BILLY JOEL The Stranger

Coincidentally, the same week that the title track of one of the year s biggest sellers and most acclaimed albums Bat Out of Hell, was released as a single, so too Billy Joel s title track to his turning point LP The Stranger was also released in Australia. The former managed to get to, 26, while the latter only managed, 59. The Stranger album was a work of art from start to finish. The hit single Just the way you are is a classic, whilst tracks such as Only the good die young. Moving Out She s always a woman and Scenes from an Italian Restaurant helped make this album one of the best selling of the year, and indeed one of the best loved of the decade. I especially admire the Phil Ramone production on the album and this track, is filled with quintessential Billy Joel elements a killer arrangement, a kick ass but at times sensitive vocal, a melody eminently hummable, and a haunting lyric, whilst still