“Just The Way You Are” was even granted the honour of an interpretation by Frank Sinatra, on his Trilogy album, released in 1980. Dozens more would accrue in the ensuing years, for a number that was named both Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards of 1979. Joel’s song attracted at least 15 other cover versions in 1978 alone, including interpretations by everyone from Johnny Mathis to Grover Washington Jr, Engelbert Humperdinck to Ray Conniff and from Dionne Warwick to Isaac Hayes. Unusually, too, that international success outstripped the domestic performance of White’s “Just The Way You Are.” The US single made the R&B chart in January 1979, but only reached No.45 and failed to cross over to the Hot 100. It landed at No.12 in late January, its 12-week sales span only outdone in his chart life there by the 14 weeks logged by his 1974 No.1 “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything.” When Billy Joels Just The Way You Are was already on its way to becoming an easy listening classic, Barry added his own much-loved version.
The cover opened at a modest No.61, but became Barry’s 13th Top 40 UK hit in just five and a half years, climbing steadily over the holiday and new year period.