A story-telling expert | Billy Joel - The Stranger

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Plouffe, listen to Jamie's next pick, Billy Joel's The Stranger. Released in 1977, The Stranger was a Hail Mary from Billy Joel to save his recording contract with Columbia. After his inexplicable rise to fame with Piano Man in 1973, his subsequent releases were lukewarmly received by both critics and the general public. Searching for a solution, he turned to his touring band and veteran producer Phil Ramone to cut this album in little over a month in 1977. The result was his breakthrough, with four singles charting, and it garnered two Grammy awards. Retrospective reviews have called it Billy Joel's best work, including Rolling Stone, which named it variously the 67th, 70th and 169th of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. But where will this album be placed on Vinyl Verdict's list? Come along and find out!