The Stranger rocketing Billy Joel to stardom in 1978. The songwriter, a tough kid from Queens and one-time suicidal depressive, brought just the right amount of pain to a set that toned down the customary Broadway pop to verge on introspection. His fanbase lapped it up, unable to resist Joel’s crisp piano playing. Vienna is the highlight, but the hit Just The Way You Are has curdled somewhat.

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