Type: Lyrics are included with the album, Enhanced CD-ROM
Genre: Rock
Review
Joel caused a stampede for high school social science classes with the patter song "We Didn't Start The Fire," a cross between Gilbert And Sullivan and rock 'n' roll that listed events in the news over the last 40 years, broken up by chants of the title. "I Go To Extremes" was a confession of emotional instability set to a strong melody and a rocking beat. There were also minor entries, such as "The Downeaster 'Alexa'," which was about Long Island fishermen, and "Shameless," which Garth Brooks turned into a country smash. And, as usual, there was about a side's worth of worthless filler. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
Billy Joel (Organ), Billy Joel (Synthesizer), Billy Joel (Clarinet), Billy Joel (Percussion), Billy Joel (Piano), Billy Joel (Accordion), Billy Joel (Clarinet (Contrabass)), Billy Joel (Composer), Billy Joel (Harpsichord), Billy Joel (Keyboards), Billy Joel (Organ (Hammond)), Billy Joel (Vocals), Billy Joel (Vocals (Background)), Billy Joel (Clavinet), Billy Joel (Producer), Billy Joel (Main Performer), Mick Jones (Guitar), Mick Jones (Vocals (Background)), Mick Jones (Producer), Ian Lloyd (Vocals (Background)), The Memphis Horns (Horn Section), Dom Cortese (Accordion), Tom Lord-Alge (Mixing), Chuck Arnold (Leader), Chuck Arnold (Vocals (Background)), Chuck Arnold (Choir Director), Don Brooks (Harmonica), Tim Crich (Assistant Engineer), Tim Crich (Assistant), Patricia Darcy (Vocals (Background)), Liberty DeVitto (Percussion), Liberty DeVitto (Drums), Schuyler Deale (Bass), David Dorn (Assistant Engineer), David Dorn (Assistant), Jay Healy (Engineer), Jay Healy (Mixing), Hicksville High School Chorus (Vocals (Background)), Hicksville High School Chorus (Choir, Chorus), Joey Hunting (Guitar), Wayne Jackson (Horn), Wayne Jackson (Horn Section), Jeff Jacobs (Synthesizer), Jeff Jacobs (Keyboards), Jeff Jacobs (Vocals (Background)), Jeff Jacobs (Horn Arrangements), Ted Jensen (Mastering), Ted Jensen (Remastering), Ted Jensen (Digital Remastering), Kevin Jones (Keyboards), Kevin Jones (Programming), Kevin Jones (Producer), Brenda White-King (Vocals (Background)), Curtis King (Vocals (Background)), Doug Kleeger (Sound Effects), Andrew Love (Horn), Andrew Love (Horn Section), John Mahoney (Keyboards), John Mahoney (Programming), John Mahoney (Keyboard Programming), Arif Mardin (Arranger), Arif Mardin (Orchestral Arrangements), Richard Marx (Vocals (Background)), Sammy Merendino (Percussion), Sammy Merendino (Electronic Percussion), Sammy Merendino (Electric Percussion), Lenny Pickett (Saxophone), Joe Pirrera (Assistant Engineer), Joe Pirrera (Assistant), Brian Ruggles (Vocals (Background)), Crystal Taliefero (Percussion), Crystal Taliefero (Vocals (Background)), Bill Zampino (Arranger), Bill Zampino (Choir Arrangement), Joe Lynn Turner (Vocals (Background)), Tim White (Photography), Dave Brown (Guitar), Christopher Austopchuk (Art Direction), Frank Ockenfels (Photography), Frank Ockenfels (Cover Photo), Gary Solomon (Assistant Engineer), Gary Solomon (Assistant), Lenny Picket (Saxophone), Patty d'Arcy (Vocals (Background)), Elicia Ho (Make-Up), Elicia Ho (Hair Stylist), Suzanne Hollander (Assistant Engineer), Suzanne Hollander (Assistant), Frank Floyd (Vocals (Background)), Dana Becker (Assistant Engineer), Dana Becker (Assistant), Garth Condit (Stylist), John Naatjes (Tape Research), Jim Miner (Production Coordination), David Brown (Guitar), David Brown (Soloist), David Brown (MIDI Guitar), Michiko Suzuki (Liner Notes), Kevin "KAcey" Jones (Keyboard Programming)
Storm Front is the eleventh studio album by Billy Joel and his first to be recorded digitally. Released in 1989. (see 1989 in music). The album featured one of Joel's three #1 hits, "We Didn't Start the Fire", a fast-paced song mentioning some of the major historical events that took place in his time. "I Go to Extremes", a song describing the ups and downs of his life, placed at #6. Other songs that placed in the top 100 were "And So It Goes" (#37), "The Downeaster 'Alexa'" (#57), and "That's Not Her Style" (#77). The cover depicts a storm warning flag.
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 U.S. country charts, and also entered the UK Singles Chart.
Paul Anka covered "I Go to Extremes" on his 2007 album Classic Songs; My Way.
Keyboards: Billy Joel, John Mahoney, Jeff Jacobs, Kevin Jones
Harmonica: Don Brooks
Horns: Wayne Jackson, Andrew Love, The Memphis Horns
Accordion: Dom Cortese
String & Horn Arrangements by Jeff Jacobs, Arif Mardin & Bill Zampino
Backing Vocals: Richard Marx, Crystal Taliefero, Brenda White-King, Ian Lloyd, Brian Ruggles, Curtis King, Mick Jones, Hicksville High School Chorus, Patty D'Arcy, Chuck Arnold
