BILLY JOEL The Stranger (2024 UK/EU 9-track LP pressed on black vinyl. By the summer of 1977, Billy Joel had yet to secure the hits that would define his place at Columbia Records. That all changed when legendary producer Phil Ramone-impressed after seeing Joel and his band at Carnegie Hall-stepped in to record what became Joel's breakthrough album. The Stranger showcases nine songs that capture Joel's wide-ranging influences, from the swaggering rock of "Movin' Out"and the doo-wop swing of "Only the Good Die Young," to the cinematic storytelling of "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" and the heartfelt ballad "Just the Way You Are." The result was a career-making record that remains one of the most celebrated albums in Billy Joel's catalogue. Picture sleeve with original cover artwork, factory sealed. Recommended)
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