The Cuts of Billy Squier / Ep. 63

2025-07-14

Billy Squier spent the ’70s in New York City, playing with the rock band Piper. They toured with Kiss. Squier released his first solo album in 1980, The Tale of the Tape. “The Big Beat” got some radio airplay. All of that changed with 1981’s Don’t Say No. I count eight songs that were played, either on pop radio or, to a greater frequency and depth, on rock radio of the 80s. Huge album. Billy Squier had made it. One ill-conceived video stopped - mostly - his career. But Squier hung around. Made mo...

Billy Squier spent the ’70s in New York City, playing with the rock band Piper. They toured with Kiss. Squier released his first solo album in 1980, The Tale of the Tape. “The Big Beat” got some radio airplay.

All of that changed with 1981’s Don’t Say No.

I count eight songs that were played, either on pop radio or, to a greater frequency and depth, on rock radio of the 80s.

Huge album. Billy Squier had made it.

One ill-conceived video stopped - mostly - his career.

But Squier hung around. Made more music before eventually essentially retiring from the music business.

His legacy? Complicated. We discuss.

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