Billy Joel - The Stranger
This 1977 release from Billy Joel may have been his fifth album, but it was his most commercially successful and biggest seller, aside from a greatest hits collection. The Stranger has sold over 12 million copies worldwide. That in itself is no surprise when you look at the track listing.
It Includes great singles like Just the Way You Are", "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)," "She's Always a Woman," and "Only the Good Die Young." But then there are additional album tracks that are superb too. Joel still features "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" and "Vienna" on his live setlists now.
It would surely have been a number-one US chart album had it not been blocked by a phenomenal sound. Joel peaked at number two and was kept from the top by the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. It’s not a complete consolation but Joel did pick up two Grammy Awards for “Just The Way You Are” from The Stranger.
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV
This album was released in 1971 without a title and became known as Led Zeppelin IV, their fourth studio album. There’s always debate over which album is a band’s best, that's no different here, but for many, this is a strong contender for Led Zeppelin. And no wonder, you only have to look at the track list to see lots of classic songs from the band there.
It also includes probably their best-known and signature song, “Stairway To Heaven,” although the crashing drums and relentless pace of “Rock and Roll” is a favorite for me. The album went on to be a best seller for the band, by a long way, at 37 million sales worldwide.
That makes it one of the top-selling albums of all time. But while it reached the top in the UK charts, it couldn't get there in the US. It was held to a peak of second place by There’s A Riot Goin’ On from Sly and The Family Stone.