Reviews (page 2 of 14)
- 🔥🔥🔥 - always a good listen - it’s hard to pick a favorite
4 estrellas solo por billy Joel, un clásico el vago la verdad
It was good. My favorite songs were The Stranger, Vienna, and Everybody has a Dream. There was nothing bad on here, and every song was good. Overall, I would give it a 4.3/5!
Arguably Billy's creative peak, many of his classic songs can be found on this record. Not a bad song out of the bunch, but the last two (the only tracks here that a casual fan wouldn't know) don't hit as hard as the rest of the album. And if I never hear Just the Way You are again, I will be very okay with that. Four out of five Ack-ack-ack-acks.
Love Billy Joels voice, new album for me but reminded me of his music. Will be getting inyo his music more!!
I can't imagine what it would have been like to come back to your NYC apartment to have Elle MacPherson waiting there for you...but you've got Christie Brinkley on your arm and you kick Elle MacPherson out. Not the move I'd have made, but then again I'm not Billy Joel. Every time I see him, I think of that story...and then I think of the "We Didn't Start The Fire" video which was burned in my young brain as I watched too much MTV and they played that video over and over. It's probably unfair for me to hold that song against him, but that's my first impression of Billy Joel...and I get that song is probably loathed by his diehard fans but my whole life I've been disappointed that he never rocks that hard anywhere else. I also don't like pianos and keyboards a whole lot, so I was surprised that I liked this album more than I expected. The Stranger is great, the chorus on Just The Way You Are is catchy...I can see myself returning to this album.
never listened to this album before, but i knew all the songs except “Get it Right the First Time”. this is a good one
It's undeniably cheese, but it's the kind of cheese that's also basically cocaine... like Roule. There's enough musical and vocal talent on display that the cheesiness is more than tolerable, and it's not samey such that each song blurs into the next. Good stuff Mr. Piano Man.
Great album. I always enjoy this one.
This would almost have been a 5 but the back half was a little weaker imo
I'm not usually a fan of this genre of music - I call it musical soundtrack music cuz that's what it sounds like to me. But Billy Joel is so skilled that I can understand the appeal to his musical style. Very impressive album with strong tracks and deep lyricism.
I enjoyed this album as more of an introduction to Billy Joel
WHO NEEDS A HOUSE OUT IN HACKENSACK? IS THAT ALL YOU GET FOR YOUR MONEY????? What a throwback! Movin’ Out in particular immediately pulls The Stranger into the upper echelon of albums for me. I used to listen to that song when driving to my high school in Hackensack. It was my battle cry “I’m getting out of here” song. The nostalgia!! Great album, love the sax and love the piano. The Stranger, Vienna, She’s Always a Woman, Everybody Has a Dream. Classic
No. 204/1001 Movin' Out 4/5 The Stranger 4/5 Just The Way You Are 4/5 Scenes from an Italian Restaurant 4/5 Vienna 5/5 Only The Good Die Young 4/5 She's Always A Woman 5/5 Get It Right The First Time 4/5 Everybody Has a Dream 4/5 Average: 4,22 Wow! This was really a great listen from front to back.
Funny how I knew several tracks on this. It must be a testament to BJ's genius as a songwriter. He's not my normal listening material, but this is very good. No Rock songs on here and I don't care! A 4 star album.
Billy Joel has just never really appealed to me. I even had a teacher back in grade school who was completely obsessed with him—probably wished she could’ve married him. Even back then, his music never seemed all that impressive to me. And now, while I can admit he’s clearly talented, his music still doesn’t really do much for me. I’m not saying it’s bad, but it just kind of exists. Nothing I’d ever seek out on my own.
I don’t know, the first two songs are good, and not really what I expected, but then most of the rest are painfully bland and exactly what you’d expect. It feels quite a lot like the steely Dan album where everything is overproduced, also feels a bit like Elton John, but just a lot later. I mean he’s clearly a great singer, and I think he works best for the more emotive songs. I also feel like the lyrics are quite bland, some interesting storytelling might have saved some of it. Favourite songs: movin’ out (Anthony’s song), the stranger, she’s always a woman. Overall around 5/10
Entertainingly naff at points, Scenes From An Italian Restaurant and Get It Right First Time were standouts for me. I liked it more than expected, just edging into a 3
It's okay. Every time I listen to Billy Joel I'm reminded of my college music theory professor who hated his guts for some personal slight.
Despite being named after the guy, I have never willingly listened to this album before. I enjoyed it enough, Vienna is definitely an excellent song. probably a 3.5 overall but will round it to a 3 because i did leave half way through and listen to a few DIIV covers
it was fine! i am so glad lyrics are back. instruments were nice
Nothing revolutionary here and although pretty straightforward and uninspired easy listening soft rock, this collection of songs is executed quite nicely. I do prefer albums with MUCH greater creative ambition, those offering real emotional depth to challenge my listening ears with embracing something edgy and far less mainstream (the comments on this being textbook elevator music are spot on!). Having said that, I do respect the musicianship on display with this recording and Mr. Piano Man can clearly carry a note as a singer. 🎧 Classic Track- Just The Way You Are 🎧 Hidden Gem- Vienna 🎧 Guilty Pleasure- Movin’ Out (‘ack ‘ack ‘ack ‘ack ‘ack) 🚫 Skip Track- Get It Right The First Time While this genre of musack is not quite my cup of tea, there is nothing offensively bad with the record and produced some notable big hits. Cheesy sure, but it’s fine :) 🖼️ Album Artwork: ❌- not impressed Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)
I never really liked what I had heard of Billy Joel. The first couple tracks really pulled me in, I started thinking maybe I’d been wrong about him. Then we hit the overwrought middle part of the album and he lost me again. The album rallies a bit at the end, but ultimately there were only 2 or 3 songs I really enjoyed
He's got such a great voice. Somewhere in between Paul McCartney and Elton John, but man some of those lyrics are so creepy. Even when he's trying to be nice comes off so condescending. I'll split the difference
A talented guy but too cheesy for me.
This thing is random, right? Three albums so far for me, all of them from 1977. Billy Joel (always pronounced Joh-El by me, as if he's related to Superman) is one of those artists... Let's put it this way, there's a bloke I know - just turned 30, so still young as far as I am concerned - he loves Billy Joel. Loves Elton John too. And Barry Manilow. He's been to see them all live. Loves artists who put on a "show", and if they can play the old Aunt Joanna, even better. "Safe" music, I call it. That said, I've got respect for Billy Joel. He digs The Beatles, and he obviously knows his stuff - in fact, I like to watch him talk about music, his own and other people's, and he generally makes a lot of sense and seems like a good guy (well, there was that time he totally lost his shit in Moscow). A talented guy though. I own all of his studio albums (yeah, even that classical one) and have given each of them ample chance to impress me over the years. Sadly, I always find them all just a bit... meh. Fine greatest hits album, of course, but the LPs themselves are just too inconsistent and, well, bland. But I was willing to give The Stranger another try, it does, after all, contain probably my favourite Joel composition. Even the slightly tongue-in-cheek accordion solo can't detract from the brilliance of Vienna. Melodically irresistible, it weaves its way between sentimentality and uplifting optimism without ever tumbling completely over either side of the precipice. A bit of a guilty pleasure for me, laid back, but the delivery is totally suited to the lyrical themes and the melody is convincing and compelling throughout. Not quite as successful, but still something of a guilty pleasure, Just The Way You Are does eventually plunge into the depths of mushiness. Again, melodically strong with a undeniably touching sentiment, but the execution is just too sickly for these ears. Saxophones? Good god, no. Elsewhere, The Stranger never reaches the same heights, hit singles notwithstanding. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant is just a bit pretentious, isn't it? As is that bloody whistled The Stranger theme (and not too far removed from the soundtrack to that Turkish Delight advert from the 80s). The car noises on Movin' Out really confused my dog while I was listening, which provided a rare moment of genuine entertainment for me. Joel's music tentatively dips its toes in various popular genres, but never dares to get soaking wet in any of them. And therein lies the key, great singer-songwriter though he may be on paper, Billy Joel's music works best when he finds a suitable hook to hang it on. Much of The Stranger just seems lacking in style. At heart he's an old school rock 'n' roller operating at the nexus point where music fractured and split off in a thousand different directions. Vienna works so well because it wears its Kurt Weil parody on its sleeve and fully commits to the pastiche. It's no surprise Joel would come out the other side of the 1970s and enjoy his greatest success by completely embracing his roots and paying homage to his own favourite music of the past. I can't give it any more than two stars, and even then Vienna and Just The Way You Are are doing all the heavy lifting.
I really dislike this artist, always have. He’s written a few lovely songs (e.g., Just the Way You Are on this album), but he has other cringy-to-me hits like Uptown Girl, Piano Man, We Didn’t Start the Fire, and worst of all, It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me — he seems so completely non rock and roll to me. I was a tiny bit excited/curious for this since I’ve always had it in the back of my mind that I should give him a serious listening. This is due to a favorite author, Chuck Klosterman, writing copiously about BJ in one of his books, arguing he’s a great artist. Chuck also loves Radiohead, Nirvana, REM, Wilco, Weezer, and even The Cardigans. So his loving BJ stuck with me (he also loves Kiss). This would be a 1 without Just the Way You Are…
The popular songcraft here is strong but the problem is that it doesn’t serve much of a purpose. If you took Paul McCartney at his schmaltziest, added some overproduced Paul Simon with all the substance trimmed away, and finished with a dash of Elton John glitz, this is what you’d get. He absolutely nailed what he was trying to make, it seems, but it’s all so flavorless I can’t imagine why you’d want to try it. Plus the second half really reveals a core of misogyny that poisons anything decent there.
Wow, all I see are 4 and 5 star ratings for this so I'll probably take flak for this. Someone already stole my line that he's a less interesting and cheesier version of Elton John and I fully concur. There's no doubt that he has a knack for writing catchy pop songs, but the shmaltz factor here is simply too high for me. He somewhat redeems himself with the less commercial songs like the Stranger and Get it right. But he knows his audience and and I guess he hits the nail right on the head with this album that is loaded with bestsellers.
This album is basically filled with every one of his radio hits save "Piano Man". Overall, was never a Billy Joel fan, and this just reconfirms that. Somewhat of an off-brand Elton John, who I'm also not a fan of.
I have been dreading this one since early on. Well, I've been dreading any Billy Joel album and the task of facing what may be an irrational hatred on my part. For as long as I can remember, I have been turned by The Pianoman - the song and, by extension, the writer who inserted himself into its gross act of self-mythologisation. While I think there are artists who regard their audience with an understandable scepticism, the contempt that Joel expresses towards the bar patrons in that song has always been palpable - they are all losers and he's the one who can give them a win at nine o'clock on a Saturday. What a smug arsehole. That's one song. It's not on this album. However, the oblivious self-regard carries throughout this record - never quite humanising other people and always seeing himself as apart from others. His relationship with the woman in Always A Woman is baffling, not because she sounds insufferable, but because she doesn't sound real. The totem pole of misogynistic tropes which Joel mistakes for contradictions or fatal flaws are no more than you would expect to hear rhymed off about manic pixie dream girl or a psychotic ex - the narrator doesn't recognise that the problem isn't that she can't be understood, but that he is not capable of understanding her. It's wilfulness on his part though - humanising her would diminish him. Similarly, if he recognised that he was playing in a piano bar, he would have to concede he was just a loser like the people who hang out there. Unlike Springsteen and Bon Jovi, other songwriters from the Tri-State area who write about working class lives, Joel never really puts himself in anybody else's place. He is always the observer, the storyteller - like Randy Newman, although Newman never denies the contempt for his subject, because his subjects are the self-aggrandisers. Joel may not know realise that the subjects of his writing never seem as anything more than songwriting fodder, but he must recognise the chasm between him and them. On Only the Good Die Young, he sings "I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints; the sinners are much more fun," associating himself with, but never reducing himself to, flat stereotypes. (Against my will, I'm forced to think of the braindead binary of the Uptown Girl who has never had a backstreet guy! It's supposed to be about his real girlfriend and he still can't write a real person!) All this would be easy to ignore if some of the tunes weren't infuriatingly catchy. But, even here, it is nursery rhyme melodicism. I suspect that Billy Joel doesn't believe his audience couldn't handle anything more challenging or engaging. I was right all along. 1 I am on a package holiday at a resort hotel this week. We arrived in the afternoon and took our dinner as our half-board for the day. The package set-menu was a miserable affair of watery soup, cheap bread rolls, frozen vegetables and a main course consisting of a little insole of frying steak masquerading on the menu as ‚Beef Rib-Eye‘. We were a party of 8 and I was the only one who felt ill-used. Everyone else had ‚a lovely meal‘ and so we are returning tonight for another kicking. Naturally I thought of the popularity of Billy Joel. How did this square, reheated, miserable little lump of a songwriter come to be regarded as one of America’s greatest? ‚And they say there's a heaven for those who will wait/ And some say it's better, but I say it ain't/ I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints‘ It’s not that these are bad lyrics exactly, but they are almost impressively bland. A breezy regurgitation of a worthless commonplace; no drama, no insight, not even the sort of weird non sequitur, rhythmic pratfall, or grammar brainfart that keeps one awake through a Bernie Taupin lyric. Other songs are just a dull unfolding of the song’s title. The Italian restaurant, Joel is pleased to immediately point out, has white, red and rosé. Relatable. There’s ‘Get it Right the First Time’ - great title, thought Billy Joel, now what else should I say about that? Well, I could point out the difference between first and not first: Get it right the first time/ That's the main thing…/ You get it right the next time/ That's not the same thing‘ Oh right. Elsewhere there is a bloodless approximation of the style of other, better songwriters - the lyrical style of Movin’ Out recalls Paul Simon to no value; She’s Always a Woman is simply playschool Dylan. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant is an absolutely tiresome 7 and a half minutes. Brenda and Eddie sound like a couple of squares - although it isn’t clear that Billy Joel thinks so - and presumably they each bought a copy of The Stranger wherever they ended up and enjoyed it as much as their paintings from Sears. The second evening’s dinner was far better than the first. I had a set menu - cream of almond soup, spinach and ricotta cannelloni, and fish for the main. All very nice. We had red wine (I should mention that white and rosé were also options). There was a piano player knocking out instrumental versions of popular songs in between Chopin and Für Elise. ‘Always a Woman’ made an appearance. It’s a pleasant wee tune. You can see why people like this shit. 1.5/5
I hate Billy Joel. This album is all too well known to me, and I probably would have given a much higher rating before these songs were ground to dust in the last 40 years. One Star.
Such a classic
A classic!
I had never heard this full album, just knew a few songs and just so much better as a whole, start to finish listened twice so nice to hear good quality pop music Everything is on point, I have no complaints. The musicianship is perfect, recording is perfect. Billy Joel plays the pianos/keyboards himself and wrote all songs (remember when artists were musicians?) Every single song is great, everything sounds great, nothing is out of place.. its just an amazing album Highlights are obviously Vienna and Movin out Shoutout to Scenes from an italian restaurant, its like a cinematic song it has different parts or "scenes" , felt like a prog rock song or opera MORE OF THIS JA TAK
I used to only ever listen to Movin’ Out for the longest time and never thought once to venture beyond the first song, I was so stupid. This album is such an amazing listen, Billy Joel’s cadence and story telling is so good, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant is so perfectly crafted, and the Paul McCartney influence is so apparent not only in this song, but over the entire album. Joel uses his influences so well and manages to pay homage while also being so unique and personal. When I did an initial listen to this many months ago, I got stuck on the title track, there’s something so ear wormy about it, and no matter how many times I listen to it, it never gets old. I don’t know how I’ve gone my entire life without ever hearing Vienna, such a powerful song, he really puts his all into the performance it’s incredible. Having such a short track-list also helps this album a lot in that it allows every song to really stick itself to your mind. Overall, I can’t get enough of this album, I only hope to continue my Billy Joel journey!
I've struggled to break this one down today, even more because it's totally not what I expected. It's got more attitude, heavier guitar riffs and funky basslines, smokey bar pianos and great vocals and lyrics. It lacked pretention, whilst also feeling sophisticated. It was simply fantastic. It leans further into the piano-focused work as it progresses, but this does a great job of supporting the lyrics, which I am always shocked by how smart and aware they are. It felt, to me, like Joel was trying to tell more of a story in the lyrics, rather than trail out cliches to guarantee hitting emotions in listeners. Favourite songs: "The Stranger", "Just The Way You Are", "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant", "Only the Good Die Young", "Get it Right the First Time".
One of the perfect pop records. All songs are awesome, several classics. Well performed, joy to listen to.
The Stranger is an all killer, no filler American classic. It was Billy Joel's breakthrough album, and with good reason. It's rich with storytelling, brilliantly crafted songs, and an affable everyman behind the microphone. Coming Out has been my very favorite Billy Joel song, and that only adds to the special aura that The Stranger exudes. Highly recommend listening to any and all.
This is the type of album that I expect to find on a list of must hear albums. 5/5
Alright - I am GENUINELY embarrassed to give my first 5 star rating to a Billy Joel album but I do feel it deserves it. Every one of these songs is a HIT. Personally don’t care much for Italian Restaurant, but that still leaves Only The Good, Anthony’s Song, Vienna. I mean these are anthems and for some reason he was able to put them all on a pretty short album. I think most curiously, I wonder why Billy gets a lot of hate. Most ppl I know don’t like his music, but I do think his song writing and piano playing is really dope.
i will always love a good billy joel song, i will always love this album, i will always think of my friend eriks when i listen to it. makes me want to move to new york. 10/10 no notes
Only knew Billy Joel from the singles, this album is 10 stars.
Curti muito o álbum todo, e Viena sempre toca no fundo da alma... foda. Sempre quando ouço essa música tenho vontade de deixar o celular em casa e caminhar pela cidade sem rumo. Várias músicas no álbum que dão feels. Vou dar 5 estrelas sem medo.
This is up there with Thriller. Heat after heat. A perfect pop record. The best Billy Joel album by far. Cohesive and yet bouncy at every turn. He is truly himself here and does not shy away from his heritage. There is nothing to hate here. Every song is impactful and strong. This is a perfect record to throw on whether you want story or romance or background it’s the lyrical version of kind of blue
Chock-a-block with bangers. Billy Joel knows how to hit the mark.
Biko...Nuff said!
I had a cousin, his name was Tim. When we went on trips to Brisbane, I used to drive around in his ford fairlane listening to tapes of the Beatles and Billie Joel. I think him everytime I hear any Billie Joel, and especially “only the good die you young”. Tim passed away from stomach cancer well before his time, and I’m not saying he was the best person, but as Billie put it, “it’s better to laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints”. This album is amazing in its own right, and I hope you find connections with these songs and Billie Joel that bring a smile to your face, a spring in your step, or a tear to your eye. True art makes you feel, and this album is full of it.
classic
Love this album
These top-voted reviews are kind of startling. What, you're telling me a not-insignificant number of people agree with the idea of docking two stars from Billy Joel simply for him being the composer of Uptown Girl? (For the record, Uptown Girl is a great song. But even if it were heinously terrible, it was released six years after The Stranger. That's like knocking two stars off the Beatles' Please Please Me because they were the artists that released Revolution 9.) Now, this is one of the finest records of all time. Billy Joel has an almost untouchable 70s output, sort of akin to Queen's. That run starting with Turnstiles and ending with Glass Houses is ridiculous. Every one of his albums has a loose theme, and in the case of The Stranger, it's pure 70s pop. Every song has instant radio potential – so much so that the album as a collective sounds like a Greatest Hits record. Seriously. Many artists would kill to have just one of those first seven tracks on their album. Get It Right The First Time and Everybody Has A Dream are solid too, but it's the remaining tracks that push the album to "legendary" status. Movin' Out... "Ah, but workin' too hard can give you a heart attack-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack–" "And he's tradin' in his Chevy for a Cadillac-ac-ac-ac-ac-ac–" "You should never argue with a crazy ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma–" Some people call it cheesy. I agree. But isn't that part of its charm? Couple those goofy lines with some seriously great storytelling (this quickly becomes a theme for the Joelster), great chords and melody, and excellent musicianship, and you have an instant classic track on your hands. Good job Anthony. The title track begins with another rock-solid melody on the piano (and human whistle), which oddly isn't reprised during the song but simply plays during the outro, as well as during the outro of Everybody Has a Dream later on. Instead Joel presents a hodgepodge of clever lyrics that don't actually mean anything if you pay too much attention. Nah, just enjoy the cool guitar part and the sassy vocal delivery. It contrasts excellently with Just the Way You Are, a beautiful keyboard-based love ballad with some great textural swells and a similarly great saxophone solo. There's so much to say about Scenes from an Italian Restaurant – first and foremost the fact that Joel considers this his own finest composition. I agree. I also think it's the best song of 1977 and easily in the top five songs of the decade. Multiple song sections that flow together seamlessly, a barrage of solos and witty, conversational lyrics, a full-on movie plotline that passes by so quickly you didn't even notice seven minutes have passed already. And to top it all off, the song is a blast to play on piano. Except for the piano solo a couple of minutes in, which is perhaps Joel's hardest-to-play keyboard part in his whole discography – beating out the likes of Root Beer Rag, Prelude/Angry Young Man, and Running On Ice. 10/10. No notes. Well, except you can get just a little bit closer to perfection... ...with Vienna, Billy Joel's singular "perfect" song. A whirlwind of slow, lilting, crushing-yet-hopeful piano chords accompanies one of the most painfully relatable anthems of all time. "Slow down you crazy child / You're so ambitious for a juvenile / But then if you're so smart, tell me why are you still so afraid?" "You can't be everything you wanna be before your time / Although it's so romantic on the borderline tonight" "You've got your passion, you've got your pride / But don't you know only fools are satisfied? / Dream on, but don't imagine they'll all come true" Banger after banger after undeniable banger. And a dream to play live. It's no wonder Joel does so at pretty much every one of his concerts. And despite having over a billion Spotify streams, he still has the nerve to call this a "non-hit", an "album track". Heh. Only the Good Die Young is maybe a little in poor taste, but dang it, we seriously need a pick-me-up after the depressing reality-check that was Vienna. And some of Joel's wittiest lyricism, too: "The stained glass curtain you're hiding behind / Never lets in the sun" "You didn't count on me / When you were counting on your rosary" "You said your mother told you, all that I could give you was a reputation / Oh, she never cared for me / But did she ever say a prayer for me?" Couple that with shamelessly cheery acoustic guitar and a spirited, almost smug vocal performance, and you have a near-perfect pop song on your hands. The last in the seemingly-endless run of legendary songs is She's Always a Woman. A simple, sombre, beautifully performed ballad that is startlingly representative of the human condition: taking your anger out on an entire group needlessly because of one bad personal experience. Of course, if you take the lyrics literally, the song is a bit... sexist, I guess? If not, then certainly unnecessarily prejudicial. And maybe a little crazed, too. A similar sentiment (though aimed at the opposite gender) to songs like Lana Del Rey's "NFR!": "You're just a man, it's just what you do / Your head in your hands as you colour me blue" The last two tracks aren't anything to shake a stick at, either. A damn good finish to an absolute blitzkrieg of an album. Further proof that 1977 was the finest year of Western music. And that's a fact. 5/5 Key tracks: Movin' Out (Anthony's Song), The Stranger, Just the Way You Are, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Vienna, Only the Good Die Young, She's Always a Woman
Oh I really liked this. Thought I didn’t care about Billy Joel’s style but it definitely grew on me as I listened to it. I marked a few songs.
Have it on Vinyl! Another great one.
A masterpiece that brings you to a time and place.
Great album and soundtrack to the morning dog walk with the cool weather we had this morning. The vibes of this album are just immaculate.
Ah.. the best Billy Joel. And it’s his only offering from the book. Someone else pointed out that there are f*ing six Elvis Costello albums. And only this from Billy Joel. Really. Let’s see how I feel after today’s listen… Yeah this is a 5. What an amazing display of song writing. I just don’t care about haters. This is a tour de force. Elvis Costello has moments. He doesn’t have one album that even begins to rises to this level as far as I can tell. Whatever one might want to say about Joel’s later career- he could STILL write a great song. Costello can do word play and annoy us. 5 Boolean:True
man i just really love this album
Makes for a lovely shower album. The bathroom wall becomes a mesmerising thing when Just the Way You Are's saxophone solo is playing and you're massaging Philip Kingsley onto your scalp. Excellent sounds for reading essays on Kinuyo Tanaka's directorial works post-shower, too.
Excellent album there wasn’t a song I wanted to skip!
I credit this album with being what brought me from kids music to adult music. I have owned in on vinyl, 8 track, cassette, and CD. I sang along with every track!
5 sterren
A tour de force from start to finish. Billy Joel in his prime. Probably the highest density of all-time greats on any album ever. If you count Scenes from an Italian Restaurant (my favorite Joel song) as three songs, there are more all-timers than tracks.
The strangest thing about this album is how The Stranger is one of the worst songs. But it all slaps so it's minor nits to pick
So good, short album but I already knew like every song that’s how you know
What a great album…a collection of stellar songs
music is love
Really pleasant album. Great tone and nice stories.
One of the greatest albums. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant would make this 5 stars by itself
Amazing album and multiple tops songs
5/5 Favorite Song: Moving Out or Vienna
Honestly felt perfect so it earned its 5. It was so good I moved onto the deluxe live album version
Definitely a reason there’s such a contrast between the last two songs and the rest of the album but truly hit after hit here
Just nonstop bangers.
No. 211 Every track is well made and quite different from each other making it a very enjoyable listen. No skips
Might be the best album on this site
Best of Billy. It´s just a great album
i was SO scared that i wouldn't like this because i haven't liked any of the other acclaimed albums ive listened to on here so far. so im really happy to report that i actually loved this masterful song writing. so easy to pick up and definitely a crowd pleaser but not at all dull. i think this is just music for everyone fave track: movin' out (anthony's song)
Great
I could rate this a 5 in my sleep. Vienna is my all time favorite Billy Joel song. This album hits even more deeply after watching his 2 part documentary on HBO. I could listen to Billy Joel all day every day.
Beautiful album, every song is a hit and all of them make for great listening. I've always loved Billy Joel, glad to get his album on here. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant was my fav song of the album. She's Always A Woman and Everybody Has a Dream (my fav first listen) were my other highlights
Every track is well made and quite different from each other making it a very enjoyable listen. No skips
Thriller for corny white boys
I’d like to say that Billy Joel is one of my guilty pleasures, but I don’t think I actually feel any guilt about loving his music. This is a fantastic record, everything from the lyricism to the instrumentation to the production is all stellar. I really think that our modern times underestimate just how good Billy Joel was. Smooth powerful vocals, catchy hooks, incredible guitar playing. There’s a vibe to this record that I find hard to describe, but it’s a great one. It’s such a great blend of rock n roll, really strong ballads, and that classic 70’s soft rock-pop. I think this almost counts as a concept album, as there seems to be a very reoccurring theme that seems to touch on one story throughout, at the very least that recurring theme of hardheadedness and stubbornness of Billy Joel himself in New York City in the 1970’s. There’s some biting sarcasm and occasional moments of true introspection, lyrically. I may be biased as I grew up with this record and “52nd Street”, but I really love this one. 5*
So many classics!!
Haven't listened much to Billy Joel, and what a mistake that turned out to be! Sounds like the American counterpart to Elton John. Perhaps not as successful (not many are), but this album proves he's a force to be reckoned with. The opening track 'Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)' sets the tone instantly. What a good track! And it never really lets off the gas from there. Couldn't find any song I didn't like in this, which is extremely rare. To add to that, there are a handful standout stellar ones like the aforementioned 'Movin Out', but also 'Just the Way Your Are', 'Vienna' to name a few. The singing is on point, the groove is on point, the guitar and piano playing is on point. Just a really solid album, hats off!
Also one of the top 10 ever recorded.
4.80
A masterpiece in every way. He changed the game with this album. All of these songs are classics now, for good reason! Songwriting is top tier. Top Songs: The Stranger, Just the Way You Are, Vienna
It’s kind of ridiculous how stacked this album is. Tracks 1 through 7 are certified classics. That’s seven (!) well known and loved songs on one album, all in a row. The two tracks that follow this insane run are solid too. The Stranger is up with the best of them in pop/rock whatever albums. An American classic.
Very good album, different styles but every one expertly done.
A classic. Billy Joel can write a great song - the booming piano, the memorable story telling. This is like a greatest hits album; there are so many standout tracks, including one of my favorites, Vienna. I mean who doesn’t love a good accordion solo.
Billy Joel is a premier talent and not only has tremendous songs, but puts on an amazing live show as well. The Stranger is debatably his best album with more than half of its songs being global favorites containing witty, and thought-provoking lyrics. This compilation is a timeless classic that is as good as it was on day one as it is now almost 50 years later.
One of the greatest songwriters of our time. His stories are timeless, his melodies infectious. So many great songs. So many great albums (only 1 on the list?!?!). A pure entertainer, he brings it every single show. Absolute legend!
an album full of bangers
So many hits on this. One to own on vinyl for sure.
It's Billy Joel, so
GOATEDDDDD
Knew wayyy more Joel songs than I thought. Absolutely banger album
His best album. Such a great collection of songs.
this is very much a groove
One of my all time favourites. Packed full of great songs
Is this a greatest hits album?
This feels like a Greatest Hits album, even though it's just one release. Tracks like "Movin' Out" and "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" show off serious skill on top of catchy tunes. It's got that New York romanticism with a touch of sadness, all wrapped up in a warm, polished sound that makes even the familiar songs sound fresh. And it also has killer, timeless songs like "Just the Way You Are", "She's Always a Woman", and "Only the Good Die Young". You can't deny the talent and knack for a good song. It's easy to listen to, gets you going, and makes you think, all while tackling those relatable things like who you are, love, and loss, without any filler.
Listened in the car. I think this album made me a Billy Joel fan. It honestly felt like a greatest hits album. So many great, classic songs. Really surprised by how much I enjoyed it!
love it
Top notch, really enjoyed this album.
Enpä voi sanoa tunteneena Billy Joelilta muuta kuin biisin Piano man. Onneksi tämä levy oli listalla. Huikeaa soiton juhlaa, toki itse aina fiilistelen ennen muuta rumpu-basso-osastoa. Ihan älytön tyylitaju, dynamiikka, taito, sovitukset. Mahtavaa! 5/5
This is a great album
Meget viby late night album! Bedre produceret end jeg mindes. Standouts er selvfølgelig Just The Way You Are, Vienna og She's Always A Woman, men kunne også ret godt lide de to første tracks
All timer, grew up on these songs being played all the time. Every song is a hit.
One of those albums that feels unique for the early midlife crisis.
Looks like he did start the fire, because that's what this album is
Oh my goodness. A bit biased cuz this was basically my childhood soundtrack. I lurrve this one good ole billy joel 10/10
i LOVE this album. the first song i ever listened to by billy joel is ‘Vienna’ but i’d have to say that ‘only th good die young’ is definitely my favorite so far.
Five out of five already and I didn’t even have to listen cause I’ve listened to it so many times I absolutely love this album. It’s one of those if I ever bought it it would hang on my wall Billy Joel was a master at work on this album I can’t think of a better way to spend 42 minutes
Amo cualquier álbum que tenga sonidos de saxo. Es un álbum muy disfrutable, con un sonido bastante fresco, más allá de ser de 1977 y la mezcla de voces e instrumentos son el punto más fuerte del disco. . Diseño de portada: 4/5 → Diseño a blanco y negro con un concepto muy interesante con respecto al nombre del álbum, muy buena composición y elementos interesantes. . Canciones favoritas: "Scenes from an Italian restaurant", "Only the good die young" y "Get it right the first time"
Movin' Out is a fantastic album opener, and one of Joel's best songs. Great combination of blue-eyed soul and pop sensibilities. Overall, a great album...his very best, in fact.
awesome
Classics and less known greats. The dynamic range of the music is amazing and I found myself bobbing my head or humming along to all of the album.
First listen
Reallly liked it 100000/10
Ok, I need to start by saying that I don't really like Billy Joel. I find his songwriting too facile, and he's never really challenging the listener in any way. That said, this album is great...hit after hit! So, although I'm not a fan, I have to judge this fairly... and that's 5 stars.
Love this album! I’ve got the first pressing on vinyl
Frábær plata. Allt lög sem verða betri saman.
An incredibly produced, sung and performed piece of pop music that defies the standards and conformities of the industry at the time. Sure there was a pop hit or two, but the album went above and beyond when crafting hit songs and classic staples that would keep the charts busy for almost a decade, even now the songs are immortalized in the pop and rock canon. Look no further than "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" for how ambitious and infectious a seven minute song about divorce and young romance all the while encapsulating busy NYC street life can lead to being one of the biggest songs of his whole career. This thing is packed full of amazing music that goes beyond the clever words and beautiful melodies. The musicianship and crafting of the music itself is just deliciously detailed and vibrant. Really, in just 9 songs Billy Joel has created probably one of the greatest pop and rock albums to come out of the 70's.
I feel like I will need to turn in my Punk Rock Street Cred Card for this. But, goddamn, can Billy Joel tell a story.
Amazing songwriting. Lots of really good individual tracks here. However, the entire album is laid out in a very cohesive manner that makes the entire album a pleasure to listen to from start to finish.
I have so much to say about this album, but I’ll keep it pretty short. The opening track has to be one of the strongest starts to any album I’ve listened to so far. This story tells such cohesive and beautiful story while also mixing up and changing the pace of the songs. And some of the best writing I’ve heard in a minute.
I wish I heard this album a few years ago and it should be listened by any young adult man
A couple of tracks are a little cheesy, but cheese is delicious! Probably not my favorite Billy Joel album, but close. 4.5 rounded up to 5.
This album was a pleasant listen
Oh honey I love this album, I have already listened to it probably 1001 times
Not a false note here!
Great album! How can anyone think otherwise!
Love Billy joel
Billy Joel is an absolute legend, this is some of the most interesting bluesy-piano-pop music ever made. This album has such a strong selection of tracks with a blend of more rock-focused songs and some sweeter piano ballads.
I love this record.
Classic
Owned A bonefide, no skip, end to end masterpiece.
Just about every song is fantastic and so many classics. Good variety and plenty of energy. A little dated in production though. Favorite songs: Moving Out, Vienna, Only the Good Die Young
This album has so many great songs. This is Billy Joel at his best.
Back to back, non stop, no skip bangers.
The Greatest
A classic one of whatever this is... Singer-piano player?
I absolutely love this album. There are so many good songs that come off of this one and I’ve listened to it multiple times. The song-writing here was fantastic. His performance of teach song is fantastic. This is peak Billy Joel, IMHO. Album 38, April 5, 2028
Beautiful stories. Music is excellent, Great sound.
Absolutely hits
Fucking love billy joel big reason i picked up piano one of america’s greatest songwriters and this is an excellent showcase
Every song is a classic on this classic Billy Joel. “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant “ and “Just the way you are” remain my favourites
Great album with enduring songs
Geile Stimmung Keine Skips
So good. A classic, She's always a woman was my entry point to Billy Joel. Huge smile on my face when this showed up this morning.
Never actually listened to billy Joel, kind of just knew him as the butt of jokes in sitcoms. Massively impressed. Listened to it twice.
Really excellent album, such a delight to go through each time and better to discover the songs I hadn't really given much attention to before. I love a good piano/ vocal pairing and he masterful at it. So many iconic tracks and fun melodies that carry it far beyond he time it was recorded. This album had a notable impact on me growing up and it continues to be relevant. It's hard to name highlights when the whole album feels like the highlight.
I think many people can empathise with the experience of a phase in their high school years where they are singularly obsessed with a particular musical artist. Maybe it was The Beatles, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin etc., but for me, that obsession was squarely set with Billy Joel. I was all in, and I truly thought he was God's gift to music. Looking back, yes it's a little cringe inducing to think about how I lauded his greatness, keep in mind I was in high school in the 2010's, and now a lot of his output, particularly through the 80's, represents what are some of my least favourite pieces of music. But I still have a huge soft spot for the piano man and his earlier career, there are still plenty of tracks and albums of his that I regularly listen to, and his live album Songs in the Attic is still a top 3 album of all time for me. But this album, The Stranger, is the only one of his that I think absolutely deserves a spot on a list like this, and it deserves that spot without question. This is Billy Joel at his absolute best, with an actual masterpiece of pop/rock songwriting. I have to stop myself from gushing for several paragraphs more about each track, because every single one of them is a home run. (maybe excluding everybody has a dream, but it's still pretty good). I think many artists would dream of being able to write with this level of consistency, even Billy Joel himself never was able to put the pieces together this well on his other releases. Five Stars Fav Track: 1 - Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) Best Three Track Run: 4, 5, 6
Have to give a five. Classic songs almost every one. Two misfires at the end but what clever lyrics and songwriting.
9/10
BILLY JEWEL (like a precious stone not like the religion/ethnicity ok? relax) This is one of the greatest albums of all time. DON’T FIGHT ME ON THIS.
how could u not like this
I knew so many of these songs. Great album!
muy bueno, no pensé q me iba a gustar
As an Italian American born and raised on Long island anything less than 5 stars would be a disgrace to my heritage.
Album para relajarse, no hay cancion mala
I never tire of this collection; he has many treasures later in his career but this album is the best I think. Before he moved into too much Pop. The nostalgia cannot be separated , I love it.
Billy Joel writes music for the soul. Such an easy 5
5 stars for my boyfriend
Really enjoyed this album, I'd heard a couple of these songs before, but had even more takeaways after listening. Great album overall, every song was a joy to listen to
Love it. Great album all round. Every song is great, and Vienna is perfect.
I must admit, I was surprised by this album. I think His later career left me a bit jaded about listening to this album. Having said that, this album is a really solid effort. The story telling is brilliant, the music has a real ear worm quality to it.
Best Song: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant This is the quintessential Billy Joel album and an old time favorite. There isn't a bad song on here and, after seeing Joel several times live, he plays most of it whenever he performs. Such a great album! 5/5.
Fantastic album!
Love love love.
Absolutely flawless, Billy you are a fucking star
This album is really good. There's the songs everyone knows, and then there's some less famous songs, but every song here is good. Truly a perfect album, and so much fun. Easy 5 stars I love Billy Joel
Did not expect it to be as catchy as it was but every song was infectious!
Bangers on bangers
++: Movin' Out (Anthony's Song), The Stranger, Just the Way You Are, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Vienna, Only the Good Die Young, She's Always a Woman, Get It Right the First Time, Everybody Has a Dream 9,7/10
Awesome album.
5 - fantastic album
A Classic, each song it's a hit or nearly one. It's difficult to point whats wrong on this, it has so much variety and the mixing is very good. Maybe the songs can't stick the same to everyone, but i can't find a bad song in this album.
14/03/26 esse eu queria ouvir há um tempo, tô no hype falei "não me decepcione" e dei play, no primeiro segundo já soube que era obra de arte a vibe disso aqui é sensacional, tudo é composto com tanta classe e piano e solos e puta que pariu que coisa incrível é tudo tão alegre e exala a parte descolada dos anos 80, a sonoridade é redondinha ao longo do álbum e as melodias grudam muito na cabeça vienna é uma das músicas mais maravilhosas e reconfortantes para gente como eu 10/10
Man, this album alone has a ton of his greatest hits, and the songs work together well to paint a clear picture of a time and place. Billy Joel is a fun storyteller.
I love this album so much
it was agreat álbum,it has a nostalgic feeling
This definitely isn’t a super high 5, but it was really good. The music quality was outstanding, and I just really enjoyed the whole thing. I didn’t know that I liked this Soul-pop-like music until I listened to What’s Going On my Marvin Gaye and this album.
Enjoyed this album very much. The music feels so full and rich and it’s awesome songs. 10/10 would listen again. I do not like the album cover tho.
First Billy Joel album I listened to but I loved it!!! I dig white boys going crazy on the piano
phenomenal album
💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
Known banger
own
I was not hugely knowledgeable about Billy Joel outside of some of his biggest hits, so this is my first time listening to an entire album of his. This Album is a wall to wall banger for me, it has the perfect balance of fun upbeat tunes and more thoughtful songs like Vienna and she’s always a woman. Yes some of the lyrics are a bit cheesy, but that adds to the fun, I enjoyed this album so much I’m gonna get it on vinyl. I also think it’s the perfect length for an album (45 minutes), I find the longer the album the more likely you are to find filler, this album has no skips for me. Favoutite track is The Stranger ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Almost every track is a banger. 5 Stars.
What a classic. A massive collection of hits on this album, and the other songs are excellent as well. A nice coherent album, with various way of interesting the listener. 5/5
*1977. *One of the best - stacked from top to bottom: -Movin' Out -The Stranger -Just the Way You Are -Vienna -Scenes from an Italian Restaurant -Only the Good Die Young -She's Always a Woman RATING - 9.9/10
<3
classic
how can one not like billy joels music
This album is what late summer sounds like when you grew up upper middle class in the same town your mother grew up lower middle class. And nothing you do can actually be all that unique because her experiences overshadow yours. I cannot possibly expand on that thought. Also, I am physically incapable of being normal about Movin’ Out. Season: Late Summer Favorite Song: Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)
Excellent song writing, horrible sax. I'll let it pass.
Viena waits for you
So so so so good
This album feels like one I grew up with, even though I didn't. This album is cozy and nostalgic, even though it isn't nostalgic for me. I first heard Vienna from a Tik Tok of a guy singing Karaoke. And in the few years since, I have fallen in love with the stranger.
Cozy and enduring 70s pop.
What a wonderful album by the piano man.
5 ACKS out of 5
Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) - 9.5/10 (This is one of my favourite albums of all time, and I have listened to it more times than I can count, I already know the scores for everything here. Hell I'm even listening to this on vinyl.) The Stranger - 10/10 (One of my favourite intros and themes EVER, and man is the song good too) Just The Way You Are - 10/10 (Man I want this song at my wedding, what a beautiful track) Scenes From An Italian Restaurant - 12/10 (One of the best songs of all time, this is Billy Joel's magnum opus, it's such a fantastic track with so many switches and sounds and the song length is quite impressive for the time this album released. This is Billy Joel's "Bohemian Rhapsody", in fact i like this song a lot more than "Bohemian Rhapsody" itself.) Vienna - ♾️/10 (It's one of my favourite songs ever, and it means so much to me. The lyrics speak to me in a personal way, and the sound of the song is just so beautiful. I wanna visit Vienna just to play this song while walking around there.) Only The Good Die Young - 9.5/10 (Such a fun track man, I love the sound, I love the lyrics ugh this album is AMAZINGGG) She's Always a Woman - 11/10 (One of my mom's favourite songs ever, and honestly one of mine too. It's such a beautiful track, so peaceful and lord knows I love me a good peaceful track. The lyrics are also so pretty, the song is incredible.) Get It Right The First Time - 9/10 Everybody Has a Dream - 8.5/10 (An extra .5 just because this is the song with the longest part of the Stranger's theme song, which is honestly one of my favourite themes EVER. While the weakest song on the album, its not even close to being a bad song.) One of the best albums of all time, one of my favourite albums of all time, probably in my top 10. I mean hell I was overjoyed with this today, I love Billy Joel and I knew exactly what score this would get from the beginning but I will never pass up an opportunity to listen to this masterpiece. 10/10 5/5 Amazing.
Yah, i love this album. Crazy note. This is the first whole album I bought as a youth. I'd bought singles and liked listening to young person, modern music, but something about this "older" guy's music really grabbed me. I was too young to move out, but I vibed with "Moving Out" as if I was ready to. Something eerie about "The Stranger" tickled my brain. Listening to "Only the Good Die Young" as a young man, all I could think about was picking those locks, too! These lyrics stuck with me through my whole life: "They say there's a heaven for those who will wait Some say it's better, but I say it ain't I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints The sinners are much more fun" I haven't listened to this album in over 20 years, but it was a welcome choice. When I saw it pop up, I smiled and felt a rush of happiness that I was going to get to hear it today. Here ya go, Billy. Take one of my rare 5's!
Favorite Track: Only the Good Die Young
great album
Definitely Billy Joel’s best album. The album is absolutely packed with hits, and there is not really a bad song (but maybe Get It Right The First Time is not on the same level as some of the other songs).
Nothing but a 5 is possible when the first 7 tracks of a 9 song album are fire! Didn't realize this album contained so many of his greatest songs!
Billy Joel is one of my Mom's favorites. She loves Billy Joel. She has seem him play numerous time, including multiple nights as MSG. Whenever I listen to Billy Joel, I get nostalgic for riding around in my Mom's car listening to this shit. Its great. Its fantastic. He's incredibly talented. Its impossible to hate this music. Its kind of perfect singer songwriter pop. I love the jazz and blues influences. He also gets kind of out there with cool brass sections and kind of wild guitars. But the piano is the driving force behind his vocals and lyrics. I think what makes this record so approachable is the wide range or emotions and themes throughout. It takes you places. You're happy, you're sad, you're jamming, you're chilling. Its all encompassing. One moment you're laid back on a couch and next, you're commanded to your feet in an epic. It makes you feel things. This record rocks.
Great songs, nostalgic. 10/10
This is an achievement in pop-rock musicality!
A solid five star. I’m ashamed to say that I have never listened to this album and yet somehow I knew almost all of the songs. Such a good album and one I will very definitely come back to.
great piano-led record
AMAZINGGGGG AMAZING AMAZING VIENNNAAAAA
I mean, there are multiple songs here that are straight up classics. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) as the opening song is a pretty big "yeah, I know this is a banger" move. I don't think this is an album that can be pulled out in any situation, but it is still a 5 star.
My fave by Mr. Joel.
Love this album
Most of these songs were great. There are some phenomenal songs on this record that stand the test of time. Overall, I'd probably give this a 4.5 but I'll round up.
Every song I already knew from this record is 10/10, so I already expected this to be awesome, but damn! So many memorable, moving, unforgettable gems in this! The storytelling, the instrumentation... for some, the latter may seem dated or cheesy, but for me, it captures the very best that era in music had to offer.
Yes
Know this album like the back of my hand, amazing work of art right here. One of the best artists and one of the best albums truly.
One of the best albums of all time. I love Billy Joel, and I’ve always thought that he has his own distinct sound. No one sounds like him, nor does her conform to the trends of the eras he creates music in. He is just Billy Joel and makes beautiful music
Billy Joel proves why his songs will be played in every single piano bar every night until the end of time. From the opener with "Movin Out", to "Vienna", to "Only the Good Die Young", it's banger after banger. Truly timeless on the ivories and a great voice to boot. A generational talent.
Billy Joel is a legendary songwriter and performer, and this album, start to finish, may be his best.
first 5 of the project, sorry it’s all bangers
Absolutely brilliant LP. Really strong songs that made him a star.
5.0 - Awesome
Loved this!
Great album. I didn't realize there were so many big songs on this one album.
Цікавий альбом. 5 однозначно
Good, good. Double good.
Peak
It's really nice, I only knew Vienna from it before but all of it was great
I listened to this album for the first time a few months ago after getting the vinyl from a record fair. I already knew half the songs so while I wasn’t surprised to find that this album is a 10/10, it still knocked my socks off. There’s really no weak points on it. It’s simply all great. The lyrics, the storytelling, the songs. A perfect album.
Love this one. Full of ear worms! "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" is still my favorite on here. This is the LP that put him in the limelight.
nice
Phenomenal album from beginning to end
Going in I thought this would be a 4, but I think think the highs are just good enough to get this to a 5. This is undeniably a good album with some absolute classics and good musicianship throughout. 4.5
BANGER
I think my favorite song ever is "Vienna" from this album. So even if every other song on the album was absolutely horrible, I would still be giving it a five star rating. Fortunately, the rest of the album is really good. Every song is so distinct, and every one of them deserves its place, there's no filler. Overall, this is a great album, one of my favorites. Five stars. (Favorite track: Vienna.)
Incredible
Classic for a reason. I had never listened to a Billy Joel album start to finish and this was a great one to do! Some songs too long.
un álbum perfecto donde todas las canciones encajan muy bien
Great! A few classics in there!
This is a fantastic album. Great pop songwriting
forever and always this album. 10/10 no questions no comments.
#1 Billy Joel album and I won't be taking any questions. Favorites: Vienna (ofc), Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Just the Way You Are, The Stranger, Always a Woman
Somehow incredibly cohesive and concise. Really appreciated this album a lot
10/10, probably my new favourite album 😮💨
What a phenomenal album - some of the best music on this planet. It’s rare that you get such good songs on a no skip album. Even the songs that I wasn’t as familiar with were incredible! Billy Joel you’re one of the greats!
Own this record, a classic.
there's a lot working against this album: the general corniness of the whole thing, Billy Joel's goofy voice, my usual distaste for this sort of pop/soft rock, my hatred of long island, but all of that is meaningless in the face of a taut, tight 42 minutes of non stop undeniable bangers
Great listen with a compelling I story in each track with a catchy beat
LOOOOOVED IT
'Movin' Out' has such a Wings sound to it, going from a staccato to a swing; and the melodic lilt of Macca runs through the album. Indeed I've seen McCartney say that the one song he wishes he'd written is 'Just the Way You Are', a song which penetrates deeper into easy-listening territory than most jazz-lounge instrumentals you'll ever hear in your life. That quasi-cheesy feel and production comes across throughout; the opener, the title track (pop that bass) - these could quite easily fit on a Guilty Pleasures collection alongside Andrew Gold et al. 'Scenes from an Italian Restaurant' moves from a pop bounce to a 'Love on the Rocks' reaching for the stars section, smattered with smooth sax and all interlinked by strings. It doesn't work on paper, but by golly it does in the ear. I don't love it all, but it's a guilty pleasure alright, not sounding pastiche but the genuine article, and the songcraft is second to one (Macca).
Me gustó demasiado!!!! 9/10, pensé cero que me podría gustar billy joel pero este disco es perfectoooooooooooooo
70s American soft rock at it’s finest! Classic album that still sounds good today.
How I love this album. Let me count the ways. 1. "Movin Out" and "Only the Good Die Young" are my 2/3 of my top Billy songs. 2. "Vienna" is in "13 going on 30" and just makes that scene. The song says things the character can't. 3. When I was in college I went to a music fest in Canada and left a weed pipe in the case of this album on the American side and it was still there when we came back so I have a cassette case of this album as a souvenir. 4. Love that scene in "Step Brothers" when the band plays only 80's Joel and the crowd wants to play "something from The Stranger". 5 So many hits. Billy Joel is so nostalgic for me. He reminds me of some of the Gen Xers from my youth that I looked up to. This is a great album from start to end and is peppered all over pop culture. 5 stars!!
Love love love Billy Joel!! Don’t know why I didn’t listen to the full album before
Great album, catchy tunes. Even the slow songs were good
I’ve listened to a few songs off this album before, and they are so good so listening to the full thing was the best.
10/10!!!
SO good
I don't think I would ever consider myself a Billy Joel fan but this album is pretty great. I guess I might be a Billy Joel fan, totally unexpected.
Not sure if this or Glass Houses is his best work, but this is an easy 5 stars.
The songs naturally progressed through a life journey without needing any deeper meaning and I think that's what makes this album such a timeless classic - as a whole collective or individual songs Best = Vienna Skip = Only the good die young
It’s hard to believe that before this album Billy Joel was known as a one hit wonder (Piano Man). But this, his 5th studio album has, by my estimation, at least 5 all time Billy Joel classics.
for dads with vinyl collections, this is the best music you could ask for. a couple forgivable duds, recovered by a bonus star for the ack-ack-ack-ack line which is worth a whole star by itself.
Fire and passion combined into an album with
I wanted to give this 3 stars soooo badly but it’s seriously banger after banger
classic
excellent album, love billy joel so much, vienna on top 9/10
LOVE
The typical rule of thumb for billy joel is that usually each one of his albums contains one good single to a sea of meh (e.g. my life, piano man, goodnight saigon) but the stranger is hit after hit, no matter anyone’s thoughts on the guy’s music the stranger is such a good album
This was an incredible album. The music was top notch and I put it on my Discogs “Want to buy” list.
One of my favorite albums of all time. A masterpiece by a true master musician. No notes. Pretty sure I listened to Vienna 20 times a day in high school.
* Kait- an exceptional album. I think I first listened to it during the pandemic. There is something for everyone - stuff for dancin, stuff for smoochin, and stuff for cryin. My favorite were “just the way you are” “Vienna” “only the good dye young” and “she’s always a woman”. this should be on our rotation on the reg. 9.5/10. Didn’t get the extra .5 because Al thinks that’s crazy for the second listen. Perfect • Wedding • Soundtrack * Al-Just, great album all around. I knew a couple of the singles but didn’t realize the whole album was hits. Only complaint is it wasn’t longer. Stand out tracks: all of them 9.1/10
Got caught up on She's still always a woman. Loved listening to the album while working.
Great album and one of my favorites from Billy Joel.
Movin' Out - Loved repetitive syllables, great crashes in the drum Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - What is this song about? She's always a woman - Love this song, I want to deep dive into the lyrics to understand it better. Favorite Lines: Vienna -Take the phone off the hook and disappear for a while" She's always a woman - She can kill with a smile, she can wound with her eyes, "Oh, she takes care of herself", she's ahead of her time, "she never gives up, she never gives in",
Great album enjoyed every song. Vienna was my go to song for long time.
Simply a classic
She's always a woman and vienna 🙂↕️🙂↕️🙏
Masterpiece. I was about 16 when this album came out and pretty much every song was on the radio. By far his best album which I still listen to today.
No a big Billy Joel fan, but this is an exceptional piece of writing and performance
Sounds like a best friend 10/10 Best song-vienna
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I think I had gotten him confused with Elton John, who (as of 4/4/26, maybe for no reason) I thought I would find annoying... but turns out I enjoy Billy's stuff!
Loved it. So sing along-able. I knew a bunch of them, and now I know more of them. I put half the album in my liked songs playlist. Hell yeah
No notes, one of the best songwriters of all time
*** Fun fact (written before listening): When I was a kid, I would spent summers in our family's countryside house. Near my room there was a big Billy Joel poster, which my dad put on the wall. I asked my dad if he could show me some of his music, but he told me that he got this poster for free from his friend and didn't had any of his records. I think I was subconsciously annoyed by Billy all this years, because he, with his self-confident smile, wearing sunglasses and looking cool, was a symbol of some good music that exists, but I'll never have a chance to listen too. Now, 25 years later, I can get to hear any music I want within a few seconds and using this opportunity to listen to my "beloved" Radiohead and U2 just because I decided to take a part in some fun challenge. Well, life is good, I guess! Fun fact ends*** Well, this wait was well worth it. I have nothing about piano based pop rock, but it needs to be really good to catch my attention. And during this album I haven't lost attention even for a couple of seconds. His playing is great, his singing and especially his songwriting, which keeps excited during the whole lenght of the album. Probably as good in this style as Elton is. Probably a few more listens and I'll want this poster back.
I didn’t realize how many bangers were on this album. He is so talented. Put me in a good mood.
Great
The key to Scenes from an Italian Restaurant is to listen to it sparingly enough that you are freshly bowled over by just how good it is every single time.
Monumental
brilliant b