Billy Joel – The Stranger

The Stranger is the fifth studio album by American singer Billy Joel, released 1977.
Billy Joel's first collaboration with producer Phil Ramone.
From the time of its release in 1977 until 1985, The Stranger was Columbia Records’ biggest selling album.

Joel's fifth album, released in September of 1977, and Joel's breakthrough album, as well as Joel's first collaboration with producer Phil Ramone, with whom he would work on every studio album until 1989's Storm Front. A massive success upon release, the album reached #2 on the Billboard Charts, won 2 Grammys, and transformed Joel's status in the public eye from a one-hit wonder to a hitmaker. Certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (their highest certification), from the time of its release until 1985, The Stranger was Columbia Records’ biggest selling album: the album has also been named one of the 500 greatest albums of all time by influential music publication Rolling Stone.

The album closer, "Everybody Has A Dream", is notable for having been written around the time of Cold Spring Harbor but not released on that album. The original demo has not seen an official release and has only been available on bootlegs.

The Stranger spawned a Top 5 hit ("Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II. Early promo videos were created for "Just The Way You Are" and "The Stranger" from live performances.

Along with the rest of Joel's catalogue, the album was remastered and re-released in 1998, including a multimedia component that included four live videos.

A 30th Anniversary Legacy Edition released in 2008 which includes a second disc containing a live concert from Carnegie Hall recorded on June 3, 1977. A deluxe version was also released including a DVD which contained the two promo videos as well as a 1978 appearance on the BBC program The Old Grey Whistle Test and documentary on the making of the album. A Best Buy exclusive edition also included a 3rd disc including a second live concert from Nassau Coliseum recorded in December of 1977.