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Billy Joel<\/a> admits he has Linda Ronstadt<\/a> to thank for one of his biggest hit songs.<\/p>\n Released in 1977, \u201cJust the Way You Are\u201d became Joel\u2019s first Top 10 single. The song peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and later earned the singer a pair of Grammy Awards \u2013 not bad, considering he originally wanted to leave it on the shelf.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn’t even want to put it on the album cuz I thought it was too mushy,\u201d Joel recalled during a recent conversation with Rick Beato<\/a>. \u201cAnd then we were in the studio. I thought it was too soft, too mushy. Linda Ronstadt and Phoebe Snow are in the studio and we played the song for them.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: Top 20 Billy Joel Songs<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Ronstadt and Snow happened to be recording in other studios located in the same building. When they stopped by to hear Joel\u2019s latest material, the singer noted that he didn\u2019t think much of his\u00a0recent creation.<\/p>\n \u201cI said, \u2018I don’t like this song that much,\u2019\u201d Joel remarked after playing \u201cJust the Way You Are.\u201d He was immediately met with a fierce reply.<\/p>\n \u201cLinda Ronstat goes, \u2018Are you out of your mind? That’s a hit record!” Joel recalled. “‘You got to put that on the album. That’s a great song.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Sure enough, Ronstadt was right. Released as the second single from 1977\u2019s The Stranger<\/a><\/em>, \u201cJust the Way You Are\u201d became a monumental success, helping propel the album to over 12 million sales in the U.S. alone.<\/p>\n \u201cShe talked me into it,” Joel noted with a smirk, thinking back on how close he was to dropping the track. \u201cSo, I have to thank Linda Ronstadt for that song.\u201d<\/p>\n From ‘Cold Spring Harbor’ to ‘River of Dreams,’ we run through the Piano Man’s LPs from worst to best.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Matt Springer<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nLinda Ronstadt\u00a0Demanded Billy Joel Release\u00a0‘Just the Way You Are’<\/h3>\n
Billy Joel Albums Ranked <\/h2>\n