How a near-career-ending failure became Columbia Records' most successful album of all time
In short: After his 1976 album Turnstiles flopped, Billy Joel faced the threat of being dropped by Columbia Records. He gambled on a new producer and his own touring band to create The Stranger. The result was a massive commercial breakthrough that eventually surpassed Simon and Garfunkel in total sales.
By the mid-1970s, Billy Joel was struggling to maintain his standing at Columbia Records. His 1976 release, Turnstiles, peaked at number 122 on the Billboard 200, leaving the label ready to cut ties. Joel, dissatisfied with the polished sound of his earlier work, was determined to capture the raw, high-energy feel of his touring band—bassist Doug Stegmeyer, drummer Liberty DeVitto, and multi-instrumentalist Richie Cannata—in the studio. When legendary Beatles producer George Martin insisted on using session musicians instead of Joel's band, Joel declined the partnership.
He eventually connected with Phil Ramone, a producer who appreciated the band's unique chemistry. The pair met at an Italian restaurant near Carnegie Hall, a location that inspired the track Scenes from an Italian Restaurant. Recorded over three weeks in the summer of 1977, the album featured nine songs, including the title track, which incorporated a rhythm Joel discovered on a drum machine. Despite initial hesitation from Joel, who dismissed Just the Way You Are as a gloopy ballad, Ramone pushed for its inclusion. The song later won Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 1979 Grammy Awards.
The album's success was bolstered by controversy and television appearances. Only the Good Die Young, inspired by a high school crush, became a hit after religious groups called for it to be banned, which only increased its appeal to rebellious youth. Meanwhile, a performance on Saturday Night Live in February 1978 propelled Just the Way You Are to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Stranger ultimately achieved Diamond certification, selling over 10 million units worldwide. It remains a cornerstone of Joel's career, with tracks like Vienna and Scenes from an Italian Restaurant becoming essential staples of his live performances.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Stranger (album)
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