The Stranger

J'aime trop cet album. Vienna est dans mon top 100 sons all time. Mais ce sera pas un 5 parce qu'il y a qlq sons en dessous ou qui sont pas du tout mon style (surtout Only the Good Die Young qui me sort de l'album, je pense que le même album avec ce son en moins c'est un 5). Mais l'enchainement des 5 premiers sons c'est très très fort. 1) Vienna 2) Just the way you are 3) Scenes from an italian restaurant

There are seven five star songs on here. However, there are a number of cheesy arrangement choices throughout to (successfully) increase commercial appeal, making it impossible for me to give it a 5. 4.5 for the cheese factor.

Someone in my family died recently. Yesterday we went to their house to sort through their things. We looked through their huge record collection, decided which ones we’d keep, which we’d give away. We found this album and put it on the “to keep” pile. Today the generator gave this album to me. It’s strange how the universe does little things like this. I listened to it on the coach journey home and cried. This will be an emotional rating and I don’t care. Tell your people you love them.

Perfect. Great mix of romance, rock, ballads, and poetry.

I only know Billy Joel from I Didn't Start The Fire ... and now I know why. Empty-headed, tuneless, overly-sentimental nonsense with irridemably terrible saxophones.

Weirdly nostalgic one for me. I think an aunt bought me this when I was too young to know what the lyrics were about. I haven't listened to it in an age. The good ones are still good, the schmaltzy ones a bit much. It just about gets a four.

beauuutiful wow. i had only heard billy joel on piano man which of course is a fantastic song, but i thought of him therefore as a one hit wonder. this album is so smooth, and with so many interesting turns, great production, billys amazing voice and wonderful instrumentals. so far the best album i have heard for the first time via this list

Not too bad, some classics songs I don't mind

- nagyon szeret fütyürészni + Movin out +++ Everybody has a dream

3/4

Hullamzo album, de meglepett.

Meglepően forradalmi!

Nagyon jól indul, aztán ellaposodik. Érdekes a 70-80-as évek átmenet. Movin’ out modern és catchy Edit: vissza-visszatérek az első 2 számhoz, muszáj 4-est adnom, mert hiába vegyes, de néhány szám nagyon erős, és emiatt jobbat érdemel.

Jo elso fele, kicsit felejthetobb masodik fele (foleg a lassabb szamokkal), de amugy nem zavaro egyaltalan. A szaxofon se. 7/10 Fav: Movin' out (Anthony's song), The stranger, Scenes from an Italian

10/10

Forever a 5 star album.

I've insisted for 20+ years that I detest everything Billy Joel... but after REALLY enjoying this album from start to finish yesterday, I seriously began to question my reality, so I listened to a few more albums to find the Billy Joel I hate. Turnstiles? Pretty Great. 52nd Street? Also good. An Innocent Man? Yep. There it is. It's the sound that makes my skin crawl. That's what I've thought Billy Joel was... wait for it... for The Longest Time. Sorry, I couldn't help it. Sorry, Billy Joel. It turns out you're better than I realized.

OMFG Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)→10/10 The Stranger→10/10 Just the Way You are→10/10 Scenes from an Italian Restaurant→10/10 Vienna→10/10 Only the Good Die Young→9/10 She's Always a Woman→10/10 Get It Right the First time→10/10 Everybody Has a Dream→9/10 best→ Scenes from an Italian Restaurant worst→ Only the Good Die Young overrated→ Vienna underrated→ Everybody Has a Dream overall→100/100 It’s absolutely deserving of being called a classic. Joel’s signature style “catchy yet emotional songwriting” is on full display, and there‘s no skips on the album. It’s strange how it feels so cohesive even though the tracklist mixes upbeat songs with more subdued ones.

#300/1001 🇺🇸 I knew more of this than expected. Billy Joel has never been on my radar as an artist to get into but there are some great tracks here. It comes over a bit schmaltzy in parts but its largely an enjoyable listen. Best Tracks: Just the Way You Are, Always A Woman, Vienna, Scenes From an Italian Restaurant.

Idk Vienna's nice i guess

One word to describe this album is cheesy….Despite that I liked it quite a bit 🥺 To be honest, every song sounded the same to me at first but once I listened again, I found they all had a unique vibe that complemented each other & worked to form the overall feel of the album Despite a few questionable parts(whats up with the whistling?😅)i was really able to get into this album and I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I expected to. This served as a reminder to myself to go over things a couple times to before solidifying my final opinion, whether it’s music or any form of media. Favorite song: The Stranger(title track) Honorable mentions: Just the way you are, Vienna, & Get it right the first time Overall I think this is a fun listen & I will be playing again😊

Goed album. Voor mij iets te zoetsappig. Bevat de hit 'Always a woman)

This was awesome. I'm listening to this as I leave NYC on a train which is the perfect backdrop. Joel's songwriting, vocals, and backing band are all excellent. This album really takes you to another world.

5/10

Really fun! Not quite my thing for regular listens, but definitely something to come back to when in the right mood

Another surprising gem of an album! I knew of Billy Joel of course, but I did not expect this to impress me as much as it did. Rich and occasionally sultry while also maintaining some playful melodies, it felt like I was the guest of honour at some lively mansion party. The instrumentals were pleasantly dynamic and had a lot going on, in particular that twinkling piano.

Friday, 30 October, 2026 Billy Joel’s best album. Full of hits. He is a tremendous song writer.

The Stranger is kind of a masterclass in pop songwriting. It's got ballads, rockers, and lots of little memorable things - the whistling in the title track, "ack-ack-ack" - that just get in your brain and don't let go. There's also a bit of traditional pop feel to this, and that plus its classic songs makes the album feel like it's something that's always existed. So it's a shame to say the album just lacks that certain something to push it over the top. I wouldn't go so far as calling it sterile, but it does so many styles that it kind of lacks character of its own. "Movin' Out" and "Scenes" are both great. I'm less of a fan of the ballads, which can feel a little lifeless. And the closing track is dramatic bordering on corny. Great highlights but as an album it just doesn't quite come together.

i found this at a thrift store a few days ago and i didnt get it cause i already have it but i still regret it

Great

Mid de ouf j'ai trouvé

Talented pianist and song writer

Not a Billy Joel fan, but this is a well-made and enjoyable album. Strong associations with a Christmas visit in Delaware with the Hellmanns (J, J, A, and H) give it a little glow for me.

This was a somewhat similar listening experience to Elton John, in that my excitement for the album declined a bit by the end. During the first half, I was thinking: every song has an appealing groove, rhythmic elements are getting attention to detail in addition to melodic ones, and the singing is nice. By the end, however, I was more familiar with what he's capable of and felt like I had heard one too many piano ballads, whether it was the intro or the entire song. Still, this was markedly higher in quality than Elton John in my opinion, and I'm confident to at least give it a higher 3, and I could see arguments for a light 4

I received this album for Christmas 1978 (or was it '77, or '79?); and not as a fluke - I think I'd expressed interest in it. It was the Christmas my parents, brother, and I spent in Delaware, with Uncle Joe and Aunt Jane and my cousins. (The adults, as I recall, were listening to Chuck Mangione's "Feels So Good" album.) Anyway, today, the album's a bit beat-up (just like me, lol), but I still have it. (There was probably a period in my 20s, when liking this album felt like a slightly guilty pleasure, but I got over that.) I never felt the need to own anything else by Billy Joel, though, and am not particularly a fan of his work (other than this album), but am very glad to have gotten to know this one. I don't think I can quite give it a 5, but for sure it gets a 4 from me. Actually, now that I've listened through all 9 tracks again, I recall that the last 2 (tracks 8 and 9, a/k/a the last 2 tracks on side 2) are a bit weaker than the others, which makes me suspect that, if I hadn't owned this album since I was a teenager, and was listening to it for the first time now, it's possible (maybe even likely) that I would only have given it 3 stars. As it is, though? 4 stars.

I'm amazed that I recognize almost all of these songs despite never seeking out Billy Joel's music. It's like a greatest hits album. And yet it's not too long. At this point, any album under 45 minutes has earned my favor immediately. Each song delivers a poignant (if trite) message. There's nothing about the style that appeals to me particularly, but it is well-executed pop music, full of pathos.

Really good album. Probably Billy Joel's best album. Multiple hits on here and outside of those the songs are still really good. With some slow songs and upbeat songs.

I had low expectations. I respect Billy Joel as an artist, but I've never been drawn to his music. Much better than I thought.

This is a good album. Every song is good. Billy Joel is timeless.

The Stranger é um retrato extraordinário do amadurecimento no mundo urbano contemporâneo, atravessado pelas contradições entre desejo, solidão, expectativas sociais e a busca por identidade. Billy Joel transforma as inquietações da vida adulta em canções que revelam a complexidade das relações humanas e a dificuldade de conciliar aquilo que somos com aquilo que esperamos nos tornar. Entre a melancolia, a ironia e a vulnerabilidade, o álbum compreende que amadurecer não significa necessariamente encontrar respostas, mas aprender a conviver com as próprias ambiguidades.

I listened to this album so much growing up. I can look at the track list and sing all but the last two songs, just by looking at the titles. Is one hit after another. Classic for a reason. He never topped this one. 4.5 that I’m going to round up to 5 based on the song Vienna.

We're currently on at least the third full generation of middle-class east coast white guys who all love Billy Joel. [i'm-in-this-photo-and-i-don't-like-it meme] jk Billy, luv you forever

good

I like vienna alot, especially the story behind the song. The fact that Billy Joel went to Europe to meet his starnged father and saw a women sweeping in the streets and felt bad but his father explained that this task gives her purpose. There a some good song in this album that i bop my head to, definetely an album i could just randomly vibe to.

Bedre midt på natta på gløshaugen enn på en sliten biltur hjem fra Kjøbenhavn. Likt herre veldig godt, mye koseligere å bare slapp av med det. Vienna sende mæ alltid tebake te Interrail, RIP klokka mi, får håp den fikses en gang i tia så æ kan gå rundt med vennan min på arma igjen.

Sind ein paar richtig coole Tracks bei.

I wouldn't say I'm a huge Billy Joel fan, I've never listened to an album of his part from this one. Funny just how many of his songs I know just from absorbing the pop culture around me. Sang along to a few tunes on this album, quite fun.

A few singalongs here

I have never really understood Billy Joel apart from We Didnt Start the Fire. Penny kinda dropped with this album and there is some great songwriting/ tunes on this album. Its very 70's family friendly MOR type stuff so not a 5 for me but I can see now why he sold out Madison Square Gardens every week for 10 years.

Just what you would expect from a Billy Joel album - middle of the road, couple of sing-alongs, couple of grandma ballads, couple of numbers overdone at weddings, acknowledgement of talented song writing, and an embarrassment that you actually quite liked it a little bit.

Its Billy Joel, what's there not to like. A full day of listening to this album on repeat and drinking tea while watching the yellow leaves on the trees fall. Awesome.

Well this was really cool.

A solid, career-redeeming fifth album from the all time American treasure.

I really tried to bracket out my distaste for Billy Joel and give this a fair listen. His upbeat pop-r&b songs are undeniably well-written, but there's so much Long Island kitch here it really drags the record down. Feels like the kinda album you can only love if you drink at noon (or have a dad who did).

perfect

Unexpectedly good! Has enough groove and soul to feel intentional but still enough rock to keep things moving along at a good clip

5 stars BRO

It was OK though a bit of yawnfest. Pretty much the only song I like from Billy Joel is Goodnight Saigon which isn't on this album.

A generally fine, inoffensive singer-songwriter piano record. For some reason the "heartattack ack ack ack" is hilarious to me and always makes me laugh.

Awesome album with many classic tracks.

As a white girl in my 20s I love Vienna. Absolute banger of an album

Billy Joel!!! What can I say, I really like billy Joel, he has a wonderful voice and his piano is always on point. Vienna and She’s always a women are wonderful songs but I also really like the opener as well. I feel like I might be a bit biased bc I’ve heard a lot of these songs before but I really like this album. 4.665/5

This is a heck of a lot better than I thought it was gonna be. I associate Billy Joelle with his 80s pop music, but this 70s stuff is class. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant was my favourite.

Understandably a top 1000 album. Talented musician and performer. Not really the music that wows me though.

Doesn't this guy play piano or something? It's probably important that I listen to Billy Joel, considering he's one of the most beloved musicians around, but I've never really had any strong opinions toward his music. It's not exceptionally good, but it's not awful either. Now that I've actually given an album of his a proper listen, I can say that he's definitely good at making pop songs. I like the guitar on songs like "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)," and the way the title track is bookended by some softer whistling is really cool. "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" is a song that I've heard OF, but never actually HEARD before listening to this album. I see why it's a hit, though! I love the progression and the storytelling on that song. In fact, I love the storytelling on most of these songs. There are some songs that I just find kinda boring, though, like "Just the Way You Are" or "Get It Right the First Time." I also really don't like the saxophone solos on this album for whatever reason. They're just way over-the-top and cheesy for my liking. Decent album overall, though. ----- #0026 Heard on: 16 Oct. 2026 Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (155 / 346) Favorite track: Scenes From an Italian Restaurant Least favorite track: Just the Way You Are

Much more fun than I thought it would be. I can only imagine Billy Joel as an older man so wasn’t expecting to enjoy this so much. Good singalong songs and just really fun pop/piano led rock. Top tracks: Only the Good Die Young, Movin’ Out: (Anthony’s Song), She’s Always a Woman

На самом деле Мега вайб, надо переслушать

Classic

Loved it

it's good n all but i was very tired when i listened to it

Enjoyed this

Really enjoyed this. Lots of hits.

enjoyed this a lot more than i expected

Great pop album, bunch of iconic songs.

Billy writes the hits! I’d never listened to scenes from an Italian Restaurant before. What a great portrait.

So… this is Billy Joel. Possibly interesting at the time of release but I found this thoroughly dull. Certainly didn’t start any fires burning in me to want to listen to more of his output. I’ve already forgotten what the album sounded like…

This made me realise I enjoy songs with stories (which probably explains my prog leanings).

Billy joel 🐐'd album All the hits are great and the songs in-between are so good. No idea what that album covers about tho

Billy Joel is an undeniably talented composer of popular music who, from reasons I can’t even really explain, has always grated on me. I really don’t like the schmaltzy showtune-esque quality to most of his work. That being said, this album has Scenes from an Italian Restaurant and Vienna which are the two songs of his that I enjoy quite a bit.

this was so nice

6,5 country bonne vibe

Fun and inventive

Amazing album

Liked it more than I expected

It is like a greatest hits album. Such good songwriting and storytelling

I haven't listened to loads of Billy Joel but Movin' Out and Vienna have always been my favourite songs of his, and the rest of the album is decent.

Stand-out tracks: Movin' Out, The Stranger, Just the Way You Are, Vienna, Get It Right the First Time A perfect late night listen. I especially enjoy how pleasant the piano is on some tracks. It is a nice blend of more energetic and mellow songs, the latter being ones I prefer. The only track that is kind of a miss for me is Scenes from an Italian Restaurant as it is far too drawn-out in my opinion.

Highlights: everything This is one of those records that I consider immaculate. There isn't a single dud. No track in particular is a bore, even after a dozen listens. Looking at it now, it's amazing how this is his only record on the list. Not that I know if they are any good, I haven't listened to any other, but he can't be that popular for no reason. Oh well... The performances are so good and they never get stale, even in the slower parts, which sure are plentiful. There's a nice balance between a mellow and a playful sound which is something that is often messed up. His vocals too were never monotonous. I often feel like the sound takes me to some place, but I'm not sure if it's NYC or Paris. Heck, Vienna doesn't sound Viennese at all, I always think how the accordion makes it French.

I fully expected to hate this album. Fair play to Billy Joel it's not bad

Classic Billy Joel

This started out promisingly enough with some real energy to the playing and a larger than life attitude, but it very quickly dissipated into, if this is even possible, background music which simultaneously got on my nerves. It all began feeling very samey with each track feeling less engaging than the last until I'd had enough.

I found this album a bit fluffy. I think Billy Joel is great at story telling but it just was a bit too much for me in the way it was too on the nose.

“Luck has nothing to do with it. It's talent. Exit, stage right.” Yogi’s First Christmas (1980)

Billy Joel is a skilled manufacturer of sweet confections that delight at first but get cloying after the third or fourth bite. He’s a terrific artist to have in a mix nearly every song here is memorable but listening to them all at once gives me an upset stomach.

Honestly still pretty fun. Couple monster hits, sprinkling of fromage across the top for sure

Dritbra damn

love

Bra men ikke bangin' i min mening. 3 av 5

For as well known as he is, Bully Joy was a stranger to me, musically. Not after this listen though. Every song is a delight. 4/5

Just found out that billy joel had 22 boxing fights, in the Bronx might I add, maybe he really is schmoozy mr cool