Billy Joel entered 1977 with a great track record but in need of breakthrough. Pairing with producer Phil Ramone (Carly Simon, Simon & Garfunkel), who developed the requisite ingredients missing from Joel's formula, the singer-songwriter became a household name and chart-topping success courtesy of The Stranger. Ranked 67 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and certified ten-times platinum, Joel's artistic and commercial smash remains a pop-rock benchmark.
