyer   Mixing,Engineer
Bradshaw Leigh   Engineer
Ludwig van Beethoven   Composer