1001 Albums Generator
The Stranger by Billy Joel

The Stranger

Billy Joel

1977
3.86
Rating
30781
Votes
1
2%
2
7%
3
24%
4
37%
5
30%
Distribution
Genres: Rock, Pop Styles: Singer Songwriter, Soft Rock, Pop Rock, Vocal

Reviews (page 5 of 16)

This has a lot of hits. Pretty fun album.

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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

amazing, really good, I likE i LIKE

Sooo much fun. Billy Joel's songwriting is always a blast to experience. I loved some of the songs (the stranger, always a woman) but the last two left much to be desired imo. a solid 3.5 album; some songs to save but not consistent enough for a 4 :) favourite(s): The Stranger, Always a Woman least favourite(s): Get it Right the First Time, Everybody Has a Dream

Only the Good Die Young can live.

Dad music

Anyone else have an impromptu dance party to "Only the Good Die Young"? No? Just me? "Vienna" gets me every time.

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

defo can see why the most popular songs are most popular.. good tho!!

first song was a banger then it becomes a bit crap

Impossible not to love it

straight elton john

*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

Pretty fun listen, not bad at all. I am not the biggest fan of hits, but a lot of memorable tracks.

Vienna is absolute masterpiece, but we already knew that. Some songs were really good but some song vere just mid. 3.5*

Bangor reminds me of being little

Nice vibes Billy

This is some trite shit

revisit later 2

how can one not like billy joels music

This album is full of great song after great song.

high 3 some good songs here but lacking fundamental appeal

I like Billy Joel. He has some undeniable hits and is a talented musician and The Stranger has more than a couple standout hits. But in ranking the best albums of all time… those hits really drag up the average of some otherwise uninteresting songs… TO ME….

More upbeat and fast paced music. I've listened to some of the songs before but probably wouldn't go and search them up. I believe my mom or sister would enjoy this album more.

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.

Wonderful songwriting.

i'm way behind so i'm not gonna write a full review for this one- shoutout to billy joel. great music. get it right the first time was my fav on this one

Every song is a banger, you really can't go wrong with this album. Full of soul and melody. Positives: Each one of these songs is great in it's own way, the album is consistent but I never get tired of the sound. Really good use of all the classic band instruments of the era. Some great bass lines. Negatives: The songs peter off as the album goes on, starts off super strong but just kinda fades off at the end. Favourite song upon listening: The Stranger & She's Always a Woman Started/Finished: 10:30am 25/02/2026 - 6pm 25/02/2026 (two full listens) Did I grow up with this one: a bit Number of albums reviewed: 3 (including this one) 1 is bad, 2 is not for me, 3 is good, 4 is great, 5 is legendary

Packed full of hits, genuinely enjoyable listen. The first album so far that I’d be happy to revisit…

Some upbeat bangers in the first half but looses it a bit in the second. Kind of liked it. My reviews are getting less in depth.

Solid storytelling pop. Only the Good Die Young earned it the fourth star.

Snore. The gospel choirs at the end of the record were nice at least.

Viena waits for you

neil cicierega - man piano. Mais um álbum que quanto mais escutei, mais gostei.

I wanted to love this but most of the songs just didn’t *quite* hit for me.

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.

it's okay but nothing special for me

No argument here. It is a solid album with strong instrumental arrangements and performances that flows well, and is a tight 43 minutes. My only complaint is that occasionally the lyrics are too wordy, and/or clunky. I am also of the opinion that as much as I enjoy this album, that STORM FRONT is the more consistently solid album.

What a wonderful album by the piano man.

-Movin' Out: Nice intro to the album. Sounds like a melody I've already heard before, but can't quite figure out where. Maybe an 80's song? Tempo changes in some bits? Not sure, but love that resource. "Hold on, let me put a goddamn mark to it." -

no escuché mucho por qué no estoy en ese estilo de musica últimamente, pero un icono billy joel

this was very good. i particularly really enjoyed “the stranger”, i find the message to be really true and also “vienna” is so good.

Vienna is the best song ever

Slick and well played singer-songwriter classic. Probably Joel’s apotheosis.

5 ACKS out of 5

Billy Joel always existed in a weird spot for me. Springsteen as well. Great storytellers using music and a lot of their stuff hits some really great spots, you can feel parts of your life when you listen. It's always there. Yet I rarely seek out their music. No clue why, this is a great album. It's got hits and even the rest of the album holds up. Solid songs all the way around, and I will not play them again. I won't wake up and go, it's a Billy Joel day! I will recognize his stuff and even say, oh this is a great tune, but I won't look for the album later. Well worth a listen, solid lyrics, music fits well, good production, honestly I should rank it a 5 but I won't listen to it again so it's not a 5 for me.

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!

I've been a huge Billy Joel fan but this album is packed with hits. It was interesting to read that he was at risk of being dropped by his label if this album hadn't been a success.

Favorite Track: Only the Good Die Young

Billy Joel is one of those musicians that will be impossible for me to rate objectively. I have a lot of nostalgia for his music from childhood. Joel is great at storytelling, with Scenes From An Italian Restaurant exemplifying this ability. It's a seven minute musical with characters that are instantly recognizable from real life. A lot of his hits have that personal element, where it's clear he's talking from specific experience. That makes it easier to connect with his cast of characters, as compared to a broad and vague lyrical approach. I've known Brendas and Eddies and I've been a Virginia. This is probably his best album. On this listen, Vienna is the song I connected with most.

achei bem legal! vienna atemporal, o unico homem que já conseguiu sentir o que ela passa foi o billy joel, pq essa musica foi feita para as garotas!

great album

Some classics on here and an amazing opening track, but a number of songs are fluff at best. Decent.

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).

Billy Joel siempre fue un señor, a sus 28 años suena a 53. Fuertemente influenciado por Elton John con pinceladas de Cat Stevens y Paul McCartney, arreglos cursis y cuasi épicos que funcionan. Cuando empieza a caer mal salva la canción con instrumentaciónes perras. Pop elegante y nostálgico y una que otra balada irresistible. La mezcla está muy fina, contenida, nada fuera de lugar, no hay catarsis.

The Stranger (1977) is the 5th studio album by Billy Joel and is recognised as his critical and commercial breakthrough. This isn’t an album I am familiar with except for the UK singles Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song), Just the Way You Are and She’s Always a Woman (not released as a UK single until 1986) Listening to the album it was reminding me (and probably not in a good way) of Leo Sayer crossed with a softer version of Bruce Springsteen. Joel’s singing is very competent but the songs for the most part lack any real emotion. I do like some Billy Joel and the singles do stand out against the blandness of most of the tracks on this album. To be fair soft-rock isn’t really a genre that I listen to that much of so maybe three listens isn’t enough to give this a fair review, but I don’t think I’d be missing out on much if I never listened to this again. Side A: Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) - fun upbeat pop-rock - 4/5; The Stranger - boring soft rock - 2/5; Just the Way You Are - smooth love song - 4/5; Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - overly long and dull soft rock - 2/5; Side B: Vienna - apparently one of Billy Joel’s favourite compositions - it doesn’t move me - 3/5; Only the Good Die Young - catchy pop-rock - 3/5; She’s Always a Woman - romantic ballad written for his then wife - 4/5; Get It Right the First Time - funky but bland rock-pop - 2/5 Everybody Has a Dream - overwrought gospel style track - 2/5

Haven't previously listened to any of his albums in their entirety. I'm a convert. I don't love every song on this album, a few are a little too "Billy Joel" for my taste. But gorgeous songwriting.

The opening song — particularly the first two — are fire. Tight, confident, fantastic songwriting. The more languid ballads didn't grab me as much. They sound like the other artists of the time, Paul/Elton/Sade, but less engaging songwriting. That means, for me, I prob won't come back to the record, but I'm definitely going to play some Billy Joel greatest hits; blind spot on my catalogue.

I mean this in the best way possible. This is quintessential white people tunes. Expertly crafted and beige as hell! I agree that it’s an important album and Billy Joel did some great work here. 3.5/5.0

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

Sounds a bit too much like what my parents - if they were still together - would at this point be listening to on a romantic night in, clothes coming off quite rapidly and the camera pans away towards the crackling fireplace. By all means, enjoy your evening, but leave me out of it.

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.

Ah, Mr Joel. Very very firmly in the "I don't *quite* get it" category. Clearly talented, very clearly a talented man. But the music doesn't speak to me. Similar to Springsteen or Grateful Dead - am I the wrong age? Born in the wrong country? The wrong socio-economic group? Whatever it is, I enjoy the songs, appreciate the levels of fandom, whilst still being left cold. I accept 3 looks harsh, but it feels even more wrong to vote 4 on something that I simply don't enjoy that much.

great piano-led record

- billy joelin musiikki ei oo erityisen tuttua, toki nimen tietänee kaikki - aika eeppisiä, musikaalinomaisia biisejä - hieno levy, ymmärrän suuren suosion, itse en välttämättä kuitenkaan tule tämän pariin juurikaan palaamaan

Nice mix of songs throughout this album. I think My favourite was Just the way you are or the stranger

Really good

Had a classic song but other than that very slow and boring

I didn’t know he wrote and performed so many songs I can’t stand. Save for one song this was painful.

I do not like Billy Joel.

AMAZINGGGGG AMAZING AMAZING VIENNNAAAAA

I’ve only heard a couple of Billy Joel songs. I think that We Didn’t start the Fire song is great. Piano Man isn’t too bad. Movin out (Anthony’s song): 6.6/10 Not too bad. A bit too jolly sounding. The Stranger: 6/10 Just the Way you are: 6.3/10 Scenes from an Italian Restaurant: 6/10 Vienna: 6.1/10 Only the good die young: 6/10 She’s always a woman: 6/10 Get it right the first time: 6/10 Everybody has a dream: 6.4/10

Classic Billy Joel album and has a lot of great writing and composition. Loved all the different instruments and how theyre brought flowed so well and how they supported and complimented Joel's vocals really well. Nice and refreshing listen overall. Favorite Song: Everybody Has A Dream. 8/10

Grateful for the listen! I’d always slept on Billy Joel, but I love this on first listen. It’s commercial, but it demonstrates Joel’s talents as a songwriter. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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.

i’ve heard of billy joel quite a few times and vienna is one of my favorites to listen to but I never fully had the time to emerge fully into a billy joel album before. It’s one of those albums that soothes me by seemingly talking to me. It’s not usually my cup of tea but I enjoyed this album. Particularly the main track , the stranger, quite addicting

Listenable. Some songs did stand out though, but was largely just ok.

Starts pretty strong, but the second half is a bit weaker. Never really listened to much Billy Joel, but I am glad that I finally get a chance to listen this album.

i can appreciate the musicianship on this but i did not gaf about this, sounds like a musical and i hate (most) musicals. All i thought about while listening to the first track was kanye sampling it. I think this might work better if i was drunk. Fav Song: Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)

What makes The Stranger special isn’t just the hits. It’s the emotional range. You meet characters. It’s the kind of album that sneaks up on you and then stays with you.

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.

Excellent album, lots of piano as expected from Mr Joel. Really cool sounding chords and melodies, this album does not have captain jack so I'm deducting a star, also not my favourite type of music.

Billy Joel, huh? I'm very okay with this. Billy Joel is an artist that doesn't really need much of an introduction. You've heard some of his hits before, but did he actually manage to make a fully compelling album with The Stranger? Yeah he did. This thing is great! It's practically a greatest hits compilation in studio album form, which is always a compliment. You've got some all-time classics in here, though I do find that the album is a little top-heavy. Obviously, the later songs are great too. I can't really complain about songs like "She's Always a Woman," can I? Of course not, but those opening songs just hit different. "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" is an awesome opener. Another good addition to the "all-time classic album openers" pantheon if I do say so myself. The title track is fun. I like that bass part. "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" is such a unique song and I love it. And of course, there's "Vienna." It's one of Billy Joel's defining songs and for good reason. The music here is pretty great. I like the piano a lot. I mean, there's a reason why one of his most popular songs is "Piano Man." That's not on this album, but the point still stands. His singing isn't my absolute favorite, but it works well enough on the album. No real complaints there. The lyrics are thoughtful and interesting, though the album is a little heavy on the love songs near the end. Uh, yeah. The Stranger is a pretty great collection of songs. I can't quite call it perfect and there are plenty of albums I enjoy more, but I can absolutely see why some would call it a masterpiece. High 4/5.

The few saxophone appearances on here were amazing. Favorite Tracks: Just the Way You Are | Scenes from an Italian Restaurant | Vienna

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.

Billy Joel at his finest. So many classic songs and pretty much a non-skippable track list. It’s definitely a vibe. Pretty different and significant compared to rock at the time. I enjoy piano rock, fun music and 70s Billy Joel.

I was surprised that I actually knew a couple of tracks on this having really paid little to no attention to Billy Joel in my near 47 years on earth. But even those I found a bit drab. I won't maul your face off if you put him on, I just won't come round again.

ein paar all time classic banger 🗿, aber auch zu viele Fülllieder 🦫

estaba cagando y cuando oi esto directamente me levante a aplaudir

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.

There are some great songs on this album, but I've never understood the love for Billy Joel. Objectively, probably a five, but I'm giving it a four

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.

Longtile american songwriting classical with famous hits still in the breeze.

MOR but not unpleasant.

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

Every mean thing I could say about Paul McCartney is true about this album. Occasional moments of nice melody, but too often actually annoying imo.

classic album in my household growing up. strong highs throughout with a handful of songs that are in one ear and out the other. Like the stranger reprise hidden track at the end, great way to close out

It is clear how important Billy Joel is to the great american songwriter tapestry. However, I've always sorta found him a bit of a "the bones are their money" type lyricist. It sounds good but i think i'm not persuaded that it's something i'll return to often with particular focus. And to be clear i'm not sure i have ever heard anyone else be nearly as good at this songwriting mode where the lyrics are so transparent and heart-on-sleeve. The musicianship is quite fun throughout. "Vienna" is a song that I find much more well observed than the other tracks here. A good hang of an album.

Out of all the albums on this list that I've heard before, this is easily the worst of them. No disrespect to the ack-ack-ack-ack but the rest of it's pretty grating.

Is he a little corny? Yes. Is there anyone else doing his thing as good as he is? Probably. But he is good at it! Songs added to my 1001 Bangers playlist: All of them

2/6/26. 7/10

Good but for me a lamenting album

It’s Billy Joel I don’t know what to tell you

Vienna is a standout. 4/5

Calming but not really my taste

Favorites: The Stranger, She's Always a Woman Really nice, solid album with several classics. Some were new to me, like The Stranger, but I've liked She's Always a Woman since I was a child. I don't see myself actively replaying this album, but it was a good listen.

Classic work! Smooth vocals smooth insturmentals. I liked this album might come back to it.

Overall enjoyable album, and with the unlikely backstory about how Billy Joel became the artist he is, I enjoyed the album even more.

Absolutely brilliant LP. Really strong songs that made him a star.

хорош старина хорош

pleasant enough but we really need to study what billy joel did to baby boomer's brain chemistry that he was their god for a not-insignificant period of time

i told my boyfriend i get why white people froth at the mouth for this man. this album was fun and cute!

Terrible album. Awful piano music for Americans who think they are sophisticated.

5.0 - Awesome

Even if you don't know these songs, you know these songs. Having said that, Ubiquity isn't Excellence. The songs are fine, even if the backing is overblown, but in the pantheon of male singer songwriters you'd have to put Paul Simon, Randy Newman, Stevie Wonder, and Elton John (particularly the early Elton) well ahead of him. And the songs that remind you of other, better songs (She's Always a Woman and Dylan's Just Like a Woman or Don't Go Changing and Stevie Wonder's All in Love is Fair) just show up his limitations. You'll have a good time, but whether you'll be totally satisfied is up for debate.

It was fine, easy, calm listening. But didn't really do anything for me.

Loved this!

I'm not a fan of Billy Joel. I don't believe I've ever listened to this album start-to-finish, but just looking at the song titles, I think I know them all. As a musician, Billy Joel is quite talented, but his songs tend toward schmaltz, and I don't enjoy it. Also, some people really like his voice, but I don't. I feel like there's frequently an undercurrent of anger in his voice, and I don't know where I'm even picking that up. But it also tends to throw the feeling of his songs out of whack. Again, the rest of the band are fine players, but the "schmaltz" factor is a detriment to really enjoying them too.

Tiene algunos temas interesantes que incluso me gustaron de una pero otros me generaron rechazo.

The album was okay. My girlfriend listens to one particular song on that album, but it's not my favourite of hers anyway. Pretty average listen.

Great album. I didn't realize there were so many big songs on this one album.

J'aurais donné un véritable 4 étoiles si le producer avait accepté de mettre le son de moteur plus fort à la fin de la première toune tel que le désirait Billy. 3.5 étoiles

Цікавий альбом. 5 однозначно

Good, good. Double good.

It's really nice, I only knew Vienna from it before but all of it was great

liked it, saved it!

probs a 3

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.

sorry billy i wasnt familiar with your game (minus the saxophone. or everybody has a dream, which might be the worst song ive heard through this project)

Pretty good

Zapravo jak album, aj lajk it veri mach 4/5

klasikica

Phenomenal album from beginning to end

I can see why this album appeals to some people, but it’s definitely not my style. It’s very much music for the radio.

There's some good hits on here. Over-all I feel so-so about the album, because some of it isn't particularly interesting to me.

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

Во время прослушивания приходилось возвращать себя к мысли о том, что это 70-е. Насыщенный, цельный альбом, при этом в нем достаточно воздуха. Он не пытается задавить тебя своей сложностью, слушается легко и длится чуть меньше, чем того хочется.

His initials might be BJ, but this record doesn't suck at all.

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.)

I wouldn’t call myself an expert on American accents — far from it. Sure, everyone hears a Southern drawl, but I couldn’t reliably tell a Texan from someone from North Carolina, despite the small matter of nearly 2,000 kilometres between them. And yet: I put this record on knowing almost nothing about Billy Joel, and within seconds of “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)” my first thought was: this guy is from New York. Or, as he himself pronounces it somewhere on this album: Nijoe Yawk. A quick check confirms it. Jewish too, for what it’s worth — though that says nothing about the music. What does say something about the music is the genre label attached to this album in the spreadsheet I use to keep track of things. It says: rock. Sorry? Where exactly is the line between pop and rock? It’s clearly drawn differently in the US than in Europe, and even within my own head there seem to be at least two dividing criteria. The first is instrumental: rock, to me, is primarily guitar-driven, while pop leans more toward keyboards, acoustic instruments, or a broader palette. By that standard alone, this album is quickly classified. Aside from the opener, this is overwhelmingly a keyboard record — hardly surprising from someone best known for “Piano Man”. The second distinction I keep returning to is structural. Pop is vocal-centred: the song exists to carry the vocal melody. Rock allows the music itself more space to breathe, stretch, and sometimes dominate. By that measure too, this is pop — albeit very well-made pop. And that matters, because one of my standard complaints about pop music — that too little happens — simply doesn’t apply here. The Stranger is a finely composed and carefully arranged album. Take “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant”: a multi-part suite that borders on prog, though its roots lie just as clearly in classical forms. Call it what you like; it’s ambitious, clever, and it works. This is generally considered Joel’s peak, and it’s easy to see why. The record is packed with hits: “Movin’ Out”, “Just the Way You Are”, “She’s Always a Woman”, “Only the Good Die Young”. Curiously, the most streamed track isn’t one of those, but “Vienna” — a lovely song I somehow managed to completely miss for decades, despite its almost absurd streaming numbers. And yes, it is genuinely good. Not everything here lands for me, though. “Only the Good Die Young” is bland to the point of irrelevance. “She’s Always a Woman” is, to my noise-trained ears, unbearably saccharine. “Just the Way You Are” could have been a beautiful ballad built around that delicious Fender Rhodes electric piano — but is instead brutally sabotaged by an aggressively ugly saxophone solo. I remain baffled by the historical moment when someone decided that saxophones were a good idea in pop or rock music. To be fair, the sax does work in “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant”, where it’s part of a rich and varied instrumental texture. Elsewhere, interestingly, a flute is used to far better effect — notably in “Get It Right the First Time”. That flute, along with an alarming list of other instruments (organ, multiple saxes, clarinet, flute, and even tuba), is played by Richie Cannata. The combination of woodwinds and tuba is… unusual, to say the least, but somehow that’s not the strangest thing on this record. One last curiosity: the first seven tracks average hundreds of millions of streams, while the final two barely scrape eight million each. People, it seems, don’t listen to this album all the way through. Even the title track “The Stranger” — one of the least streamed — strikes me as one of the album’s finest moments. A beautiful melody, an unforgettable little flute motif, and a neat reprise at the end of the record. It’s a shame, really, that a handful of truly tedious tracks — yes, “Everybody Has a Dream”, I’m looking at you — drag the whole thing down. At its best, this might be the strongest pop album I’ve encountered so far in this series. And as for that genre label? Rock? No. This is pop — just very good pop.

I've heard his hits, I like his hits. First time listening to anything but the hits and this album hits hard. If I grew up when this was coming out it would definitely be in my wheelhouse. Lots of very listenable tracks on this album.

Probably the most Billy Joel I can manage at a stretch but I listened while making a pizza in the middle of a snowstorm, breaking to dance around the kitchen, with my partner yelling "what's with all the sax?" at some point during one of the many sax solos.

billy joel songs feel aggressively unrelatable to me. what the fuck are you talking about man? and why do you have so many versions of the song equivalent of "new york city is a character in the movie?" yuck. the music is mostly nice though.

The lows are kind of really low here but the highs (Vienna, Only the Good Die Young) are soooo high. I spent a good chunk of time listening to the highlights of this album with a friend driving around in her mazda in college so I gotta give it the round up from 3.5

Great, a bit over the top at times. Last two songs are the weakest.

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

I miss when piano was used in rock and pop music :(. Very musically minded musician/album, lots of great new finds and solid classic pop songs

Some classic songs on this album but wouldn’t listen to it all again.

I like some things by Billy Joel, and there is some really great instrumentation and singing on this, but sadly it feels like it passes me by a bit.

I guess I only really know 80's Billy Joel so I was expecting much worse. It was still kinda cheesy but in a good way?

This is one of those albums loaded with hits that you didn't realize were all on one album. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant was a nice surprise, I had only ever heard the bottle of red, bottle of white opening. Tracks 3 and 9 are just a little too cheasy for me, but still good. Strong 9/10

I love Billy Joel and I'm looking forward to listening to something familiar and comforting:) 4/5

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

Always quite liked Billy Joel, but never listened to a full album. I was glad that this album had "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" as it's a song a like very much. It's where Billy is at his best for me with his storytelling. There are the other big songs "Just The Way You Are" and "She's always a Woman" which I of course like. Overall I enjoyed the album, but it's the hits that stand out for me. A great album to put on when people are around for a meal, but not one I'd listen to repeatedly myself. 7/10, the hits carry it, and there is no doubting the talent, just doesn't blow me away.

I’m not very familiar with Billy Joel’s music, so the only one from this that sounded familiar was Only the Good Die Young and that’s never been a song that’s made me want to explore further. Fortunately, I enjoyed songs like The Stranger, Just the Way You Are, and especially Vienna a lot more. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant compares both favorably and unfavorably to Paradise by the Dashboard Lights — unfavorably because it reminds me of it in style and scope, favorably because at least it’s a better song! The album kinda loses me in the last two tracks though the reprise of the whistling from The Stranger was a welcome coda. I’ll definitely come back to Vienna and I won’t be upset about drawing another Billy Joel album, but I’m not converted either.

Not good, not bad. Gave me nothing.

I've enjoyed listening to this one.

A talented guy but too cheesy for me.

1 Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) (8.8/10) 2 The Stranger (6.2/10) 3 Just The Way You Are (8.6/10) 4 Scenes From An Italian Restaurant (8.2/10) 5 Vienna (10/10) 6 Only The Good Die Young (6.4/10) 7 She's Always A Woman (9.4/10) 8 Get It Right The First Time (7/10) 9 Everybody Has A Dream (7.6/10) Avg score: 8.02/10

I lava it I wouldn’t play every song on here all the time but most of them are good. Love dat man

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.

Knew alot more billy Joel than I thought! A nice album, very time defining, storytelling aspect with imagery was cleveley done

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

She's always a woman is the song i can relate most to. it's somehow frustrating to hear how good the song 'get it right the first time' is but that chorus and bridge sucks! everybody has a dream is a good song

Piano man definitely gets it done

It was very nearly a 4. But just a few too many songs that I didn't rate.

incredible record jam-packed with some all-time classics, with few misses

Love this album, so many classics. I think if I did karaoke I would do movin’ out lol

Classic album, one of the best by Billy Joel.

never listened to this album before, but i knew all the songs except “Get it Right the First Time”. this is a good one

not really a Billy Joel fan tbh

Lowkey crazy that vienna waits for you

i didn't care for his voice

Boah, das ist gut, eine sehr positive Überraschung! Der Name ist mir schon einige Male über den Weg gelaufen, bisher konnte ich dem aber noch keine Songs zuordnen. Der Sound erinnert mich an die besten Sachen der Wings, die Melodien sind unfassbar. Man hört definitiv, dass Billy Joel ein Fan von McCartney ist. Auch toll, dass die Pianoline vom Titeltrack später auf einem Song von Flers Vibe als Sample wiederverwendet wird. Von ihm muss ich mir definitiv noch andere Alben anhören, gefällt mir sehr.

so good, so romantic, so real, one of the best to ever do it and this album shows that from front to back.

Actually just re-listened to this one a few weeks ago and yeah, it’s a classic. There are so many bangers on here, including some of Joel’s best work. Great stuff. I’m not crazy about the closer, but that’s really the only bad mark on this album.

LOOOOOVED IT

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

The Stranger It’s hard to quibble with anything on here. Even if The Way You Are and Always A Woman have been pummelled to death under the feet of 100,000 first dances, the screech of 1,000,000 karaoke performances and the weight of 100 rom-coms, it is undeniably a great album. Movin’ Out is a soft rock banger, a brilliant bit of upbeat catchiness, commenting on ‘makin’ it’, before the disco-funk inflected The Stranger, with its lovely, wistful piano motif at the start and end. And whether you think it’s cheesy or not ( I don’t) Just The Way You Are, with its Stevie Wonder feel and Macca-esque melodic facility is just a brilliant bit of romantic songwriting. Scenes From an Italian Restaurant is the centrepiece of the album, and is also Macca-esque, in its shifting sections, and typically Joel in its bittersweet, observational, New York based narrative, and it's a fantastic song. Vienna feels very Madman era Elton John, particularly in the vocal intonations, and it's another cracker, with a wistful lyric observing the passing of time and growing older. Only the Good Die Young has a great 50s throwback feel, rocking along with a great chorus and, on balance, a dodgy lyric about taking catholic virginity. Again, Always a Woman’s ubiquity hides what a great song it is, a mellow, folky feel with a sincere, heartfelt lyric and a fantastic melody. Get it Right the First Time might not be the strongest song, but its upbeat Elton John-esque soft rock nature works as a break between Always a Woman and the slow burning, blue-eyed gospel soul of Everybody Has a Dream, a suitably big conclusion to the album. The sense of honed craft is everywhere; the precision tooled songwriting, the superb arrangements and sequencing, the smooth, warm 70s production and the economical 9 song 40 minute run time, all in all a superb album and a straightforward 5 stars. 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹 Playlist submission: Scenes from and Italian Restaurant

'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).

Songs on this album are good, I would probably like them if I hadn't grown up hearing them on restaurant Muzak systems and commercials. I'm just sick of most of these.

Me gustó demasiado!!!! 9/10, pensé cero que me podría gustar billy joel pero este disco es perfectoooooooooooooo

If you told me some late 70s piano rock album would hit this hard I’d say no way. Absolutely timeless, hit after hit after hit.

70s American soft rock at it’s finest! Classic album that still sounds good today.

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.

+ fajne, przyjemne + bardzo współczesne jak na lata 70. + znalałam jedną piosenkę!!! + fajne teksty (imo gościu był alkoholikiem tho) + przyjemne melodie i frazy + fajny wokal - nie urwało mi dupy - rozumiem że na tamte czasy to był hit, ale współcześnie nie jest to nic niesamowitego - zbyt długie utwory / powtarzalność - nudne

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!!

Very easy album to listen to. It won’t change your life, but will always be well received.

one of my fav albums of all time. i think billy joel perfectly highlights in this album a cynical yet relatable narrative of love, relationships and personal identity. my personal favourite has always been just the way you are, and although vienna is incredible and arguably the most popular on the album (for a valid reason), i think the anecdotal style of songs like “scenes from an italian restaurant” on this record are equally as exceptional.

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

muy billy joel

Was nice.

4/5 I love the vibe, already liked Vienna.

Heard this before 3/5 or just above just 2 really great bangers Vienna & She's only a woman.

Billy Joel is a king, his songs are amazing, none of them fail. He also has really iconic songs, and i feel like in my genereation he is underrated.

5/10 в целом альбом неплохой, слушать можно, но ничего интересного для себя я не нашла, к сожалению ни одна песня не зацепила но обложка прикольная

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.

Billy Joel is not my favourite artist but even I can admit this is a fantastic album. However, I find the two songs in one song by the end of the album to be a bit over the top and unnecessary. Have also always found Billy Joel to be a little corny. She’s always a woman to me however saves the album and is in my opinion the best song by far on the stranger.

10/10!!!

I couldn’t do it sorry

I've avoided Billy Joel in the past, and after listening to this one I will continue to avoid him. Not for me, sounded cheesy and poppy and had gimmicky instruments.

I enjoyed it a lot. I would have to be in a specific mood for it, but I would definitely revisit this album.

Did I think I would like a Billy Joel album to this extent? No. As someone who was born in the UK, Billy Joel was seen as American shlock. I still think Just The Way You Are is a dreadful song, but the rest of it is so good, you forget.

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 half as bad as I expected. Obviously overly saccharine at points, but generally a pleasant listen and wittier than I'd ever given Billy Joel credit for

Well, Billy Joel....thanks for the experience.

Æ vet æ hørte på den, og det va noen absolutte klassikera av noen låter på albumet, men resten har æ glemt. Det va liksom helt ok, men det e sånn musikk som faren til noen æ kjenne høre på, ikke egentlig sånt æ høre på sjøl.

"mama, if that's movin' up then i'm movin' out." - a drag queen probably

There's something comforting about Billy Joel. He's always been around, these songs are deeply embedded in the psyche as though they'd always been there. It's like a sign of maturity when you realise he's great, it happens in everyone's life eventually. Great songs, great music.

• Coming into this album, the only song I recognise by name is Vienna, but I also know a handful of Billy Joel's other songs. • Movin' Out starts the album off in a great way, I like the half time in the chorus • The Stranger is a fun song • I really like the story of Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, and the lyrics are so well written • The unison line and flute melody at the start of Get It Right the First Time sounds really cool • Everybody Has a Dream is a nice way to end the album, and the instrumental reprise of The Stranger caps the album off well Favourite song: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

Ah, finally, Billy Joel’s The Stranger. I’ve loved Billy Joel’s music for pretty much my entire life. My parents listened to him a lot when I was growing up, and their fondness for his music definitely rubbed off on me. I really love his songs from the eighties, and a core memory from my childhood was watching the music video for “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” and being freaked out by the kid in the Richard Nixon mask (an appropriate reaction). For my ninth birthday, I asked for a copy of River of Dreams on cassette tape, and my aunt came through for me, although neither my aunt nor that copy of the album are around anymore sadly. Billy Joel’s music from the seventies is a bit hit-or-miss with me, and looking at the track listing for this album, I know maybe half the songs here. I’m not sure that I’ll love this, but I’m looking forward to kicking it with the Piano Man today. I didn’t love The Stranger, but I thought it was really good. One of the things that I love most about Billy Joel’s earlier music is that he’s a wonderful storyteller. Yes, I love singing along to “Tell Her About It,” “Uptown Girl,” and “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” but those songs just don’t have the same quality to the lyrics and songwriting that Billy Joel’s earlier music has. Even though I knew quite a few of the songs on this album, I’d never realized how some of them have some really great bass lines. On top of that, I’d never really paid much attention to the Fender Rhodes playing either, but that definitely stood out more to me today. The biggest thing that I didn’t like about this album is that I’m just not that into soft rock. Billy Joel is one of those artists who I’d rather listen to their greatest hits on shuffle, so that I get a good mix of softer songs and more upbeat bops. Some notes on a few individual songs: The guitar on “Movin’ Out” is great, a detail that had escaped me until now. I had never really paid any attention the lyrics before either, but they’re great. I’m not sure if Billy Joel is singing specifically about the immigrant experience in America, or if it’s just a general sense of displeasure with the American dream, but either way, I think it’s some great songwriting. “The Stranger” is awesome. I loved how the song shifted from that piano intro to the funky guitar driven sound for the rest of the song. The bass playing during the Brenda and Eddie part of “Italian Restaurant” is great. This isn’t my favorite song of Billy Joel’s to listen to, but from an objective standpoint, it’s a great song with some awesome storytelling. Listening to this song today made me realize that it’s not just Billy Joel’s voice that I enjoy, but it’s his style when it comes to the delivery of his lyrics that I enjoy too. “Only the Good Die Young” is such a bop, and it’s easily my favorite song on the album. That bass line is outstanding, and the Fender Rhodes playing is awesome. I love his vocal delivery throughout the song, but the way he shouts on the bridge is fantastic. I love the inflection on ‘confirmation’ and ‘information,’ and the second bridge is even better. This might be his best song from the seventies, and my favorite one, barely edging out “Piano Man.” The Stranger isn’t my personal favorite period of Billy Joel’s work, but it shows just what a great artist he is.

Not sure if this or Glass Houses is his best work, but this is an easy 5 stars.

Good old poppy album, brings joy when listen

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 astounding to see how much of an outlier The Stranger is among Billy Joel's discography. He has always had a knack for putting out a few great singles per album, but could never really glue them together to form a cohesive record. Seemingly out of nowhere, The Stranger presents a new side of Billy Joel that shows just how capable he is as a songwriter. Sure, the popular world will always remember him for Piano Man, but true fans of Billy Joel know that The Stranger is his masterpiece. Every track on this album has a solemn sentimentality to it while also being incredibly playful and fun to listen to. The album feels so genuine, like talking with an old friend in a silent bar on a Thursday evening. Every track works together to paint a picture of a specific kind of life, a kid who grew up in New York reminiscing about his youth and the opportunities he took and missed. The Stranger takes the absolute greatest parts of Billy Joel and combines them for a brief eternity of Pop perfection.

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.

This guy is cheese: some of his songs are pretty gouda, but a lot of them stink like gorgonzola. Bonus star because Only the Good Die Young is one of my go-to karaoke songs.

Billy gets a lot of play in our house because the children love it. The children also love pouring sand down their pants and chewing on gravel so what do they know?

I’ve maintained for around 20 years now that Billy Joel is terrible (minus 1 song). This album actually doesn’t suck. Some good stuff here and doesn’t sound super dated like his later stuff does.

I knew most of these songs and it probably deserves a 4, but I don’t feel like giving it a 4.

WORKING TOO HARD CAN GIVE YOU A HEART ATTACK-ACK-ACK-ACK disk gets jammed ACK ACK ACK ACK ACK ACK ACK ACK ACK

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.

Ok I can finally see the Billy Joel appeal, even if his stories stink. Still had a good time.

main character album to walk all alone

Fire and passion combined into an album with

Vraiment pas mal, j’ai redécouvert Billy Joël

A few cool tracks and good vibe.

lowkey was hesitant but it was good #gagged 7/10

Me gustó, me distraje un segundo y ya había terminado, es muy fácil de escuchar, todas las canciones están buenas.

Yeah nice

I wanted to give this 3 stars soooo badly but it’s seriously banger after banger

ik vind sommige nummers best leuk zoals shes always a woman (wel super populair maar oke boeie) en the stranger en vlgsm movin out maar de rest vind ik een beetje te idk niet heel leuk

Mis canciones favoritas fueron: the stranger, just the way you are, Vienna, She's always a woman (⭐) y everybody has a dream

not my vibe

a good listen. recognized most of the songs.

excellent album, love billy joel so much, vienna on top 9/10

A few recognizable hits on here, I enjoyed the short term nostalgia. Still, the songwriting on here reminds me of Elton John and the overgratuitous piano banging is just not my thing.

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.

Curiously good. “Only the Good Die Young!” Really loved the title track. 1977 was a good year for music with Exodus (Bob Marley) and Out of the Blue (Electric Light Orchestra) in the same year.

Was a fun album to listen to, not much meat on the bone for me.

A finely crafted set of songs, worthy of inclusion

Pleasant. Accessible. I prefer the slower songs over the faster ones. The best song is Vienna. 3 stars.

La verdad no se hacer reseñas, pero espero con el tiempo ir mejorando, por el momento me gusta, me es relajante escuchar las canciones y hay dos que para mi son top

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.