In 1977, Joel's fifth and best album replaced Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water as Columbia Records' top seller to date, establishing Joel as a titan of adult contemporary — America's answer to Elton John. The Stranger also marked the beginning of Joel's long-term collaboration with producer Phil Ramone, who distilled the Piano Man's music to its essence: a hook-packed blend...

I guess just the cumulative effect of this war. We've been there longer than World War II. I've been getting mail from service people over there, and with the holidays coming on made this thing just popped out.

Was there a certain letter that sparked it and made you sit down and start writing?

It was a couple of letters. There seemed to be a similar theme running through the letters, which was a sense of alienation from the home front. I...