The Stranger (album)
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The Stranger is the fifth studio album by Billy Joel, released in 1977 (see 1977 in music). While his four previous albums were moderately successful, this was his breakthrough album, peaking at #2 on the U.S. album charts. It remains Joel's best-selling non-compilation album to date. Much of the album's success is attributed to Joel's collaboration with producer Phil Ramone, whose innovative production methods complemented Joel's songs. This fruitful collaboration would continue for a decade.
Singles released from the album include "Just The Way You Are" (which won the Grammy for Record of the Year), the acoustic ballad "She's Always A Woman," the mildly controversial "Only The Good Die Young," and "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)," which later lent its title to Movin' Out, an acclaimed hit Broadway musical based on Billy Joel's songs.
This album overtook Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water album to become the best-selling album on the Columbia Records imprint at the time.
Generally regarded as Joel's finest work, in 2003, the album was ranked number 67 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Track listing
All songs by Billy Joel.
- "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" – 3:30
- "The Stranger" – 5:10
- "Just the Way You Are" – 3:36
- "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" – 7:37
- "Vienna" – 3:34
- "Only the Good Die Young" – 3:55
- "She's Always a Woman" – 3:21
- "Get It Right the First Time" – 3:57
- "Everybody Has a Dream" – 5:08
Personnel
- Billy Joel – acoustic piano, vocals, electric keyboards, synthesizers
- Doug Stegmeyer – bass guitar
- Liberty DeVitto – drums
- Richie Cannata – tenor and soprano saxophones, clarinet, flute, organ
- Steve Khan – six and twelve string electric guitars, acoustic rhythm guitar, high string guitar
- Hiram Bullock – electric guitar
- Patrick Williams – orchestration
- Ralph MacDonald – percussion on "The Stranger", "Just The Way You Are", "Get It Right The First Time" and "Everybody Has A Dream"
- Hugh McCracken – acoustic guitar on "Just The Way You Are", "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant", "She's Always A Woman", "Get It Right The First Time" and "Everybody Has A Dream"
- Steve Burgh – acoustic guitar on "Just The Way You Are" and "She's Always A Woman"; electric guitar on "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant"
- Phil Woods – alto saxophone on "Just The Way You Are"
- Dominic Cortese – accordion on "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" and "Vienna"
- Richard Tee – organ on "Everybody Has A Dream"
- Phoebe Snow – background vocals on "Everybody Has A Dream"
- Lani Groves – background vocals on "Everybody Has A Dream"
- Gwen Guthrie – background vocals on "Everybody Has A Dream"
- Patti Austin – background vocals on "Everybody Has A Dream"
Charts
Album — The Stranger
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | "Just The Way You Are" | Pop Singles | 3 |
| 1978 | "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" | Pop Singles | 17 |
| 1978 | "Only The Good Die Young" | Pop Singles | 24 |
| 1978 | "She's Always A Woman" | Pop Singles | 17 |
Awards
| Year | Winner | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Just the Way You Are | Record of the Year |
