On September 29, 1977, “Family Productions” label released “The Stranger” the fifth Billy Joel studio album. It was recorded July – August 1977, at “A&R Recording, Inc.” in New York City, and was produced by Phil Ramone. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “The Stranger” at number 70 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. The album became Joel’s critical and commercial breakthrough, and remains his best-selling non-compilation album to date. The album was certified 5 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in Hong Kong by “IFPI Hong Kong”; Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”, and Diamond in the US by “RIIA”.
Personnel:
- Billy Joel– vocals, acoustic piano, keyboards, synthesizers, Fender Rhodes
- Steve Khan– six and twelve string electric guitars, acoustic rhythm guitar, high string guitar
- Hiram Bullock– electric guitar
- Hugh McCracken– acoustic guitar
- Steve Burgh – acoustic and electric guitar
- Dominic Cortese – accordion
- Richard Tee– organ
- Doug Stegmeyer– bass guitar
- Liberty DeVitto– drums
- Ralph MacDonald– percussion
- Richie Cannata– tenor and soprano saxophones, clarinet, flute, organ, tuba
- Patrick Williams– orchestration
- Phil Woods– alto saxophone
- Phoebe Snow– backing vocals
- Lani Groves – backing vocals
- Gwen Guthrie– backing vocals
- Patti Austin– backing vocals
- Ted Jensen– mastering
Track listing:
All tracks by Billy Joel.
- Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)
- The Stranger
- Just the Way You Are
- Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
- Vienna
- Only the Good Die Young
- She’s Always a Woman
- Get It Right the First Time
- Everybody Has a Dream/The Stranger (reprise)
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