The Stranger

Very good album. Definitely prefer this nostalgic Americana to some of the rubbish he produced later on. Great songwriting and earnestly sung. Am hesitating between a 4 and a 5, but I think I'll go high to inflate the rating a bit. Best songs include Just The Way You Are, Vienna, Scenes From An Italian Restaurant, and She's Always A Woman. Got to appreciate the man's craft.

I really enjoyed this album, it's held up incredibly well from the 70s. Highlights: Movin' Out Scenes from an Italian Restaurant Vienna Only the Good Die Young She's Always a Woman

Different to what I was expecting. Not very "we didn't start the fire" like. Much better Some i quite enjoyed. Others passed me by. Overall I think not quite my thing, but not bad. Didn't know "she's always a woman" was by Billy Joel. Highlights: Vienna She's always a woman 3.5

Classic album, one that can be listened to or just 'on' and makes Best of 1001? No Worst of 1001? No But likely give it a 7/10

4 / 5 Come on Virginia -- Catholic girls start much too late only the good die young

There was a time in my life when I was really into Billy Joel—I enjoyed his songs on the radio and bought a couple of his albums. But over time, my interest in him waned. He somehow become too schmaltzy in my mind and perhaps just because I’d heard his songs so much, I lost interest. This was my first time listening to The Stranger in years, and it really is a great album. Track after track is a hit, and there are some standout moments—particularly for me, the piano solo 2/3s of the way through “Italian Restaurant.” I also have always loved the Satie-like intro to “The Stranger.” It’s hard to find any real faults with the album… And yet, I can’t bring myself to give it a 5/5. Perhaps because the songs are overplayed or I know them too well to be amazed—and those reasons wouldn’t really be his fault. But it think in the end, while it is undeniably a great album, it doesn’t transcend the way the other albums I’ve given 5/5 to do.

Neither here nor there for me.

I believe that The Stranger is quite a good album. The songs had a surprising amount of emotion to them and while even though a majority of the album was somber, it also had some fun, rocking songs as well. And there is not a bad song in sight. This album is pretty good for what it is Best Song: The Stranger Worst Song: Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)

Absolutely love Billy Joel and this album

Didn't realize I knew half the album before I listened. As a non fan I was surprised by 1) how many songs I knew and 2) the strength of a lot of the songwriting throughout. Not really my type of music but I can't deny the man has talent and his delivery is more often then not on point. I would give it a higher rating but I just don't feel like it was powerful enough for repeat listening at some point down the road.

Definitely some classics on here. Definitely some songs I really don’t like. Let’s split it and… 3 stars

wowzer

Solid rock album from the piano guy.

Some good bops, but you can’t top it if it has ‘Vienna’

Heart attack-ack-ack-ack/5

Enjoyed it

милый + вокал его чуть интереснее чем кажется сначала. пошла вспоминать, почему так много говорят про Билли Джоела в сериалах, попутно начиталась в реддите, что стренджер лучший альбом. не знаю, многое показалось устаревшим и даже обидным, но надо продолжить проверку)

Ok album then I listened to a load of his different songs after. Never gave him a chance before.

K: short discontinuous C: Some really good individual songs but not one of the better Billy albums

Not for me. Was never that keen on the singles when they charted, and those were the highlights of this album.

Good pop-rock album from the late 70s. Surprised at how much I liked Vienna, everything that wasn't already a hit single was otherwise filler.

Enjoyed more than I expected, as is well reflected by the reviews already here. I don't think I'd go back to it though.

Sorry, but I love this album.

These are undeniably super catchy songs, and the album is full of hits, but it's so cheesy. I can't bear it for too long. Going to listen to yesterday's album again to detox.

love it!

Yeah it's good

Pretty good. Never was a fan of him but i see the appeal

Woah great album

Solid music even though it's not my jam. I can see why it's popular.

I feel like I knew every song on this album, but had never heard it all together. It's... it's a really good album. I enjoyed it a lot. Not a lot of moments I think "I'm going to sit down and listen to Billy Joel" and I certainly did it twice.

One of the best albums. Lots of memories associated with this one

Hit after hit. A personal connection for myself. Billy a 🐐

Banger

One of the greats for sure!

I love billy Joel

Nostalgic. Didn't know that most of his bangers came on 1 album.

I’ve never liked Billy Joel much. That hasn’t changed.

One of the best albums of all time. Billy at his apex.

pretty decent, but not something I would pick up through choice normally, but still pretty good

Funky at times. A little jazzy at others. I'm either nodding my head or tapping my feet. A great pop album, even if the tools used are more rock.

I have never made it through a Billy Joel album before. Probably won’t again, unless another one comes up on this list. Not terrible, but didn’t do much for me.

A bit cheesy at times but overall a pretty classic album. Actually feels like a connected album all the way through.

Joel gets shit on a lot (and sometimes deservedly so), especially for his 80s period, but the 3 album strech of The Stranger, 52 Street, and a Glass Houses is very hard to beat. This is just a very well crafted pop album. 4 stars.

I wouldn't consider myself a billy joel fan but my toes didn't stop tapping. I thought the lyrics provided easliy accessible imagery. Wasn't singing about trees talking to other trees.

4.5

Simply brilliant. Not complex, but a joy to the ear from start to end.

Some catchy tracks and instrumentation. This record is also quite diverse. It just didn’t really click with me though.

Billy Joel’s best album and I don’t understand how anyone can disagree

Top-notch songwriting? Check. Impeccable playing? Check. Flawless production? Check. A dull and pedestrian venture? Check.

The song the stanger was pretty good, had some rock elements but mostly piano ballads

Knew most of the songs on the album beforehand, but just solid and fun across the board.

Billy Joel is one of my all time favorites. This album is not even in my top 3 from him. And yet, still 5 stars. That’s a whole lot of awesome from one person.

Not usually a vibe at 7:30 in the morning but still a classic and set a good mood for the day.

Heat

Fun fact my dad proposed to my mom while this album was playing and we have it framed in our basement I might not even exist if it wasn’t for this album. This is just bop after bop for me I loved this. I feel a bit pop vibe when I listen to this, maybe it’s just cause I wanna pop dis pussay for billy. Just the way you are made my tip wet. Vienna is forever a classic. Only the good die young is an anthem and everybody has a dream is gonna be my wet dream for the next next couple nights. This album was extremely fun, dig the album cover too soo deep he’s looking right at the stranger. I can totally see how my dad swindled my 14 year old mother into marriage when he was 27 with this album, yeah Canada has pretty loose laws with the whole age of consent thing or whatever it’s called. I give this a Strong 3 soft 4 -B (illy joy)

Get it right the next time that’s not the sameeeee thingggg

Almost all songs on this album could stand alone. The stranger was surprising with the funk bass. The guitar mixing on Just the Way You Are is mad crispy and warm. I’m used to hearing these through Dean singing them in the apartment, but it’s nice to hear the original source. Always a woman was probably my favorite. Overall great listen. I’d get this on vinyl. Great album

I wrote a lot and then it deleted for some reason. So in short: this is my favorite album. So many distinct styles blended into one cohesive project. This album is soooo dramatic, like Shakespeare or an opera. Billy Joel is such an amazing songwriter, his songs sound incredibly intimate and personal but still feel very universal and relatable. He is a master of creating tension and it’s release and resolve. Every time I listen I think of Brendan’s basement. Amazing piece of music. Scenes from an Italian restaurant is the perfect song in my opinion.

Only on the second song but this is a banger already. Moving out, the stranger - both top tier.

A flawless album. Can leave it on repeat all day. Lyrics each enough to sing along to. Instruments layered in nicely to make each song sound unique.

So good. Each song has so many different parts, lyrics convey such emotion so many bangers on this album. First Time surprised me

He put his entire Billy Joelussy into this one, what more can I say.

Good songs but his voice is annoying. All in all not that spectacular.

Good stuff

This is nearly a greatest hits album for Billy Joel. Very good album, even the lesser known songs are decent at worst.

idk I just got bored these 70s soft rock story songs never do anything for me

I had no idea Billy Joel was such a polarizing figure in music. I've always thought his music was okay. I'm not rushing out to buy all his albums, but I'm not changing the station if he comes on the radio either. This album seemed to be one hit after another which I found to be pretty impressive.

This was really good. Very funky and cool. I could play this album while doing something.

This album reminds me of 13 Going on 30

I think Mr. Joel's voice to close to what an angel would sound like. Remarkable album!

Brilliant

70s smooth romantic melody zeitgeist. Nice to go through. Good tracks: Vienna, She's always a woman, Just the way you are

Fun and catchy. None of the songs over stay their welcome, lyrics are fun, and theres enough variety to keep the listener engaged. I think that most people will find at least one song they like

Billy Joel has always been a favorite of mine; his strong lyricism and jazzy melodies always keep me invested. While this album has some absolute bangers ("Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) is AMAZING), I can't say every song hits like I would like it to. Still fantastic, though.

so good. 10/10

Amazing!

Was gonna say I don't know any Billy Joes songs. But the first track on this album is Movin Out. Had no idea that was him. Oh yeah Just the Way You Are. Only the Good Die Young. I know this one too. Whaaaa She's Always a Woman... wow I guess I do know some Billy Joel...

Really enjoyed it. I already knew a couple songs like Vienna and She's Always A Woman To Me

Some classic songs but the transition between some tracks felt a little off.

I really enjoyed the intro as well as Scenes from an Italian. otherwise, I felt super white and old listening to this. Not really for me

Scenes from an italian restaurant Is a real banger! Love the 70:ies production sound.

Knew the hits - loved the entire album. Fire.

Album of bopss

Good.

Fun fact: the only proper concert T-shirt I possess is from a Billy Joel show. January 2020. There, he played five songs from The Stranger, including my then-favorite, "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant", and my now-favorite, "Vienna". I have the setlist saved as a Spotify playlist. Album #11. This guy gets a lot of flak--and maybe it's for good reason at times--but beyond being a nostalgic cornerstone for me, I'm gonna attempt to justify why this deserves the four stars. Actually, I'm not gonna bother with the prose. He may be objectively inferior to Springsteen, but Billy can still write a fine hook, and this album is full of them. A tight 42 minutes with nine tracks, seven of which I was already well acquainted with. This thing, and dare I say Billy Joel in general, rocks, and I hope to see him again in this project.

Good songwriter, good singer, great pianist, but all by all a bit bland, good for the background so to say... Highlights include vienna and she's always a woman

Probably one of the most popular albums of all time. I instantly recognized songs like “Movin’ Out” and “Only the Good Die Young,” which are staples on classic rock radio. It’s overall a good album. My favorite songs from it include “Just the Way You Are,” “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant,” and “Vienna.” 4 out of 5 strangers.

This is the first album I am listening to on this list and I must say that we are starting off really strong! My wife's favorite song of all time is Vienna and today listening to this we shared a beautiful teary eyed moment holding each other tightly in our hallway. I am really looking forward to keep going on this musical journey. What an absolutely stunning album this is.

I can't hear Just the Way You Are without thinking of the Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party medley. So that song has definitely been ruined for me. The rest I quite liked, a little on the cheesy side at times.

Happy, Billy Joel pop/rock

Was never a big Joel fan but this album is not bad. Some songs just weren't my tempo, but the popular/lively ones are good.

Not the biggest fan of billy

Yes, some of the lyrics are pretty cheesy and there is absolutely no edge whatsoever, but this is still a lovely collection of songs. Pretty much every track could have been a single. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: Just the Way You Are Date listened: 12/10/23

Great storytelling, easy listening

Sick Album!

Anthony’s song moving out it’s really good

1. "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" 3:30 7/10 2. "The Stranger" 5:10 7/10 3. "Just the Way You Are (featuring Phil Woods)" 4:52 7/10 4. "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" 7:37 6/10 1. "Vienna" 3:34 8.5/10 2. "Only the Good Die Young" 3:55 6/10 3. "She's Always a Woman" 3:21 7/10 4. "Get It Right the First Time" 3:57 7.5/10 5. "Everybody Has a Dream" 6/10

A fun listen. I'm completely unfamiliar with Billy Joel's work besides the hits. So it's great to take a deeper dive into him.

On kyllä tylsää. Ei herätä minkäänlaista kiinnostusta. Loppuispa jo...

Good album to play in the background. Very nice songs, nothing remarkable

it feels like the most interesting songs on this album in terms of instrumentation/beat/groove were overshadowed by the simpler songs that became big hits, how was Get It Right the First Time not a huge hit?

Some bangers on that album.

Pleasant, inoffencive - if a bit plain - album.

=Pop rock +Vienna is goated +ein zwei andere gute Lieder

5/10. Not for me but recognize the talent.

Movin' Out: slaps The Stranger: pretty good, the intro and outro are solid, not a massive fan otherwise Just the Way You Are: kinda mid... Scenes from an Italian Restaurant: Very good song, idk if it's liked songs worthy, but definitely really solid Vienna: slaps Only the Good Die Young: Pretty good, I would say just below Scenes She's Always a Woman: idk kinda forgettable Get It Right the First Time: Pretty good, probably third favorite unliked song, meaning 5th overall in the album Everybody Has a Dream: outro slaps again, otherwise decent but not great Overall: maybe I'm not in the right headspace to review this album, it couldn't hurt to go through it again some other time. I'm also doing homework so I'm not really focused on it, and I think that meant I didn't get the overarching story.

off the top, its groovy and soft to listen to. its really interesting because I feel like I should know this music already because if its prominence on ageing pop culture. the tunes sound familiar in its obscurity.

I like Moving Out and The Stranger

billy Joel is am American singer songewitger

Maybe a 5 is too high, but even if some songs don't reach the heights of The Stranger or Vienna, they all flow together to create a beautiful, cohesive story. My favorite Billy Joel album by far.

Listening was painful. Music was okay but the lyrics sucked. She’s a Woman to Me is misogyny covered up by a sweet melody. Yuck

The stranger is a smooth AF song bruh Sax solo in scenes from an Italian restaurant. Scenes from an Italian restaurant is very musical style, has acts to it. Fucking hell what an epic bro ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG nothing else need be said I do like the cool chill exit of the album. I thought 1.5 of the last 2 songs were a bit of a weaker finish but banger of an album. 4 stars

Not my usual preference but whatever it’s good.

This is pretty solid. Not really my type of music, but very boppy. 3.5/5

Not for me

Nah

Some interesting songs, but didn’t get a chance to hear it all.

Bra!

One of those records where you just have to sit back and let Uncle Billy guide you through 9 tracks which combined would be a greatest hits album for the majority of artists. I will never get tired of 'Vienna'.

The Stranger should be more than enough to put all the negative comments about Joel’s music to rest.

A pretty ace pop album loaded with hits. Outside of just the way you are which is pure calculated schmaltz fairly on point.

half of this album goes extremely hard (\"vienna\", \"moving out\", and \"scenes from an italian restaurant\" especially), and the rest is exceptionally mediocre. nostalgic album for me though.

Marvellous

One of the best yet. Incredible album. Every song feels like a song from a greatest hits, everyone song apart from the last 2 are on greatest hits. Moving Out is an incredibly outstanding opening track. The Stranger is superb, Vienna is musically and lyrical amazing. Scenes is one of the best songs in his catalogue. The only negative is that this is the only Billy Joel album on this list, as Nylon Curtain and 52nd Street would be great additions.

Pretty forgetful! Like the hits

This is still an enjoyable experience! The hits still hit, and the other songs are fine enough.

I ironically enjoy Billy Joe's music from the 70s. The songs are arranged well in the singer songwriter style of the period (without getting too folky), with interesting imagery evoked in his lyrics. Highlight is The Stranger and She's Always A Woman

Sounding like a cross between Paul McCartney and Elton John, he does his best to sound like he's from good old Blighty. The uptempo material works best with "Moving Out", "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" and "The Stranger" being the highlights. Not so keen on the ballads and smoochy sax is a sound I absolutely loath. Otherwise it's not a not too bad set of well produced songs.

Blimey it's the demo button from the casio keyboard from my 80s youth "Just the way you are", never knew it had lyrics just used to press that magic yellow button and it would play the music, changing sounds every 5 seconds or so just to make it that much more annoying. This was cutting edge stuff and at the time we were able to convince relatives we were playing, (maybe they were being nice). After intial hilarity and the intrigue of trying all the 99 different voices the keyboard was just used to annoy other family members. Never learnt to play much to my regret, still had a laugh.

If Paul McCartney tried to emulate Elton John would it make anything better? No

Really really well made music that just isn't my thing. It raises the bar in the middle of the road.

I wish I hadn't read the "sounds like Paul McCartney doing an Elton John impression" comments, it's cracked me up!

While it’s got some really great songs (Movin’ Out, Only the Good Die Young), I’ve never been a huge Billy Joel guy. I am NOT a fan of songs like Just the Way You Are and other songs just don’t really stand out to me as all that special. It’s a good album, but not an all-time great in my view.

Amazing album

That Billy guy can really jam out on piano.

billy joel feels like dua lipa. popular music for the time that's quite mediocre overall but puts you in a good mood.

Why do I have to listen to this? I've moved on from this schematic, hit, cheap style about 40 years ago.

You can tell from the cover that this album has a lot of psychology. It's a farily diverse album, some tracks have an interesting combination of a broadway pop sensibility with the sounds of 70s arena rock (Movin Out, The Stranger, Get it Right), there's a Long-Island-Stevie-Wonder jazz ballad (Just the Way You Are), some corny crooning (Vienna, Always a Woman), showtune ethnography (Italian Restaurant), barroom (more like golf club bar and grill) singalongs (Only the Good Die Young) and Hey Jude cosplay (Everybody has a Dream). The whole thing is like a Paul Giammatti fronting a Wings coverband. Somehow this is even more boomer than the Woodstock-era stuff.

Superb listen all the way through. I might not have been in the right mood for this album, but I still appreciated it.

Excellent album, as one would expect from Billy Joel. Some absolute classics off of here, and the deeper cuts only serve to enhance the experience.

yesyesyesyesyesyesyes. just yes.

Best Songs: Movin’ Out, Vienna, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Only the Good Die Young, She’s Always a Woman, Get It Right the First Time

Great album. Full Billy Joel experience. Only the Good Die Young - absolute banger!

that stranger must have been a real deal

Hit after hit! Almost a 5 but... I will give it a 4 for now.

solid

I think I like the idea of Billy Joel's music more than Billy Joel's music. 3.5/5

every song is so fucking good

Idk why I've always considered Billy Joel on the lame side, because I honestly cannot think of a song of his that I dislike. Was not super excited for this one going in, but I'm glad I listened to it, solid pop rock album all the way through. 3.5/5

4.25

One of the better ones yet!

One of the great albums. Billy Joel’s greatest

For me this is one of my favourite albums of all time. Are there albums the bigger hits yes. With more notoriety, yes. But There is not a bad song here, not one. Every one is perfect (to me). The only way I can describe it is like having your favourite set menu of all your favourite foods. Alot of people won't want the same thing and that's fine. Just know Vienna waits for you.

i kissed the tiny bartender

oh my this just kept growing on me, what a musical time we had

I’ve always heard this is an “all-time classic” but it didn’t do anything for me

Great record…makes me wanna get wasted on Schlitz, hop in my sports car and crash it into my neighbors front yard in the Hamptons.

3.5

3.75 / 5

Great album. Iconic songs, I'll definitely be coming back to this album. 5/5

love the first half

Ok

Damn, someone already made a BJ joke about BJ... Anyway, I love ‘The Stranger’ to bits, even though it ends with a bit of a bit of whimper when compared to the rest of the album. Its highs soar: ‘Scenes From An Italian Restaurant’ is an all timer, ‘Only The Good Die Young’ is a lovely up-tempo rocker, and ‘She’s Always A Woman’ and ‘Just the Way You Are’ are excellent ballads, probably the best of Billy Joel’s career. The last two songs, ‘Get It Right The First Time’ and ‘Everybody Has A Dream’ are still good, but they just don’t have that same fizz that the best songs on the album have. On another day I’d be prepared to forgive it a little bit more and give ‘The Stranger’ a 5, but today it’s still a solid 4.

Fantastic album.

You can take the boy out of long island but you can't take the long island out of the boy. Everyone knows these songs, almost everyone loves them. What a way to make sure the company didn't drop you

Highlights: "Movin' Out," "Get It Right the First Time," "Always a Woman," "Vienna" As a musical voice, he has trouble getting out from under McCartney and Wonder. The ideas that elevate him from schmaltz are very much in their style. Sure, he is a great performer. The songs have a lot of movement, and he knows how to grab the rhythm in phrases and pull a catchy melody out of them left and right. In that sense, using music to make thoughts felt, his lyrics are very good. But as a vaunted capital-s Songwriter he falls flat. Every song has absolutely zero subtext -- the nuance of a Wiki page about the title, and more than a little narrative confusion. Between the absence of a distinct personal style and any interesting non-musical ideas, it's just a good torchbearing.

Upbeat and a number of songs about love and change.

Superb

This is more like it. Great album.

Själfull, eftertänksamt

Day 117 The fact that I always thought that Billy Joel was Lionel Ritchie should sound anecdotal nowadays but it did happen. I heard The Stranger for the first time in maybe 2017; I was checking a list of supposedly good records that you could find for just one dollar; they also had Boston, Styx, and Blue by Joni Mitchell, among others I can't remember right now; I listened to it (and all the other albums on that list) once and kind of liked it. In the next couple of weeks I found it in a one dollar bin and bought it. I guess they don't have those bins anymore, or at least not with somehow listenable music in them. Anyhow, I took The Stranger home and played it. Only once. I was deceived, I didn't dislike it but I didn't enjoy it either. It sounded just meh, just like some generic AOR from the 70s. Listening to it now I can understand why this album sold so much at the time: it's all very pretty, easy on the ears, warm. Maybe he's a great songwriter, maybe these songs are all very well written and executed, but it's nothing more than just that, a pleasant listen. Rating: 2 bucks, because of the inflation.

Pretty great 70s piano rock. Some absolute classics on here.

Good work here by the singing pugilist

Very chill and smooth. Masterfully crafted songs.

I liked this way more than I expected to. I’ve heard his big hits, but never sat down and listened to an album.

Really fantastic clear voice, harmonised guitars… sappy tho!

I hate myself for enjoying this.

Brilliant album, nearly a 5*

Billy Joel innit.

Decent elevator music or nostalgia-filled music for 40+ yo boomers. Either way this album is just in the middle of the pack, not great not terrible. Just not very memorable

esse álbum é tão chique, me senti um rico com seu vinho falando coisas fúteis. muito bom, mas não é algo que eu repetiria ultimamente.

This one's for you, Nick <3

I’ve always respected Billy Joel and his thing from a slight distance, never being a huge fan, but this album might have changed my mind. This is really clean and hook-filled pop rock, nine tight tracks with no real skips. It's still a bit on the schmaltzy side for me... but there's nothing wrong with some schmaltz every now and then. A great album either way. Best song: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

Wow back to back hits with only a couple of duds. Happy I finally listened to this!

First time listen. Very familiar with the hits. Favorite track. Only the Good Die Young. Last track was a snoozer. Miss the days of this style of music.

I enjoyed. A classic album with some well known hits. All very listenable but wouldn’t want to hear all of them on the radio.

It was really good. Super close to being a 5, but just not quite there. Perhaps it would be a 5 with some re-listens. There's some quite good songs on here. My favourite songs were Get It Right the First Time and Movin' Out (Anthony's Song).

I was surprised by this album. I know Billy Joel from general popular culture but have never really spent the time to listen to one of his albums in full. I knew the hits but that's about it. I actually ended up liking a lot of tracks on this album, even if I found some of the instrumentation and production choices a bit cheesy. He has some really well written songs on this album, especially "Vienna", which sounded familiar but was one that I had never really heard. Standout Tracks: Movin' Out (Anthony's Song), Just the Way You Are, Vienna, Only the Good Die Young, She's Always a Woman

Somehow I'm not convinced of the sincerity, but most of the songs are good. Favorite song: She's always a woman

This album absolutely rips. At least 4 radio hits and one of them is (IMO) his best: Only The Good Die Young. I've got a serious soft spot for Billy Joel. Man knew how to make some songs and gave us a wide variety at that. The mad man even was able to pull some synth-accordion on this album. Amazing. Would definitely listen again. 5/5

The classics on this album are certified bangers: Good Die Young, Italian Restaurant, and Movin' Out are all going to outlive me. All of the other songs I haven't heard before are also great pieces. Great voice, lyrics, piano, and brass in this album.

I can't wait to listen to this album, I already know a lot of songs but not all of them em em em em em Movin out gets me going everytime The Stranger rips. the whistling in the beginning and end is spooky. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant is my favorite song to sing along to. It would be hardmode on karaoke. Only The Good Die Young is an all time classic Get It Right the First Time is a new song for me and it is groovy as heck. Instant add to a playlist Everybody Has a Dream is such a good closing song with the slow build up into the intense choir singing then ending with the piano outro and the same whistling as The Stranger After typing out all of these song names I realized every song title on this album is so long Pretty much a perfect album to me well done Mr. Joel

I’m listening to this in the car with my boss while she’s driving here we go. The band at the Fucking Catalina Wine Mixer would not approve. Strictly 80s Joel! Starts off with a banger in Movin’ Out. Ack ack ack ack ack ack ack The stranger starting out creepy and then rockin out. Just the Way You Are is saxy. But also kinda lame. Fuck off Bill. Love that key change in Italian Restaurant. This song sounds like 3 or 4 songs in one. My boss says Vienna is his best song so let’s see how her taste is. Oooo accordion! That’s fun! Not his best but it’s a pretty song. If you can’t snap or tap your feet to Only the Good Die Young you’re a robot sorry. Boss says I should put She’s Always a Woman on my “romantic playlist.” Sure right next to Rattlesnake. This is a pretty romantic song though ngl. Reminds me of the song Josh Groban sings to Sweet Dee. Like the drums on Get it Right the First Time. Everybody has a Dream is kinda a snoozer. Overall I really liked it. Would probably give a 3.5 but I’ll round up for my boss.

Leppoisaa piano rockia, mitäpä muuta. Tutunkuuloista viheltelyä vikassa kappaleessa ja Vienna oli ehkä paras

Great Album - I saw Billy Joel either once or twice! 5 stars

Bully Joel is amazing

Pretty good

First time I've listened to a Billy Joel album and I must say I enjoyed it

4.5/5. It’s moments like this that make me so thankful that this project exists, been meaning to check out this album for a long while. I love Billy Joel’s observational songwriting, Vienna is a song that every young person needs to hear. There's just something so poetic about including an accordion solo in a song titled after a German-speaking city.

Billy Joel but like good Billy Joel. It's a solid listen if you ignore the datedness and the cheesiness. Consistent throughout. BT - Moving Out - Vienna - Scenes From an Italian Restaurant - Only the Good Die Young

Say what you will about Billy Joel, but he knows how to make hits. The album is lightweight and inoffensive, but completely solid with great melodies.

Favourite tracks: movin out; stranger; just the way you are; scenes from an Italian restaurant; Vienna; only the good for young; she's always a woman

completamente plástico. liberty devitto. un punto extra por ser soundtrack de un momento.

Really enjoyed this, not something I’d listen to normal at all but some great melodies

C'est réducteur comme comparaison, mais j'avais un peu l'impression d'écouter une version moins bonne d'Elton John. Je ne trouve pas ça mauvais, mais il manque un petit quelque chose pour vraiment m'accrocher. Clairement Joel est super talentueux, mais je pense tout simplement que son style est moins dans mes cordes. Objectivement, c'est un bon album et je comprends son inclusion. 6/10

Dit was eigenlijk best wel top. Het is natuurlijk een beetje een guilty pleasure artiest, maar er staan hier wel een hoop knallers op.

It took me a long while to appreciate the craft of Billy Joel. I know sarcastic elbows has a book that calls him the worst rock star ever, but that same book also calls queen II the worst rock album ever and that is so incredibly objectively wrong so as to completely make it devoid of any credibility. It’s like saying Elvis Costello is more than a mediocre talent with one or two fluke songs. It just isn’t true. But nonetheless I thought Billy was a cheap Elton knock off. I then heard the my favourite albums podcast with a Long Island singer song writer. And he converted me. Hearing the praises sung by a follower opened my eyes. And Billy Joel can write some magnificent songs. Listen to the construction of just the way you are. Or she’s only a woman. The Wikipedia page lists five singles from the album. I knew them all. and really as crafted songs they’re all great. The band is terrific. Is he a favourite of mine? Well… There are still many I prefer. But this is a very strong album of exquisitely crafted and excellently played songs and I shouldn’t have dismissed him out of hand. 4 stars

The piano man never lets down. He is Mr Consistent. Oddly I didn't know the album, but yes to the tracks, obviously perhaps, from cassette days... I thought it would sound more dated after all these years. Good stuff. Timeless? Definitely polished and well produced. He fills the well worn slot if story teller for the everyday man , where relatable suburban music is rare on this list. It's not hard to listen to. Or understand buts relatable. Decent. It's like music or stories that are welcome because parts of them are already known, I served, either familiar tropes, or silent echoes already in your soul, like an ancestor. I don't know if I can critique it, we so easily dismiss what works well because it's isn't hard. 4

I think the Blues Brothers dealt with Bill fairly early on. For those of about to drop don't bother listening to this, just watch the scene in BB where Murph (of the Murftones) says "we'll be right back, don't you go changing"...adult oriented rock is a blight on humanity, lest we forget that the man who made the Stranger was building up to It's Still Rock and Roll to Me This something a tad stagey, structured, Off Broadway about Bill's adult oriented pop songs. Take the big smasheroo Piano Man. In a fantastic podcast with Alec Baldwin he explains how the song is a limerick (You ready, just sing it like an 8 year old "John at the bar is a friend of mine/He gets me my drinks for free/He's quick with a joke/And a light up your smoke/But there's some place he'd rather be", now tell me that wasn't fun?) A bottle of red, a bottle of white, you are instantly transported to one of those Stephen Sondheim things, I fucking hate that song. I want you Just the Way You Are...yeah bullshit you do until you catch a glimpse of Christie Brinkley's arse. She's More Than Woman to Me, no she's not, she was good for that first difficult part of your career and then... Now here's the kicker cyberspace death freaks: I saw Billy Joel in 1978 at the Hordern Pavilion. The support act was Jon English, who was absolutely brilliant. And Bill you ask? When he started up Big Shot, Eggy said "good time to have a joint" and we never made it back... For those about to pop off, look this will certainly hasten your demise, but really do you want to go listening to this schlocky schlockmeister.

Hey, doesn’t everyone have a guilty pleasure? I’ve probably got a stack of them & Billy Joel is certainly one. I first became aware of him in 1975 through Reg Livermore’s cabaret show, The Betty Blockbuster Follies at the Balmain Bijou - he covered 3 or 4 Joel songs, most memorably Captain Jack ( as in “smack”) off Joel’s breakout album, Piano Man(1973). So by the time The Stranger was released in 1977, I was already a fan. And when he toured that album out here in May ‘78, I saw him with my sister Kath at the Hordern in Sydney, with the same band that features on the album. Great show. Great album. Some of his sweetest ballads ( Just The Way You Are & She’s Always A Woman), terrific up-tempo stuff (Movin’ Out & Only The Good Die Young) and brilliantly quirky things like the epic Scenes From An Italian Restaurant & Vienna. An album I still play often, but rarely in front of others.

I respect Billy Joel's songwriting chops. These are incredibly successful songs and have been played on radio a bazillion times, and I know most of this album backwards just from the ubiquitous nature of the thing. But it bores me to tears. In Slipped Discs – the Worst Rock ’n’ Roll Records of All Time by Jimmy Guterman & Owen O’Donnell, they list Billy Joel as the Worst Rock and Roller of All Tie, stating "No single performer has done more to encourage musicians without a shred of rock credibility to think that pretending to rock out is the same thing as rocking out than Billy Joel." I strongly agree. Billy Joel is not rock and roll (despite Billy's later protestations); it's much more popular song based in the Broadway tradition. And it is very successful in that mold. But I don't really need it in my life. Sorry.

Erg leuk

Favorite billy joel album.

Classic for a Billy album

WSFMs entire playlist. Still fun

Very good

Can I give one album more than 5 stars? This is the quintessential pop album.

Cold Beer, hot lights, my sweet romantic teenage lights! Light drums, funky bass, great vocals, fun hooks, and beautiful brass solos. 'Movin' Out' is a great and groovy way to kick things off. 'Scenes from an Italian Restaurant' is worth the journey and shows the full range of Billy Joel on this record. 'Vienna' is lyrically and compositionally enjoyable with something more substantial than your average piano tune. 'Only the good die young' is surprisingly light compared to the others. Get it right the first time! la la la's for days! Sing-a-longs with great piano, bass, and saxophone throughout. Ends as it begins. Pretty fun and well-balanced album that never veers into the strange or too far into the mundane with some nice storytelling sprinkled throughout.

weird sexy saxophone

Not a big Billy Joel fan, but this album does have all the bops.

I love Billy Joel!

Immediate 5/5 as soon as I saw it come up, one of the greatest albums of all time in my opinion

Just not my thing

Pretty crazy when a Billy Joel album tops the list for the week but here we are. I read this was his most famous album or at least the one that made him famous, but I can see why. Movin' Out, Vienna, Only the Good Die Young are ones I've heard many times and I even found some new ones in Scenes from an Italian Restaurant. I'd say I'm a Joel fan, and I can't remember if we got any other albums of his but excited if there are others. Well placed in this lis.

Better than I was expecting! Of course I'm familiar with Billy Joel, but gun to my head I don't think I could name too many of his songs. Reading the tracklist, I saw "Only the Good Die Young" and was looking forward to that, but there were others on here that I liked too, and "Vienna" was for sure one other that I know pretty well (but never knew the name). A good cinematic quality to this album and the music, the guy knows how to put good music together. I also really like the notion of a piano man, a pianist who's a classic pop/rock staple is rare among all the guitarists. Wouldn't mind another album from Billy. Favorite tracks: Only the Good Die Young, Vienna, Just the Way You Are. Album art: Black and white, but I really like the creepy mask on the pillow. Billy kind of looks like a mix between Paul McCartney and Sylvester Stallone in this shot, not sure if that holds up. 3.5/5

Some really nice tunes here, will listen to more

Good morning, you're listening to Smooth Radio and I'm (insert name of inoffensive DJ). What your mum was listening to in the 80s. and 90s. And probably still now. Well crafted and interesting enough for one listen I guess, but I won't be back. Ack ack ack etc.

First 7 of the 9 tracks are all memorable radio hits. Such a wide variety of sounds and vibes from song to song.

I obviously know just about every song on the album, and they are almost all great. However, I don’t think I’d ever sit down and decide to listen to the album. Not sure why. I’m giving it a 2 knowing that it really is a secret 3 for me and likely deserves a 4.

Biking while watching NBA finals. Shits kinda fire. Vienna reminds me of pauline

The Stranger song is great - great piano at the opening and closing, and great middle of the song - why didn't this one get radio play that I've heard? Beautiful piano on the last track, too. And whistling.

Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Yeah it was decent, not as hard hitting as I was expecting though Favourite song: Track 7 - She’s Always a Woman

A true classic. No duds.

this album was actually class. good tunes on it

Boy I disliked this. Saccharine and unpleasant.

his best album

Great album.

I love this album, a bit front loaded but undoubtedly fantastic. Changed my mind a lot about how good Billy Joel really could be, as I was a bit bias since I judged him as only being as good as his greatest hits. In actuality, its clear that he is a wise songwriter with a lot of depth, and I think he really peaked here.

Best Song: Only the Good Die Young. Nostalgic (for me), with the catchiest chorus in an album of catchy choruses. Worst Song: She's Always a Woman. An absolute Iowa field's worth of corny. Overall: Great little storytelling songs sung by a voice that's very easy to listen to. Music that feels safe in a good way. Like Ol' Billy's just having a good time playing music, and he wants you to have fun too. And I did. I did have fun.

Such a great album. Can’t be a 5-star for me because I don’t love the genre but I appreciate the quality of the songwriting here.

Fantastic album. Every song is a banger. Scenes from an Italian restaurant might be the best song ever made

Great original songwriting here. I like the songwriting more than the songs, though, if you understand. Definitely always alright, just sometimes feels below his level.

I knew more of it than I expected. Great stuff.

first listen a beautiful piano singer album

There are great songs on this, but there's something that stops a lot of them from feeling great that I can't put my finger on. Still, a very good collection

This is a five star just off the track list.

Genres: Rock, pop rock Formed: 1971 Run time: 9 songs, 42 min, 33 sec The Stranger is the fifth studio album by Billy Joel. The least popular tracks have over 4M and 5M plays on Spotify. The most popular is Track 5, "Vienna" with almost 365M plays. Most other tracks have over 100M plays. Billy Joel is an excellent singer songwriter. Most tracks tell a story in less than five minutes. I have owned a copy of this album on CD. I enjoyed most of the tracks and would happily listen to it all again. My Rating: ****

This album is probably Billy Joel’s best. The first half is absolutely stacked and the second half follows through well and ends by revisiting themes introduced earlier in the album. Joel is a master storyteller and his songs have a lived in quality that lend a certain feeling and reality to them. The music on this album is more orchestrated but still features the New York jazz inflected piano playing that his is known for.

My boss loved Billy Joel back when I used to work at a local pizza joint. At the time I hated The Stranger because it meant I was working til close, but now it just brings back good memories

Solid classic

Very funny to get this one while everyone was relitigating "We Didn't Start The Fire" after that cover from panic at the disco or whoever. Good news is that this was from long enough back, I don't need to make excuses for enjoying it.

Great classic album.

Starts off very groovy, then he discovers sad piano keys which I also liked but not as much

it was alright moviing out is really good though

Kijk, zo doe je dat, als singer-songwriter, gewoon een dijk van een plaat opnemen. Balads, hier en daar een beetje rocken, verstild deuntje ertussendoor, een wat langer nummmer waarin je allerlei zijpaden bewandelt. Van a tot z luistergenot. Het stoort niet eens dat Sky Radio verwoede en aanhoudende pogingen heeft gedaan een paar nummers helemaal kapot te draaien, ook deze tracks zijn nog altijd fris. (Hoewel je je wel afvraagt, wat moet je als vrouw eigenlijk doen voordat Billy Joel je NIET meer als vrouw beschouwt?) Het titelnummer bevat een mooie existentiële bespiegeling. Hoe goed ken jij je partner eigenlijk?

Dit album begint aantrekkelijk. Maar wisselt toch de iets leukere nummers af met saaie nummers. Sta gewoon iets te vaak in de wacht...

Billy Joel is de koning van de ballads. En die ballads worden afgewisseld met een paar uptempo nummers. Eigenlijk staan er gewoon geen slechte nummers op dit album. En ook al zijn al die ballads bij elkaar soms iets teveel van het goede, ik kan dit buitengewoon waarderen. Vienna zou ik zo op een playlistje zetten. Niet voor 5 sterren, maar 4 stuks is ook niks mis mee.

Hajuton ja mauton. Tai on tässä sellainen lievä paskan käry. 1/5

Hmm ihan kivaa musiikkia, mutta lyriikat oli hämmentäviä välillä. Onneksi pysyi menevänä, muuten sakottaisin enemmän.

Huoh ei kyllä Billyn määkinä oikein sytytä. Tai ole koskaan sytyttänyt.

Didnt finish it all the way but billy has got some good jams on this one dawg

Tremendous album. Billy is in his zone here.

1 good song and pretty lightweight otherwise

the fourth album from this project that i own a CD of after the police's "synchronicity", guns n roses "apetite for destruction" and pink floyd "the piper at the gates of dawn". probably this is the album ive heard the most in my life. every song just hits, the transitions between ballads and rock song and a gospel song just moves so smoothly you cant even notice you spent 42 minutes listening to this masterpiece. this album was my introduction to billy joel's discography. although this album is incredible i prefer billy's turnstiles or 52nd street anoher great albums of him. this album is so many memories for me. perfect for any situation and every car ride i had since i bought the album. this album made me take the organ from the basement after years i didnt played and learned the intro to the stranger.

me hizo llorar

Beautiful

Was alright, recognised one or two songs. Good easy listening music that's easy to enjoy.

Love this album. Best from Billy Joel

before heariung this album, i only really knew billy joel for one song. But this album has made me check out the rest of his work. The album got add to my weekend rotation list.

Not to my tastes but can appreciate some of the craft. Like an American Elton John.

I can respect the musical talent, but Billy Joel is not for me.

Lots of great songs. I join the 80’s soccer moms in my appreciation of Billy Joel.

It's my first ever contact with Billy Joel and his music and I can admit it's a very positive surprise for me. His first song on this album, "Movin' Out" made a really big impression on me and it was even better from then onward. I like the style of the album, bit funky at times, with very catchy melodies and really amazing voice by Billy Joel. I am honestly surprised that this record isn't well known (at least in my circles). Another amazing position on the list, that introduced me to some great music!

Greatest album of all time

I only wish that the album was longer.

Without a doubt, one of the albums that would be the soundtrack of my life story. So much time ingesting the words and the notes... it is now a part of me. It just doesn't get old for me.

Billy Joels kraftfulla men ändå pojkaktiga röst är snusk. Den tar sig in i hörselgången helt utan motstånd och kittlar hjärnbarken precis där jag vill, och skickar samtidigt signaler genom nervtrådarna rakt in i själen. Har det någonsin funnits en mer BEHAGLIG röst, som fortfarande väcker sånt engagemang och såna känslor? 'Vienna' är en av de bästa låtar som någonsin skrivits. Har alltid varit en favorit. Och låtföljden 'Vienna' -> 'Only the Good Die Young' -> 'She's Always a Woman' är så löjligt bra. Men, även låtarna jag inte hört förut var fantastiska, alla på sitt egna sätt: 'Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)' är väldigt Eltonsk. 'The Stranger' med vad som känns som en ikonisk visslingsmelodi, innan den brakar lös i klassisk jävla rock. 'Just the Way You Are' som får mig att önska att jag var Billy Joels älskade. Det drivna pianot i 'Scenes from an Italian Restaurant' får mig att drömma om ett New York-liv jag nog aldrig får uppleva. 'Get It Right the First Time' tappar nog lite på att den kommer efter tre världsklasslåtar, kanske svagaste spåret på albumet, men fortfarande bra, härliga tralalas! 'Everybody Has a Dream' passande avslutning, och återkomsten av visslingen från 'The Stranger' knyter ihop albumet så fint. Finns verkligen inget att klaga på här, så genomtänkt, varierande, lagom längd, några verkliga topplåtar. Fantastiskt album. Bästa låt: Vienna. Kan inte att välja någon annan.

Best ive heard in years!

This is an affable album, but little had me wanting to linger or return.

Aha - several of my friends' dads had this record when I was little (I thought the cover was creepy), but I have never listened to it before as far as I know. Goes off a cliff quite quickly, most of the songs are pretty terrible with lyrics so bad they could be performance art. Sesame Street parodies Paul Simon, perhaps. Movin' Out is great though

Suoni classici e allo stesso tempo innovativi anche dopo quarant'anni, bello

I enjoyed this more than I expected. No slips

Album starts out strong with Movin Out, a Billy Joel classic. It is short and sweet, just like Billy himself. As a long islander, I am a huge fan and will always be

This and Abbey Road are probably my most nostalgic albums. My parents' had their first dance to "Just the Way You Are" and requested it at every restaurant we went to on their anniversary. I know "Movin' Out" by heart, and you can bet your tight ass that I give one hell of a karaoke performance to it. And "She's Always a Woman" is just beautiful. Sentimentality aside, Billy Joel is a great musician with an even better voice. There are so many bangers here and they hit in their own way. It's a really good album.

I personally coined a term for this album years ago that I believe still holds true. I call this Grilling Music. Why Grilling Music? Picture yourself as a 46 year old father of two standing outside on a summer day, hosting a barbecue in your suburban oasis. Your kids and their friends are swimming in the pool playing Marco Polo. The cousins are all catching up with each other. Your friends from the neighborhood are gossiping about the latest news in town. “Did you hear that Martha and Jeff got a divorce?? I hear he met a younger woman and just moved out one day.” You’re manning the grill and diligently flipping those burgers, making sure they’re a perfect medium inside, except for one that you’re leaving on for 12 minutes until it’s a perfect hockey puck. Grandpa Joe refuses to eat it any other way. Maybe crazy uncle Dave comes up to you to chat your ear off about his gout and how his dogs keep running away from him in the park. I wonder why. And even through all of this commotion there’s one overarching sound in the background. The Stranger. The last person to invite to the cookout that ties it all together. And while you grill, you know that in the midst of all the craziness and mundanity that is this day, your good buddy The Stranger will keep you company throughout the afternoon.

holy f*** this week has been amazing. A Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) - 5. The Stranger - literally 3 songs in one. 5. Just the Way You Are - so 70s. 4. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant - 4. Vienna - 5. Only the Good Die Young - 4. She's Always a Woman - 4. Get It Right the First Time - 5. Everybody Has a Dream - 3. The whistling deserves a 5, but I have to give it a 4. My heart wants to give it a 5, but my brain knows it's a 4. After re-listening multiple times over the weekend, both Scenes From An Italian Restaurant and She’s Always a Woman went up by 1 each. Therefore, Billy gets a 5. Whistle on, my Jewish friend.

LP

Beetje ballades, beetje vrolijk. Goed album

These were good fun songs. I loved the opening. Dropped off a little for me in the middle but it finished strong.

It was fine. Just wasn’t my cup of tea really. I know this album was impactful and extremely well done, it’s just that the genre wasn’t my thing.

Expecting better really. Some good songs, some just filler.

Love this record, and the songs on it are welcoming when I hear them in random play mode. It's such a great album to listen from start to finish, too.

One classic after another. It's Billy Joel at his best - these are massive hits for a reason.

really catchy.

Its pretty decent TBF, but still carries that aged Radio 4 production type.

“And it seems such a waste of time Mama, if that’s what it’s all about, Then Billy Joel is whack-ack-ack-ack”

Some hits here, for sure, but late 70's pop not my thing. I've tried.

This is a great album. Solid all the way through. 8/10

The piano is pretty, but so few of these songs hook me in. It's hard to avoid comparing one piano-based rocker to another, but somehow Elton John takes way cheesier material and makes it awesome, where Billy Joel's lyrics are way better yet his songs lack the same wow-factor. Talent all over the place but barely ever amounts to more than sounding like elevator muzak.

Insoportable. Conocía una canción, la inescapable Just the Way You Are, pero el resto no conocía y no veo cómo mi vida es mejor después de haber escuchado este disco. Supongo que puedo entenderlo más como historia de la música gringa, que de la música en general. Siendo así, claro que puede ser percibido como esencial: a los gringos les encantan sus héroes de los 70. Pero seamos serios, la influencia de Billy Joel decae el minuto que su música cruza las fronteras de ese país.