Reviews (page 5 of 14)
Very familiar with this album going in. Probably my favorite by Billy. Top to bottom, every song on here is great. I have this one on regular rotation.
10/10
Just a amazing album
# Playlist track - Just the Way You Are # Notes - Such a cool and comforting album.
I prefer 52nd Street
Off the charts! One of the best.
So many good songs.
With five out of nine tracks being release as singles and seven out of the nine being recognizable Billy Joel songs, this monster of an album from a kid from Massapequa is one of the best albums in rock. 5/5
Arguably Billy Joel’s best album. Every song is either a hit or well known. Personal favorites Vienna and Scenes from an Italian restaurant feature on this album. Top 50 all time? Maybe
Fantastic album!
I have not listened to this album but I love Billy Joel’s music so I already knew I would love listening to this. I already knew some tracks off this album: Movin’ Out (Anthony’s song) and Vienna. I recognized She’s always a woman but I don’t know if I have heard it before. My favorites off the album were: The Stranger, and Scenes from an Italian restaurant. Will definitely listen again!
Every song in this album is great. One of those rare albums that still holds up nearly 50 years later. Movin' Out is always going to be one of my favorites by him but Just the Way You Are, Vienna, Only the Good Die Young, and She's Always a Woman were strong contenders for favorite song off the album.
Vienna
Movin' Out - classic The Stranger - Just the Way You Are - a little saccharine but that's fine Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - Vienna - this is nice. I like this. I like the accordion or whatever. goes well with Scenes from an Italian Restaurant. Only the Good Die Young - A+ She's Always A Woman - fav Got It Right the First Time - Everybody Has a Dream - Not as piano-y., Seems like a lot of songs are multi-part or change tempo/time signatures. Lots of instruments. Solid songs.
Big fan. Lots of fin.
Such a great musician
Wow, I absolutely loved this album. Obviously I know Vienna, but this was my first listen to all of those other songs. Love the vocal range and passion.
no bad songs, amazing
Loved this when it came out and I was young. Love it even more with age and experience. 5 starts always. Thank you, Billy Joel.
Another great one
In high school I’d print out lyrics for songs on this album and study so I could sing in the car with ben and Jake
So, so good. This album is filled with undeniable hits (it could almost be half of a Greatest Hits double album), but I'd probably have to rate it 5 stars just for Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.
BILLY!!! Þetta er svakalega þétt plata hjá Billy. Svo er hann líka bara svo kammó og næs gaur með fallega rödd. Gaurinn er alvöru icon sem á allt gott skilið, annað en margir aðrir celebs og tónlistarplebba egó. Platan byrjar hrikalega vel með Movin' Out og ástarlögin eru róleg og næs, svo er Vienna eitt flottasta lag allra tíma. Heildarverkið rosalegt.
One of Billy’s three best albums. Not a dud on the entire thing. Absolutely Excellent!!
A really good album. With the surprise that "Just the Way You Are" was written by him.
Muy bueno, cuenta historias
So many bops
This may make me deeply uncool but that Billy Joel album is so “put it on and sing into a spatula while you cook” fun. Like let’s agree Billy has talent. And let’s also agree that in 1977, when there was a ton of glammy disco? Plus the EWF funk and certainly some acid/jam band whatever happening? Billy Joel stands out as kinda repping that there’s a still place for the idea of standards .. in a way. It sounded refreshing!
I remember Bill Joel performing some of the hit songs on the Today Show when everybody in New York and elsewhere was walking around with the tunes in their heads.
Man I though Glass Houses was my favourite BJ album until this came along this morning. What a cracker. The Stranger is a particularly outstanding track, would be an incredible addition to the Karaoke arsenal
Basically a greatest hits album.
I always thought BJ was kinda cheesy, but after listening to a proper full album, I have changed my tune. He’s a legit musical heavyweight. Vienna is one of the very best piano songs out there.
love this guy..one of the many greats as i was growing up
You got a nice white dress and a party on your confirmation You got a brand new soul Mmm and a cross of gold But Virginia they didn't give you quite enough information You didn't count on me When you were counting on your rosary And 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 You know that only the good die young oh baby This is a fantastic album. 5/5
“We strictly do 80s Joel music, sir!” Man, there are no misses on this album… banger after banger after banger. I loved it which I’m sort of surprised about, but I’m not too cool to give Billy a perfect score.
Perfect album. Billy wrote a masterpiece. All great songs that display an artist at the peek of his talents in songwriting, musicianship and singing. He sings hard when he wants to rock (like Movin' Out, and Only The Good Die Young) and tender when the song needs it (like Always a Woman and Just The way You Are), and moves with ease between them both with subtle variances. The production is impeccable and the other musicians shine with every note and hit being a well considered perfect choice. Every song paints a picture and they all are perfect. I love this album.
Great album. Many classic songs, that I recognize. I listened to the lyrics this time, not just a radio play, where it was a distraction. I understand why his music helped define rock & roll.
Damn groovy
Loved It, knew and liked most of them
Play something from The Strangerrrr!
This album has some of my favorite songs from Billy Joel. I prefer 70s Joel to 80s. I’ve heard and loved most of the songs on here many times before. Get it Right the First Time - new to me. Ok song, not one of his best, but catchy. Everybody has a Dream - also new to me and not to my taste. Probably my least favorite on the album. The gospel hint to it makes it a vast departure from the sound on the rest of the album. Aside from the two above, this is a fantastic album. Anthony’s song is my favorite with The Stranger in close second. This is a 5 for me.
Straight bangers all around -10/10
All pretty good songs, no real skips
Ugh I fucking love this album it just makes me feel so warm and happy inside when I hear it. Billy Joel is amazing and idk this just exudes positivity 9.5/10
This is by far the one I knew the most songs on. Bangers one and all. 9/10
9.5/10 - I have heard the first 7 songs before and they are all absolute bangers. The last two I had not heard before but I thought they were pretty good. It was debating rating it a 10 but I want to save that for one where I love every song.
Best thing to ever come from New York 9.5/10
Un clásico me encanta!!!!
Almost 50 years on, and this piano-rock album still offers a solid listening experience. Kind of an old-fashioned sound by today's production standards and effects, it was slick for its time and you can hear the slickness in Joel's songs. Compelling tunes and relatable lyrics contribute to this album's overall timelessness.
Every single song slaps
One of his best. Composition, lyrics, vocals are all excellent. Great songs and story telling.
I never realised that so many of my favourite Billy Joel songs all came from this album! My absolute favourite is "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant", especially the piano riff at the beginning of the ballad of Brender & Eddie. The titular track, "The Stranger", is a new one for me but I find I can't stop listening over and over. Big fan!
I am not american and as for Billy Joel he seems to be a staple of US pop culture and on US films and TV he is reveredand always a source of comfort to distressed characters. Tha being said, I get it. I wish i'd lived that era because the album is very nice to hear, comforting and relaxing. Great music to focus while running or working
Classic
Perfect in every way
Iconic and full of hits
Some absolute classics - whole album is stellar!
Loved it.
From the moment the needle drops on Billy Joel's "The Stranger," it's like stepping into a world where every song is a mirror, reflecting back fragments of our lives. Having spun this album countless times, its familiarity breeds not contempt, but deeper appreciation, especially for its first seven tracks, each a standout in its own right. The title track, "The Stranger," resonates deeply with me, echoing the multitude of 'masks' that we all wear. In my profession, at home, with my kids - there's a different face for every occasion. The real me, much like the real anyone, remains an enigma, a sentiment Joel captures with a haunting poignancy. Then there's "Vienna," a track that feels like a life lesson set to music. The line, "You can get what you want or you can just get old," is a stark reminder of life's fleeting nature, urging a slower pace, something that's often lost in the hustle of our daily routines. A fascinating aspect of "The Stranger" is the contrasting portrayal of relationships in "Just The Way You Are" and "She's Always a Woman." The former, often seen as a sweet serenade, subtly reveals a man’s desire for an uncomplicated relationship, averse to change or challenge. The latter, mistakenly swooned over as a love song at concerts, actually paints a picture of a rather difficult woman. This misinterpretation by listeners adds a layer of irony to the album's exploration of relationships. However, perfection is a tricky business. If "The Stranger" had concluded with "She's Always a Woman," it would have been a 10/10 masterpiece. The addition of "Get It Right the First Time" and "Everybody Has a Dream" feels like an unnecessary epilogue to an otherwise flawless narrative. These tracks, while not inherently bad, don't match the emotional intensity and introspective nature of the preceding songs. They disrupt the album's flow, transforming what could have been a perfect score into a slightly flawed classic. In summary, "The Stranger" remains a profound and deeply personal listening experience. It's an album that speaks to the multifaceted nature of our identities, relationships, and the passage of time. While it might fall just short of perfection, its impact and resonance are undeniable, securing its place as a timeless piece in Billy Joel's discography and in my music collection.
Absolutely wonderful. Don't know that I'm much of a Billy Joel fan, but he's certainly got a way with words. A few particular tracks stood out and the rest were generally fine.
I feel like this one is unfair too. I am biased. This was one of the albums that my parents had in their collection when I was growing up. I listened to this album a lot and loved it. 42 street I would say is still my favorite but this one is still a 5 star album.
One of the absolute great albums in tone, musically, lyrically, it is just Billy at his best. The first 7 tracks should each be in the HOF for their own reasons.
One of the BEST
One of his best!
Classic. Some of his best, most popular work.
Great album, mutiple classics on it. More jazzy than I thought it would be.
Loved every song 🤩
Really enjoyed this
Wow! What a great album. 9 tracks and the the first 7 are essential Classic rock hits to this day. I forgot how great Billy Joel was and how fun his music is. I really loved this album.
Own this album.
My hand is forced here. This album is just too good. Truly a "no-skip" affair. Even as I try and grow weary of the closing ballad, it becomes somehow catchy, and then reprises the masterful title track.
One of my favorite albums ever! Banger after banger.
Best Billy Joel album by far
Holy moly
They made the "The Boys" singer into a real thing?? 😂😂😂 I have not received enough Billy Joel hype during my life. I loved his uplifting energy, every song is a reason to smile. There is nothing to comment on the unity of the project. Great listen! Expected Marc rating: 4
Quina meravella d'àlbum. Mai he sigut súper fan de Billy Joel però és que totes les cançons són genials. A més és com que el flow de l'àlbum és perfecte, manté una consistència súper bona i no fa canvis bruscos, et porta pel camí que vol súper bé Lorenzo expected note: 4
Remarkable musician singing about unremarkable lives. Love how full of life he makes everyday life feel in his tracks; makes me feel like I’m listening to the highs and lows of a slice-of-life movie. Already knew I loved ‘She’s always a woman’ and still remains my top track. Don’t know whether it was the rare Salford sun while walking around seeing quotidian life that was making me feel warm about this album, but bloody loved every bit of it.
05/06/24 S Tier—————————5 Movin’ Out Only the Good Die Young The Stranger Just the Way You Are Scenes From an Italian Restaurant A Tier—————————4 She’s Always a Woman Vienna Get it Right the First Time B Tier—————————3 Everybody has a Dream C Tier—————————2 D Tier—————————1
the sound and the vibe is really good
Love it. Reminds me of my childhood.
Clearly his best album.
"The Stranger" by Billy Joel, released in 1977, is a masterpiece that transcends the boundaries of pop and rock. From the iconic piano riff of "Just the Way You Are" to the anthemic storytelling of "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant," the album is a journey through Joel's musical prowess and lyrical brilliance. Each track is a gem, contributing to the album's timeless appeal. Joel's songwriting is at its peak, exploring themes of love, life, and self-discovery. The production, coupled with Joel's versatile voice, creates a cohesive and immersive experience. "The Stranger" is not just an album; it's a cultural touchstone, earning a well-deserved 5/5 for its enduring impact, musical excellence, and Joel's unmatched storytelling.
One of the earliest musicians of my early childhood that set me on the path to being drawn to music. All the songs are just embedded in me, and bring up good memories. I have a love-hate relationship with Just the Way You Are, as it's a lovely tune, but the easy listening schmaltz of it all is not something I can listen to in isolation. Within the context of the album flow, it's fine, but not outside of that. Only the Good Die Young is such a happy song - but the lyrics are all about temptation - As a much older adult now I have a different view of the song. Movin' Out and The Stranger are still very precious to me. I'd come around to Scenes From An Italian Restaurant and Vienna later in life. She's Always a Woman remains my favorite song on the album. Such a solid album when listened in it's entirety.
Compelling storytelling. Fantastic vocals from Billy Joel. The composition let's all instruments shine. From piano, to drums, to guitar. From whistling to singing. I think my favorite song is The Stranger (I'm assuming the derivative of the album art). Joel tells a story about himself and his lover both keeping a secret identity or part of themselves from each other. Then one day he comes home and doesn't recognize his lover as she has let The Stranger out. But he can't be mad because he has The Stranger inside him as well. The Stranger has kicked him right between his eyes. Joel just has such a poetic way of telling real relatable stories behind metaphors. So yeah this album is fire.
A wonderful journey through a soundscape of contemplation.
When will you realize, vienna waits for you.
what a beautiful album!
I thought it would be 3 stars. Then I conceded to 4. Then I admitted it was 5 stars. He's a GOAT in his genre. I may not mainline the music but mad respect is given.
Billy Joel is an icon. There’s so many hits on this album that are all frequently played on the radio, on television, radio, etc. It’s almost like a “Greatest Hits” album except he has other albums with a ton more hits!
Very good album. Definitely prefer this nostalgic Americana to some of the rubbish he produced later on. Great songwriting and earnestly sung. Am hesitating between a 4 and a 5, but I think I'll go high to inflate the rating a bit. Best songs include Just The Way You Are, Vienna, Scenes From An Italian Restaurant, and She's Always A Woman. Got to appreciate the man's craft.
Absolutely love Billy Joel and this album
Some good bops, but you can’t top it if it has ‘Vienna’
Enjoyed it
Sorry, but I love this album.
love it!
Woah great album
One of the best albums. Lots of memories associated with this one
Hit after hit. A personal connection for myself. Billy a 🐐
Banger
One of the best albums of all time. Billy at his apex.
Funky at times. A little jazzy at others. I'm either nodding my head or tapping my feet. A great pop album, even if the tools used are more rock.
I wouldn't consider myself a billy joel fan but my toes didn't stop tapping. I thought the lyrics provided easliy accessible imagery. Wasn't singing about trees talking to other trees.
Simply brilliant. Not complex, but a joy to the ear from start to end.
Billy Joel is one of my all time favorites. This album is not even in my top 3 from him. And yet, still 5 stars. That’s a whole lot of awesome from one person.
Heat
Almost all songs on this album could stand alone. The stranger was surprising with the funk bass. The guitar mixing on Just the Way You Are is mad crispy and warm. I’m used to hearing these through Dean singing them in the apartment, but it’s nice to hear the original source. Always a woman was probably my favorite. Overall great listen. I’d get this on vinyl. Great album
I wrote a lot and then it deleted for some reason. So in short: this is my favorite album. So many distinct styles blended into one cohesive project. This album is soooo dramatic, like Shakespeare or an opera. Billy Joel is such an amazing songwriter, his songs sound incredibly intimate and personal but still feel very universal and relatable. He is a master of creating tension and it’s release and resolve. Every time I listen I think of Brendan’s basement. Amazing piece of music. Scenes from an Italian restaurant is the perfect song in my opinion.
Only on the second song but this is a banger already. Moving out, the stranger - both top tier.
A flawless album. Can leave it on repeat all day. Lyrics each enough to sing along to. Instruments layered in nicely to make each song sound unique.
He put his entire Billy Joelussy into this one, what more can I say.
This is nearly a greatest hits album for Billy Joel. Very good album, even the lesser known songs are decent at worst.
so good. 10/10
Amazing!
Knew the hits - loved the entire album. Fire.
This is the first album I am listening to on this list and I must say that we are starting off really strong! My wife's favorite song of all time is Vienna and today listening to this we shared a beautiful teary eyed moment holding each other tightly in our hallway. I am really looking forward to keep going on this musical journey. What an absolutely stunning album this is.
Sick Album!
Maybe a 5 is too high, but even if some songs don't reach the heights of The Stranger or Vienna, they all flow together to create a beautiful, cohesive story. My favorite Billy Joel album by far.
One of the best yet. Incredible album. Every song feels like a song from a greatest hits, everyone song apart from the last 2 are on greatest hits. Moving Out is an incredibly outstanding opening track. The Stranger is superb, Vienna is musically and lyrical amazing. Scenes is one of the best songs in his catalogue. The only negative is that this is the only Billy Joel album on this list, as Nylon Curtain and 52nd Street would be great additions.
I ironically enjoy Billy Joe's music from the 70s. The songs are arranged well in the singer songwriter style of the period (without getting too folky), with interesting imagery evoked in his lyrics. Highlight is The Stranger and She's Always A Woman
Amazing album
Superb listen all the way through. I might not have been in the right mood for this album, but I still appreciated it.
Excellent album, as one would expect from Billy Joel. Some absolute classics off of here, and the deeper cuts only serve to enhance the experience.
yesyesyesyesyesyesyes. just yes.
Best Songs: Movin’ Out, Vienna, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Only the Good Die Young, She’s Always a Woman, Get It Right the First Time
Great album. Full Billy Joel experience. Only the Good Die Young - absolute banger!
every song is so fucking good
One of the better ones yet!
One of the great albums. Billy Joel’s greatest
For me this is one of my favourite albums of all time. Are there albums the bigger hits yes. With more notoriety, yes. But There is not a bad song here, not one. Every one is perfect (to me). The only way I can describe it is like having your favourite set menu of all your favourite foods. Alot of people won't want the same thing and that's fine. Just know Vienna waits for you.
Great album. Iconic songs, I'll definitely be coming back to this album. 5/5
Fantastic album.
Pretty great 70s piano rock. Some absolute classics on here.
Very chill and smooth. Masterfully crafted songs.
This one's for you, Nick <3
I’ve always respected Billy Joel and his thing from a slight distance, never being a huge fan, but this album might have changed my mind. This is really clean and hook-filled pop rock, nine tight tracks with no real skips. It's still a bit on the schmaltzy side for me... but there's nothing wrong with some schmaltz every now and then. A great album either way. Best song: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
Wow back to back hits with only a couple of duds. Happy I finally listened to this!
This album absolutely rips. At least 4 radio hits and one of them is (IMO) his best: Only The Good Die Young. I've got a serious soft spot for Billy Joel. Man knew how to make some songs and gave us a wide variety at that. The mad man even was able to pull some synth-accordion on this album. Amazing. Would definitely listen again. 5/5
The classics on this album are certified bangers: Good Die Young, Italian Restaurant, and Movin' Out are all going to outlive me. All of the other songs I haven't heard before are also great pieces. Great voice, lyrics, piano, and brass in this album.
I can't wait to listen to this album, I already know a lot of songs but not all of them em em em em em Movin out gets me going everytime The Stranger rips. the whistling in the beginning and end is spooky. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant is my favorite song to sing along to. It would be hardmode on karaoke. Only The Good Die Young is an all time classic Get It Right the First Time is a new song for me and it is groovy as heck. Instant add to a playlist Everybody Has a Dream is such a good closing song with the slow build up into the intense choir singing then ending with the piano outro and the same whistling as The Stranger After typing out all of these song names I realized every song title on this album is so long Pretty much a perfect album to me well done Mr. Joel
Great Album - I saw Billy Joel either once or twice! 5 stars
Billy Joel but like good Billy Joel. It's a solid listen if you ignore the datedness and the cheesiness. Consistent throughout. BT - Moving Out - Vienna - Scenes From an Italian Restaurant - Only the Good Die Young
Favourite tracks: movin out; stranger; just the way you are; scenes from an Italian restaurant; Vienna; only the good for young; she's always a woman
Hey, doesn’t everyone have a guilty pleasure? I’ve probably got a stack of them & Billy Joel is certainly one. I first became aware of him in 1975 through Reg Livermore’s cabaret show, The Betty Blockbuster Follies at the Balmain Bijou - he covered 3 or 4 Joel songs, most memorably Captain Jack ( as in “smack”) off Joel’s breakout album, Piano Man(1973). So by the time The Stranger was released in 1977, I was already a fan. And when he toured that album out here in May ‘78, I saw him with my sister Kath at the Hordern in Sydney, with the same band that features on the album. Great show. Great album. Some of his sweetest ballads ( Just The Way You Are & She’s Always A Woman), terrific up-tempo stuff (Movin’ Out & Only The Good Die Young) and brilliantly quirky things like the epic Scenes From An Italian Restaurant & Vienna. An album I still play often, but rarely in front of others.
Favorite billy joel album.
Classic for a Billy album
Very good
Can I give one album more than 5 stars? This is the quintessential pop album.
Not a big Billy Joel fan, but this album does have all the bops.
I love Billy Joel!
Immediate 5/5 as soon as I saw it come up, one of the greatest albums of all time in my opinion
First 7 of the 9 tracks are all memorable radio hits. Such a wide variety of sounds and vibes from song to song.
The Stranger song is great - great piano at the opening and closing, and great middle of the song - why didn't this one get radio play that I've heard? Beautiful piano on the last track, too. And whistling.
A true classic. No duds.
his best album
Fantastic album. Every song is a banger. Scenes from an Italian restaurant might be the best song ever made
This is a five star just off the track list.
My boss loved Billy Joel back when I used to work at a local pizza joint. At the time I hated The Stranger because it meant I was working til close, but now it just brings back good memories
Great classic album.
Kijk, zo doe je dat, als singer-songwriter, gewoon een dijk van een plaat opnemen. Balads, hier en daar een beetje rocken, verstild deuntje ertussendoor, een wat langer nummmer waarin je allerlei zijpaden bewandelt. Van a tot z luistergenot. Het stoort niet eens dat Sky Radio verwoede en aanhoudende pogingen heeft gedaan een paar nummers helemaal kapot te draaien, ook deze tracks zijn nog altijd fris. (Hoewel je je wel afvraagt, wat moet je als vrouw eigenlijk doen voordat Billy Joel je NIET meer als vrouw beschouwt?) Het titelnummer bevat een mooie existentiële bespiegeling. Hoe goed ken jij je partner eigenlijk?
Tremendous album. Billy is in his zone here.
the fourth album from this project that i own a CD of after the police's "synchronicity", guns n roses "apetite for destruction" and pink floyd "the piper at the gates of dawn". probably this is the album ive heard the most in my life. every song just hits, the transitions between ballads and rock song and a gospel song just moves so smoothly you cant even notice you spent 42 minutes listening to this masterpiece. this album was my introduction to billy joel's discography. although this album is incredible i prefer billy's turnstiles or 52nd street anoher great albums of him. this album is so many memories for me. perfect for any situation and every car ride i had since i bought the album. this album made me take the organ from the basement after years i didnt played and learned the intro to the stranger.
Beautiful
Love this album. Best from Billy Joel
before heariung this album, i only really knew billy joel for one song. But this album has made me check out the rest of his work. The album got add to my weekend rotation list.
Greatest album of all time
I only wish that the album was longer.
Without a doubt, one of the albums that would be the soundtrack of my life story. So much time ingesting the words and the notes... it is now a part of me. It just doesn't get old for me.
Billy Joels kraftfulla men ändå pojkaktiga röst är snusk. Den tar sig in i hörselgången helt utan motstånd och kittlar hjärnbarken precis där jag vill, och skickar samtidigt signaler genom nervtrådarna rakt in i själen. Har det någonsin funnits en mer BEHAGLIG röst, som fortfarande väcker sånt engagemang och såna känslor? 'Vienna' är en av de bästa låtar som någonsin skrivits. Har alltid varit en favorit. Och låtföljden 'Vienna' -> 'Only the Good Die Young' -> 'She's Always a Woman' är så löjligt bra. Men, även låtarna jag inte hört förut var fantastiska, alla på sitt egna sätt: 'Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)' är väldigt Eltonsk. 'The Stranger' med vad som känns som en ikonisk visslingsmelodi, innan den brakar lös i klassisk jävla rock. 'Just the Way You Are' som får mig att önska att jag var Billy Joels älskade. Det drivna pianot i 'Scenes from an Italian Restaurant' får mig att drömma om ett New York-liv jag nog aldrig får uppleva. 'Get It Right the First Time' tappar nog lite på att den kommer efter tre världsklasslåtar, kanske svagaste spåret på albumet, men fortfarande bra, härliga tralalas! 'Everybody Has a Dream' passande avslutning, och återkomsten av visslingen från 'The Stranger' knyter ihop albumet så fint. Finns verkligen inget att klaga på här, så genomtänkt, varierande, lagom längd, några verkliga topplåtar. Fantastiskt album. Bästa låt: Vienna. Kan inte att välja någon annan.
Best ive heard in years!
I enjoyed this more than I expected. No slips
Album starts out strong with Movin Out, a Billy Joel classic. It is short and sweet, just like Billy himself. As a long islander, I am a huge fan and will always be
This and Abbey Road are probably my most nostalgic albums. My parents' had their first dance to "Just the Way You Are" and requested it at every restaurant we went to on their anniversary. I know "Movin' Out" by heart, and you can bet your tight ass that I give one hell of a karaoke performance to it. And "She's Always a Woman" is just beautiful. Sentimentality aside, Billy Joel is a great musician with an even better voice. There are so many bangers here and they hit in their own way. It's a really good album.
holy f*** this week has been amazing. A Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) - 5. The Stranger - literally 3 songs in one. 5. Just the Way You Are - so 70s. 4. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant - 4. Vienna - 5. Only the Good Die Young - 4. She's Always a Woman - 4. Get It Right the First Time - 5. Everybody Has a Dream - 3. The whistling deserves a 5, but I have to give it a 4. My heart wants to give it a 5, but my brain knows it's a 4. After re-listening multiple times over the weekend, both Scenes From An Italian Restaurant and She’s Always a Woman went up by 1 each. Therefore, Billy gets a 5. Whistle on, my Jewish friend.
One classic after another. It's Billy Joel at his best - these are massive hits for a reason.
Billy Joel was great before album came out, but this album made him a superstar. With classics like My Life, Movin' Out, Just the Way You Are, and She's Always a Woman this album should be mostly familiar to any music fan. Then the rest of the album is full of some of Billy's best loved songs by true fans such as Scene's From an Italian Restaurant, Vienna, and my personal favorite: Everybody Has a Dream. The only other song not mentioned is Get it Right the First Time and it's not too bad either. One of the easiest 5/5 that I have given. Only 70 of the 950 albums I have rated have received a 5/5 rating from me (about 7%).
Just great from top to bottom. Every song works musically, lyrically and performatively and it holds together exceedingly well in terms of consistency of mood and linked storytelling. Very well produced with solid play and terrific touches all over the place – the whistling, of course, the crisp guitar and light-touch high-hatting on "The Stranger," and the clarinet and accordion on "Vienna"). A few stone cold classics ("Only the Good Die Young" is an all-timer if only for upsetting so many Catholic moms; "Movin' Out") with a strong set of deep cuts are great (esp the title cut and "Scenes" and "Get It Right the First Time"). "Just the Way You Are" is a non-sappy ballad done right. Maybe the perfect pop album
Monster of an album.
Ahh shoot, my bias is kicking in on this one. I love this guy! This album almost felt like a greatest hits, seemed like i knew almost every track even though I've never played the album. Billy Joel is a master at songwriting and story telling. Loved it
Certified Fresh
Wonderful album, one song is better than the next and every song is great. I should listen to more Billy Joel, seems he knows what he is doing.
Absolute stunner of an album!
I grew up on most of the songs, hearing them all the time on the radio growing up, but I stand by the belief that these songs are objectively amazing. Ramone's production work is outstanding, with the incorporation of brass, synths, cool guitar effects, and so many other instruments feeling so natural coming together. Not just making each track musically interesting, but somehow never diverting attention from Billy Joel's superb vocal delivery. His voice is passionate and emotional, capable of giving a fun energetic performance in "Movin Out", an introspective melancholic one in "Just the Way You Are", and everything in between, throwing in all sorts of scats to keep himself on the forefront. A lot of these songs have the same appeal as Bruce Springsteen's or Steely Dan's work and stands among the best that 70s pop rock has to offer. What solidifies the 5-star rating (which apparently not even most professional reviewers give somehow) is how excellent and memorable each individual song is. Even the deep tracks like "The Stranger" and "Get it Right the First Time" had something exciting to offer. I guess the only weak track was "Everybody Has a Dream" but I still liked it.
An album with “Scenes From An Italian Restaurant” is good enough, but to have as many good songs as this one… this is a GREAT album
My absolute favorite Joel collection. Every track is a killer.
This is as good Billy Joel gets, and I'm not huge on Billy Joel yet almost every track of his that I *love* is on this album. "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" and "Vienna" are where it shines the best. A perfect album from an artist I tend not to be huge on otherwise.
Simply perfect. Upbeat and fun as much as reflective and filled with sadness. This is an album that has one sing that reminds me of the week my dad passed away and another that was the first dance at my wedding. So it feels like a personal thing. But it’s a timeless classic from start to finish.
Loved it! Cracker album. Billy Joel is so cool
Immmmm mooovvving outtt!!! Good mix of bangers and slow ones. Piano, sax, guitar it's got it at all. Quel chops ! Got it on vinyl, woop 😯 would listen again
A fantastic album. It flows so well from song to song. Some of his best are here - "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" is maybe the best song he's written, and "Vienna" isn't far behind - but it loses a bit of steam after those first seven classics, ending with two tunes that would be pretty great on their own, but become forgettable in the context of following mega-hit after mega-hit. Imagine it ended after "She's Always a Woman"? Talk about all killer, no filler! Still, I can't really give it less than five stars.
Fantastic with some of his hits. Classic Billy Joel.
Jävla bra platta detta. Jävla bra byggsnickeri och jävla bra finsnickeri.
I have never heard a single Billy Joel song I didn’t like even when he sings about beating off on a song like Captain Jack, it still sounds great this album is full of pure talent like a cross between Elton John and Steely Dan, even second is pure ecstasy- 10/10
His best work. Not a weak song from start to finish.
it totally banged. Put me to sleep
Billy Joel’s best album by far and without it he may be more so considered for his one big hit. The songs on this album have a great way of story telling while also keeping you hooked with the rhythm. Only on the back half of the album so you get some less memorable songs. Overall this has great piano features and has vary Ming moods and tones that make it enjoyable for all kinds of people and different listening avenues. One of my favorite albums. 9.0/10
Great album! Truly loved it
Sometimes I tire of Billy Joel, but he is great
Solid record and somewhat of a breakout raising Joel to a new level as a singer songwriter. There’s easily 5 standout tracks that are considered masterpieces.
A lot of the songs feel like multiple songs in one. I love the production, and all the instruments sound so good. The piano, the sax, the accordion? It’s all so beautiful. A great way to spend 40 minutes of my time.
Vienna is 👍
This is my first time listening to the full album though I've had 'Only the good die young' in my playlists for years. Solid album - I should've listened to it in its entirety sooner!
Var að eignast þessa á vinyl fyrir nokkrum dögum 😊 Algjör gimsteinn, eins og flest annað sem elsku Billy hefur látið frá sér.
Such a great album. So many great songs that merge so well together. Billy Joel’s masterpiece.
I grew up with this album. My dad somehow got a 2nd copy of it and gave it to me. I was probably 9 or 10 and I didn't have any hangups about listening to the music of my parents; hell they got me I to some stuff I still like today. Anyway, theres probably some nostalgia at play here but this is just loaded with great songs. As a kid I wasn't wild about the last 2 songs but I've grown to appreciate them as an adult. This is just a stellar album. I want to go listen to Vienna again right now.
HOT TAKE: My favorite Billy Joel album is "An Innocent Man". Don't at me. It has just as many hits as this one, although even the lesser known tracks from "The Stranger" are still quite well known, with "Vienna" especially enjoying something of a new lease on life recently. There isn't one skippable track here, and you get the epic "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" right in the middle of several hits. I'll never deny having a soft spot in my heart for Billy Joel. Do yourself a favor and listen to the Legacy Edition of this album for a great live set that includes many tracks from "The Stranger", along with Miami 2017 (See the Lights Go Out On Broadway), Captain Jack, and Say Goodbye To Hollywood. You probably like Billy Joel, too. Don't fight it.
I love this album
Almost halfway through and I finally get some Billy Fucking Joel! Christmas came late, but better late than never. Billy is a 5 star man, no contest. And this album in particular is a tour de force, showcasing all of his talents brilliantly. The singing, the songwriting, the musicianship, the creativity and storytelling. He is in his prime here and absolutely unparalleled at composing compelling pop/rock songs of epic sing-a-long quality. He’s a god and I worship at his altar. I ride or die with Billy.
A surprise treat! Never heard a full album by Billy Joel and i really enjoyed it.
Every song is an absolute banger. Hit after hit. Man did not miss. Was genuinely surprised at how good this album was for both the songs I’d heard of and the one’s I hadn’t. Everything about the album is fantastic; the songwriting, instrumentation, singing, production, etc. It has a flowing feeling throughout the entire album that stays interesting. Also, just a fun, enjoyable album to listen to. Maybe another day I would have given it a 4, but it’s Christmas, so I’m feeling generous. 5/5
I simply love this album! Some of my favourite music of life are here.
this is a masterpiece. new favorite album of all time i think.
Inject this straight into my veins. There are apparently people who think Billy Joel is a hack, and to them I respectfully ask: what are you smoking? Regardless of whether you like his music or not, I don't think it's being honest to say that Joel can't craft a tune, that he can't write compelling lyrics, that he can't bring everything together to make a complete listening experience. This album is an example of everything coming together and working. It's tight, it's catchy, it's just plain fun, and isn't that the point of music? It's hard to pinpoint a single song that stands out as towering above the rest in this album, but if I had to pick, I'd have to choose 'Vienna.' Beautiful, sad (depending on your state of mind), optimistic, this is a song that elicits an emotional response. It shows that Joel is more than just a 'catchy song generator,' as if that was ever up for debate. I could listen to 'Vienna' for hours and never get tired of it. The biggest crime, in my personal opinion, is that there aren't more Billy Joel albums on this 1001 list. Streetlife Serenade. 52nd Street. Piano Man. An Innocent Man. Joel puts out good to great music time and time again. When I started collecting records, I fell in love with his music, and I'll defend it until I take my final breath.
Great album
Excellent selection
I have a chicken named Virginia Gold Lemonthwaite due to misheard lyrics from Only the Good Die Young. So many great hits and singalongs on this album.
Probably his greatest studio album, every track is a candidate for a greatest hits collection. Surprising me was the use of saxophone on nearly every track, a feature explained by the history of the album and Billy's desire to use his touring band in the studio. It's really the first album by "The Billy Joel band"
I was going to go 4 stars but then I listened again and realized this one is absolutely a classic. Some of the best and most "singable" of Billy's tunes.
7/9, 78%
Very cooolll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Absolute classic album. The whistle on the stranger is iconic. Scenes from an Italian restaurant is also probably one of his best songs
Excellent album
Good stuff, really enjoyed.
A superb album by a national treasure
Extremely good
Comincia di sicuro molto bene. Bellissima 'Just the way you are', il resto dà delle Elton John vibes. Wow: un album stupendo!
5/5. Although the last song isn’t my favorite, every song after another is a classic. I can choose any song and be fine with listening to it.
Just bangers.
Outstandingly beautiful. Every song was masterfully crafted, im glad I got to listen to this.
An interesting album from the cover, like many artists the magic of Joel is in their lyrics, some more complicated than others, but also a lot of magic it's in the music itself. A strange combination of relaxing rythms with some acoustic rock, a really enjoyable album.
Decent.
"Art decorates space, music decorates time". This album was from a well decorated period of my life and the songs herein are from back when I was alive and love was new and life itself was large. Great kick-off for the week
Best album he has recorded
meh
It was a pleasure revisiting this album again. I keep forgetting how many good songs are stacked in here ranging from pop, ballads and even a multi-part suite. Joel's piano and the sax plus woodwind goes hard too. Just a great time.
Stone classic.
Brilliant album. So varied and each song is excellent. Really enjoyed one of the best so far
Great all the way through
Rating: 10/10
Billy Joel, what a legend. I know so many of these songs but never listened to the full album! Great stuff honestly. Big fan.
When it comes to Billy Joel I know some people get a little sick of it, stuff like Piano Man seemingly playing wherever you go, and a lot of his other songs being so well known that they seem to be heard at least once a week, but doesn't that just show the man's talent for this sort of thing, especially when the songs you don't hear everyday have that same level of quality? That level of quality doesn't shine brighter than The Stranger. Every single song on this album is excellent, even the longer ones which any other artist of the time would have caused it to feel as though the song is a drag, but not on this album. The album even flows well from song to song, with each placement just making sense. Sure, some of Joel's songs may be a little cheesy, but the musicality and enjoyment from each song on this album gives me no other choice but to give it five stars.
I love Billy Joel!!! What a great writer.
Any billy joel album is an easy listen on my 61 mile commute
Billy Joel made this album as an early 20-something on Long Island. As a fellow 20-something on Long Island, a lot of the themes still stand the test of time.
I had a wierd Billy Joel phase when I was about 10, this brings back good memories. He's a great storyteller / song writer
LOVE THIS ALBUM
Never really done Billy Joel, surprised how many songs I recognised, this was fabulous
Fabulously nostalgic. It feels crazy, but Billy Joel nails the feel of longing for the past while also sounding youthful. Old soul, young body maybe.
this one has so many of my fave songs by him
I can't help it, I love this album.
Loved this ‘80’s Goth.
highlights: -movin' out -the stranger -just the way you are -everybody has a dream liked: kinda yeah, my dad would listen to this
It is blasphemous that this album only has a 3.75 star average at the time of writing (Jun 27, '22). Such an incredibly strong album from start to finish. Almost every song was a hit or recognizable. One of the easiest perfect scores I've give yet. 10/10
Ya got me billy
One of the greatest albums ever made, without a doubt.
Pretty cool
It was fun from the get-go. I liked his voice.
I’ve always liked billy Joel but this album so far surpasses my expectations. He’s really like an Elliot Erwitt with his compelling narratives and playful barbs at the American condition. And then on top of that the sax rocks and there’s a random boss’s nova background band for get it right the first time. Just fantastic
What a great album! I knew if Billy's legend status but had never really heard anything of his music. This is how I expected and wanted Elton John's music to sound: pompous, sophisticated yet easy listening, meaningful lyrics yet catchy songs
Undeniably Billy Joel's best
Wow, I quite enjoyed this album. I remember being a fan before I developed my own music taste and never revisited Billy since then so it was nice to reminisce a bit but also these are great songs. Faves: Movin' Out, Vienna
I kinda hate and love Billy Joel at the same time. It’s so cheesy and corny, but I also crank every song and jam to it. Same with Bon Jovi. Plus I think every song on this album charted excepted for like two. That’s impressive.
não estava preparado para gostar tanto desse álbum. baladinhas românticas com ótimos arranjos, numa pegada que me lembrou algumas obras do paul mccartney. merece estar em todas as compilações de soft rock e eu já devia ter ouvido antes.
really enjoyed this, a lot of hits and classics
oh my god! this album! THIS ALBUM!!!!! i really grew up with this, with my parents playing this album a lot. it's perfect, from start to finish. "movin' out (anthony's song)" is one of the greatest opening songs. the tires screeching on the pavement! "just the way you are" is one of the all-time greatest romantic songs. with lyrics like "i couldn't love you any better/i love you just the way you are"--are you kidding me? "scenes from an italian restaurant," a song that creates such a vivid picture in my mind. "vienna" contains a wonderful life lesson. the whistling in "the stranger" in the beginning and end, tying the song together in a neat bow--then the melody and whistling returns in "everybody has a dream." billy joel, his melodic voice, his beautiful piano playing. every song is unique and contains beautiful lyrics. you couldn't stop me from giving this 5 stars. a joy to listen.
absolutely fantastic
Billy Joel is fantastically talented. The lyrics in this album are great stories and woven with the instrumentals in a catchy way, making hit after hit. Great album.
Really holds up well. The songs are all mini-masterpieces and my amazement at its quality seems as fresh 40+ years on. The songs are interesting and accessible and the playing suggests the band is having fun and there are just enough barbs, bitterness and irony to elevate it above commercial pop. The pure New Yorkiness is great, too – think early years of SNL and Woody Allen and the Big Apple’s bankruptcy. We know “Only the Good Die Young” is a great rock n roll song because Catholic mothers all over the country were warning of its evils in the late ‘70s. Only dud for me is the snoozefest “She’s Only a Woman.” The reprising whistle ending is a nice touch to close out a fun and musically substantive ride. 4.5 for 5.
7/9 tracks are unmistakeably brilliant, only the last couple falling off a bit. Still an easy 5 for me, just can't believe I've gone so long without listening to this.
divota!! Dva puta san ga poslušala
Svidia mi se baš jako! Baš zabavno
Amazing. I'm a sucker for Mr. Joel. "The Stranger" goes hard!
Billy Joel! Classic!
A lot of great tracks off of this album. Billy Joel is at the top of his game.
Hell yes!
I love this MAN
Top five of Billy Joel's albums. It's weird how I have moved on from his stuff, but it's nice to come back to it, like an old friend. Every song on this one is a singalong, as opposed to some of his other albums which are really good, but you just don't have that feeling to sing along with them. Billy Joel himself seemed to push Vienna a LOT in later years, and it's easy to see why, it is an underrated gem. Even the songs that are the hits do not feel overplayed to me (I'm looking at you, "Piano Man." God if I hear that song one more time...) This one really put him out there in the mainstream. And rightfully so, it's a great album.
Another tough one. For sure a 4 given its singles. Just the Way You Are and She's Always a Woman are two beautifully written and sounding classics (as beautiful as Let it Be or Hey Jude). Only the Good Die Young is one of my favorite Joel tunes - super fun and great lyrics. Movin' Out is almost as foot-tappingly fun and good, but there's always been something about it that didn't quite compute (is it all the ack's?). Of his apparently beloved other songs, I really enjoyed Scenes from a Restaurant (especially the more sombre start) but was a bit ho-hum on Vienna. The latter definitely got better and better the more I listened (10 times?). But I found title track and the last two tracks a bit meh. So, what do you give an album with 5.5 great songs and 3 so-so's? I'm at 4.5 so which way to tip? I'm going to round up for the start of both Get it Right the First time and Everybody has a Dream - the former reminded me of Paul Simon's work (a good thing) and the latter opened soft and sweet even if the last 2 minutes was unnecessary.
It's like listening to a greatest hits album. There are 9 tracks on this album and at least 6 are greatest hits (Movin' Out, The Stranger, Just the Way You Are, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Only the Good Die Young, She's Always a Woman). Crazy. The remaining tracks are all good but simply not as great as the other six. Bottom line is Billy Joel is a great songwriter, so this album is an easy 5.
Fantastic album! Don’t know what else to say about it. I listened to this album already many times and it’s still great! Favourite songs: - Scenes from a Italian restaurant - Vienna - She’s always a woman
i love elton john <333 not to be basic but vienna <3333333 also scenes from an italian restaurant is literally piano man...still hits tho!!!!
This album is great, especially Scenes from an Italian Restaurant. One of Billy Joel’s best.
Such a delightful album with good variation in the tunes, beautiful vocals, fun songs. Songs like Scenes from an Italian Restaurant has nice progressions and changes in tune combined with nice saxophone! And Billy's songs are good at brining my friends together which adds to the Joy. I can only ask: when will you realize, Billy waits for you?
So many tunes I just absolutely love!
jos ugodinije i jos relaxije, 5
My first 8 track. Great songs!
Take the phone off the hook and disappear for a while
Dit album is een feest der herkenning. Volgens mij had ik vroeger een kopie op cassettebandje. Billy Joel is een van mijn favoriete artiesten, maar heb dit album zelf al heeeeel lang niet meer geluisterd. Verbaasd me hoeveel leuke nummers er eigenlijk staan! ****** Helaas zijn er maar 5 sterren uit te delen :-)
Masterful. Gorgeous songwriting. A true classic. So many wonderful tracks that it's nearly impossible to pick a fave. But...if I had to choose...it would be either "The Stranger" or "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant".
Every song is a classic on here, can't hate on Billy Joel
genieten, ga ik nog vaak luisteren. de cover alleen als is mooi
Great Album
Listened to Billy Joel's Greatest Hits endlessly on car trips as a kid so I'm familiar with 90% of these songs but whenever one comes on I've never heard I'm always like "wtf is this?"
Class album
I'd consider this the quintessential Billy Joel album
Wow
Responses to music are so subjective. This reminds me of my father, so it’s an automatic 5 stars.
This is a classic. Doesen't even have pianoman, uptown girl or we didn't start the fire, but the album just flows so well. Wait I know "Just the Way You Are" so well, haha. I forgot tha name. I love this. Yeah the lyrics are not the best, but damn are the tunes catchy! Very easily digestible, and that is not always a bad thing. 5
I didn't know that I knew a good chunk of the album already, it was a good listen, but I won't come back to it any time soon.
One of my favorite albums ever, I know the lyrics to nearly every song. New discovery: Everyone Has a Dream
I have loved this album for years. Joel’s voice, his melodies. Fantastic.