Billy Joel on The Stranger

IN 1977, BILLY Joel was struggling to catch a break. The Long Island native was approaching 30, and had released four albums to no great response – the highest he had reached on the charts was Number 27, with 1973's Piano Man. He was, he says, on the verge of getting dropped by his label, Columbia Records. Yet when Beatles producer George Martin expressed interest in working with Joel on his next record, the singer passed, insisting that he record with his touring band rather than use session players.