Thinking back to various moments in my music-centric existence, I’ve had personal encounters with nearly every major recorded format. Not only have I listened to and/or owned music on vinyl (78, 45, 33, and even 16 rpm), cassettes, CDs, and MP3s, but reel-to-reel tapes (1/4″ to 2″), 8-track cartridges, MiniDisc, and DAT too. Can’t say I’ve ever been anywhere near a wax cylinder though.

My first exposure to the 8-track tape arrived when my parents purchased a used 1976 Cadillac Coupe DeVille. This burgundy beauty came equipped with a deck, and though I’d seen 8-track cartridges in TV commercials, the player’s presence opened a strange, new world to me. The purchase of a few cartridges commenced via Columbia House (Frank Sinatra’s Greatest Hits Vol. 2 and Jethro Tull’s Aqualung are two that come to mind), but for family outings, the favorite title by far was Glass Houses by Billy Joel.

It’s hard for me to believe, but Glass Houses is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Released in March 1980, Joel’s now-classic album spent six weeks at number one, sold over 7 million copies, and by showing off his rock side, successfully shattered his reigning image as a balladeer.

The first single from the singer-songwriter’s seventh studio set was also its opening track, “You May Be Right.” Listening today, I can absolutely hear the song as an obvious homage to the Rolling Stones, but back then, the connection was totally lost on me. Joel even does his best Mick Jagger in the “You May Be Right” clip:

“You May Be Right” sat at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week in 1980. The song occupied the #7 spot the following week, enjoying a three-week visit. Joel’s first stop at the top came with the second single from Glass Houses, “It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me.” My family’s Caddy even had white-wall tires, proof that Glass Houses came along at the exact right time.

I hesitate to admit it, but I really only just noticed that Joel’s holding a rock in his right hand on the cover. I was too young to know the saying then (“People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”), but the cover art was also really reduced on the 8-track cartridge. With Joel clad in a black leather jacket and blue jeans, it looked like nothing more than a rocker pose to me. (As you can see to the right, there was no additional image on the other side of the cartridge to complete the narrative.)

Glass Houses has been remastered and reissued on 180 gram audiophile vinyl for its 30th anniversary. It’s the first installment in a planned Billy Joel album series from Friday Music, just in time for Joel’s longtime drummer to receive some owed royalties.

Purchase Billy Joel – “You May Be Right” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.