About this episode

Liberty DeVitto discusses his journey as a drummer for Billy Joel and their collaborative successes.

Hired when Billy Joel wanted “a New York-style drummer,” Liberty DeVitto laid down indelible parts for the singer-songwriter-pianist’s music from 1976’s Turnstiles onward. In part one of a lively two-part conversation, this big-talent, big-personality drummer takes us from his early years, when his and Joel’s teenage bands crossed paths, through their shared success with The Stranger, 52nd Street, Glass Houses, The Nylon Curtain and An Innocent Man . Which Joel song does DeVitto call “the hardest to play and be happy about it”? How did Joel introduce and develop songs with the band? What impact did producer Phil Ramone’s arrival have? On which song did Ramone and DeVitto butt heads over a disco beat? How did the band arrive at the jazz interludes on “Zanzibar”? How much were they listening to the punk/New Wave of the time? Which Nylon Curtain song may be DeVitto’s favorite by Joel? What circumstances drove Joel’s hit throwback album An Innocent Man ?

People in this episode

Host: Mark Caro

Guest: Liberty DeVitto

Topics covered

• Billy Joel
• drumming
• music production
• collaboration
• songwriting
• New York music scene

Keywords

• Liberty DeVitto
• Billy Joel
• drummer
• music history
• The Stranger
• An Innocent Man
• Phil Ramone
• Zanzibar
• Nylon Curtain

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Turnstiles, The Stranger, 52nd Street, Glass Houses, The Nylon Curtain, An Innocent Man, Zanzibar, Nylon Curtain

More episodes of Caropop

• Jason Ringenberg (Jason and the Scorchers/Still Standing) · July 16, 2026 · 1h 13m
• Glenn Morrow (Bar/None, Cry for Help) · July 9, 2026 · 56 min
• Liberty DeVitto (Billy Joel), Pt. 2 · July 2, 2026 · 46 min
• Rachel Lichtman · June 18, 2026 · 1h 14m

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