The Stranger (album) - Definition and Overview

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.

Track listing

all songs by Billy Joel

1. "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" - 3:30
2. "The Stranger" - 5:10
3. "Just the Way You Are" - 4:50
4. "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" - 7:37
5. "Vienna" - 3:34
6. "Only the Good Die Young" - 3:55
7. "She's Always a Woman" - 3:21
8. "Get It Right the First Time" - 3:57
9. "Everybody Has a Dream" - 9:08

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 - accordian 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"