The Stranger

4/5 - forever an amazing album!!!

I was expecting some Billy Joel on this list, and after 917 albums, I finally get one. I think this is the one Billy Joel album I've heard before, and it's pretty great. He's an underrated singer, and this is a pleasant listen-to-anytime album. Best track: Movin' Out

AKAKAKAKAKA (C'était sympa)

Amazing 10 out of 10

10/10 Favorites: She’s Always A Woman Vienna

Not a big Joel fan, however, this album is fantastic as it showcases the best of Joel at his peak. Fantastic writing, compositions and production.

Fantastic album, probably his best album. 7 out of 9 songs are wonderful. Great writing, great music!

This was OK, a bit boring though.

Billy, no! This album starts of so strong but the second half is marred by a lot of forgettable material. Strong 3.5*

One of my favourite albums. Beautiful. It may be a bit melodramatic but I like especially the love songs. Just the way you are reminds me of my wife (She's always a woman a little less so) and it always makes me cry: Joels description of difficulties in the marriage and how he endures them strike a chord with me. btw: If you're reading through my reviews: My wife decided to stay with me after she said she gave up all hope.

заслуженная 4 за песню про вумен.

Yeahhh this deserves the "one of the best albums ever" acclaim. Damn near perfect until the last two songs.

Not bad, but not a jam I'd jam to.

Heerlijk. Gewoon goeie muziek

6/5

Decent

Amazing

Going into 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 with fairly low expectations of Billy Joel, I was surprised by how strong the album actually is. Blending pop, rock, and balladry with slick production and memorable hooks, it shows Joel at his sharpest. Tracks like 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯’ 𝘖𝘶𝘵 and 𝘚𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘯 𝘐𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵 prove he could write beyond simple radio fare, making this a surprisingly rewarding listen.

Pretty much exactly what i'd expect from a Billy Joel album. Good, consistent music throughout with a couple of standout tracks, but most of it doesn't quite 'click' with me. 3*, 7/10

Det er først nu det går op for mig, at Billy Joel og Elton John lød ret ens i 70'erne. Der er nogle kæmpe corny sange og nogle kæmpe bops på den her (flere bops)

Temmelig sukkersødt men dælme også en banger-tung plade!

Pretty good! American Elton John.

8/10 - great album, had the lyrics, rhythms and Billy has a great voice

Obvious classics, dumb shit in between

I know this one

No one's lyrics are clearer than Billy Joel, and some of these songs are great.

Was not familiar with his older catalog, album was pretty enjoyable.

This man has had too much sax

Stone cold classic

The 1-2 punch of Movin’ Out and The Stranger almost made me be more generous with my thoughts on Billy Joel - as did the totality of production value here - but the casual misogyny knocked it back down. Hard to figure out where that settles beyond a 3

I did not like this, but giving it a 3 instead of a 2 to avoid being banned from the chat.

It’s like unfair how many hits are on this one

Músicas Longas e muito boas

I really liked every song on here, should really listen to Billy Joel more often. Could by naming my favorites here but it'd end up as just naming the entire track list. Billy Joel is a brilliant songwriter and singer like many of this era, and this is probably his best album. Nice combination of hits and well known fan favorites on display. Very varied, good runtime and something that pretty much everyone can enjoy.

Rounding up a little bit, but a surprising 5 for me. I knew the singles and they’re bangers, but the other tracks are also very strong and evocative.

This is a good album, first seven songs are radio hits and the last two are just overshadowed by the heavy hitting first half. Always loved the western-inspired main theme.

A wonderful trip into the Joel Hoel to hang with Sgt. O'Leary, Mama Leone, Brender and Eddie and Tony et al.

Who needs a house out in Hackensack?

2,3/5

Banger after banger. Can't believe that there is only one album by Billy Joel on this list yet many bands I've never heard of before have two albums. I shouldn't question it too much.

I mean how could it I not give it 5 stars

actually quite good as I don't typically vibe with ol BJ

Discount Elton John is pretty good!

Billy Joel is my personal favorite artist ever. So this is an automatic 5 stars. What a fantastic album. Goes from power pop to ballad and everywhere in between. This really showcases Billy's artistic range well.

What a fantastic album. This entire thing is great.

It's good. I wasn't expecting to particularly care for this album, figuring it was just gonna be some commercial radio hits from back in the day that my mom liked, but it's honestly quite well done. I don't think it hit me as hard as a lot of other people, most of the songs in here are solid but don't really resonate with me too much. That said, The Stranger and Only The Good Die Young were both really good. 7/10, 3 stars.

As many times as I have heard OF Billy Joel, I haven't taken the time to listen to any of his work prior to this. I feel as if I've been missing out on an incredible talent! The writing and lyricism is top notch, and there's some really catchy songs on this album. There were perhaps a couple that were just okay, but for the most part the music was the perfect length and incredibly well performed by Joel. This album just feels timeless.

I have always been fond of good singer/song writers. He is one of them.

I enjoyed this sentimental nonsense more than I’d like to admit

This was the first one I got where I’ve been able to grab my vinyl version and put it on at home. I love several of the songs on this album, but lyrically he leaves a lot to be desired. I’d chose Elton over him 9 times out of ten.

Pretty enjoyable pop rock. Surprised by how ‘epic’ some of the songs are with multiple sections and long runtimes. Songs like Scene from an Italian Restaurant in particular. Others like Vienna give strong Macca vibes.

Easy 5 star. One of the greats of all time.

Felt more like a collection of songs than an album - final track tried too hard and failed because of it. Classic

Love this album. Maybe a top 10 album for me? No misses. Vienna a top 10 fave song too.

Some bangers

I hate Billy Joel, but….this does happen to have every Billy Joel song I like

Stick to the animated films, Billy.

Joel’s knack for storytelling shines brightest on The Stranger, with “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” standing out as a masterclass in lyrical narrative. The tale of Brenda and Eddie is vivid, nostalgic, and bittersweet—like flipping through a photo album of lives that didn’t quite go as planned. The album’s musical versatility is both a strength and a slight drawback; while tracks like “Movin’ Out” and “Only the Good Die Young” have punch and personality, others drift into easy listening territory. That smoothness makes the album accessible, but occasionally dilutes its emotional edge. Overall, for me, it’s a very good album—just shy of greatness due to those softer moments.

Never had a chance to listen to and of his albums front-to-back, so this was the first the first time. Amazing thing was that i have heard every single song from it beforehand, so it felt not as an ordinary album, but as a Best Of release for me.

Decent set of songs

It may be a perfect album.

8.7

I don’t know, the first two songs are good, and not really what I expected, but then most of the rest are painfully bland and exactly what you’d expect. It feels quite a lot like the steely Dan album where everything is overproduced, also feels a bit like Elton John, but just a lot later. I mean he’s clearly a great singer, and I think he works best for the more emotive songs. I also feel like the lyrics are quite bland, some interesting storytelling might have saved some of it. Favourite songs: movin’ out (Anthony’s song), the stranger, she’s always a woman. Overall around 5/10

My main complaint with this album is that I've heard it 10,000 times

3.5 rounded up. Some.classics mixed with forgettable filler.

Not for me.

3.1

If I had to listen to this more than once, I might go crazy

Lots of classics. Almost all of them, shockingly. I'm not the biggest Billy Joel guy, but this is a great one. First album on this journey, so starting with 5 stars feels like a lot, but it's kind of hard to give anything less.

Highlights: "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" and "She's Always a Woman"

The songs, the sounds, all top tier. While "The Piano Man" (the song) is probably the most essential Billy Joel album, this would probaby be the essential album. There are so many great, classic songs on the album, it's hard to argue it isn't an essential listen from a formative arist of the late 70s. While I can imagine coming back to this album, Billy Joel just doesn't reach that top 5 star rating for me. He has some great songs, but just isn't one of my favorites. This would be a perfect contender for 4.5 stars, if the rating system allowed for it.

End peters out a bit, but the rest of the album is classics.

What a banger of an album. First time listening to Al album from Billy Joel and it’s just so good. So varied from track to track. This one will definitely be in the rotation. That said, that’s an album cover that probably would have spooked me when I was five. Favorite tracks: The Stranger, Vienna, Only the Good Die Young

I don't know much about Joel's discography but I'm kind of surprised he's only got this single album on the list. I found it pretty enjoyable. Keywords: "Ack"

Pretty solid album. I like the hits: Movin Out, Just The Way You Are, Only the Good Dye Young, She's Always a Woman. Interesting that Vienna is actually the biggest song - that one's OK.

Did you know they made a whole album of alternate theme songs for Bosom Buddies?

Perfectly fine Boomer music.

This is one of my favorite albums of all time, and it’s one I've more than familiarized myself with well before even going into this list. Despite Billy Joel’s previous albums having critical acclaim, the sales didn’t quite match up, so The Stranger was a necessary release to practically save his career, and what a record to do it. The Stranger is an apt title for this album, you're introduced to these characters you’ve never met before, and like a picture book, Billy Joel perfectly encapsulates their pains, their struggles, how they grow up, how they change, how they love, and their desires. In other words, it’s like if the Beatles' A Day In The Life was an album, where something people may only view as mundane is expressed with such conviction you get invested in their hopes and dreams. As for the title track itself, it's like getting a peek into a facade many people may put on, and it's a reminder to the listener that The Stranger, these masks you put on, aren't inherently good or bad. Instead, it's something you do as a form of trying to change yourself, and it can be alright to make mistakes when allowing these Strangers to control you. The closer by far hits so close to the heart, Everybody Has a Dream is one of Joel's most introspective pieces. Coming from a time where he didn't know for certain if he had the capability of providing for his family, it's almost like he's calling himself a failure for half of the runtime. Still, he humanizes himself, he reminds us of his own dream, of settling down to be alone with his wife. Then ending it on The Stranger motif, it’s like Billy Joel is directly reminding you that even the people you’ve never met or even thought about all have these types of dreams, as if to remind you to treat everyone with compassion despite these facades people put onto themselves My absolute favorite song on the record is Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, which puts you in the front seat of a full on gossip session. It's so upbeat despite the failings mentioned in the relationship, and the story of two lovers who slowly and mutually fall out of love after being on a perpetual downslope of living with eachother, permanently changed because of it, makes this practically the perfect parallel to the thesis of this album. With a near-perfect runtime, the pacing is almost flawless, and it's filled with songs you'll hear on countless Billy Joel Greatest Hits compilations. Sure they may be a bit overplayed nowadays, but they're classics for a reason, and this album holds a soft spot in my heart

A fantastic album, can’t believe I’ve never heard it in full before.

Heart attack-ack-ack-ack-ack!

Always a Women reminds me of all the bars I never sat in, moochily drinking the martinis i never ordered on those late late Saturday nights I never stayed up for. How’s that for invented nostalgia? But that’s Joel’s gift, making us feel like the everyman . And I’m not a man, either. But it’s The Stranger that Im really giving him a 5 for.

That was definitely a classic. Loved every minute!

Quintessential. 5 outta 5 Classic.

A couple of good songs, a few bad ones

This is one of Joel's best albums with a couple rockin songs a love song and a romantic one. The songs are tracked in a thoughtful order. Great music!!

5/5, is there really any doubt? Billy Joel is an icon, and The Stranger is packed full of hits, and is just an absolute treat front to back.

Great album, though not Joel’s best

1977? Feels like this one's been around a lot longer really. I tried to leave as much of my memories and feelings about the hits on this one behind for this listen. Had marginal success. "Get It Right The First Time" felt fresh at least. I still think "Everybody Has A Dream" was unnecessary. That one feels like he was angling for the Saturday Night Live outro song. I"d have put my feelings about the hits behind and given this 4 stars if not for that song.

A solid album full of hits. I’m usually not in the mood for the ballads but I can’t deny that they are still catchy.

Two really great songs, no bad songs. Definitely like side one more than side two.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this, I only knew Uptown Girl and We Didn't Start The Fire - this was nothing like that. Like Elton John if he tried to do storytelling like Bruce Springsteen. Pretty good!

Kinda corny but it’s well made and the songs are all pretty good. I think I’m getting old hahaha.

Tipazo billy joel

Le rescato algunos temas medios movidos

Lovely

S- 8/10 M- 8/10

This has been one of my favourite albums since it was released. My favourite track remains Always a Woman, but I can listen again and again to Vienna, The Stranger, Only the Good Die Young, Movin’ Out and Scenes From an Italian Restaurant and never get tired of them. A solid gold hit album - love it

I've never understood the fascination with America's budget Elton John. At least Movin' Out proved to be excellent sample fodder for Das Racist.

Not really for me

yep this sure is the american elton john alright

i like some of them a lot and the rest kinda sound the same

Thought I would hate it then thought I would love it based on the strength of the first song but did not love it. Just felt very overproduced and shiny for no reason. I was actually surprised at how well written most of the songs were but I just really didnt enjoy the production Fav song: Movin Out

Incredible album. Joel's fifth. Put together with his touring band. Just watched the first part of the new (2025) BJ documentary. I need to finish part 2 after my listen through this album.

ACK, ACK, ACK, ACK, ACK! 3/5. Super catchy songs all throughout. I don’t usually enjoy such piano heavy albums, but it’s to be expected here. Standout: Vienna

ight

Bardzo dobry, fajny balans instrumentów plus genialny wokal

Pure 70s pop, not great and wouldn’t make my top 1000 or 2000 for that.

MEh. I never got the Billy Joel hype.

It’s got the hits and it’s groovy. I enjoy his voice and the sax solos, ultimately not something I would play for personal enjoyment, but would love to hear in a social setting.

Too poppy for me? Ballad-y which I’m not into Always a woman Vienna

Every time I listen to Billy Joel I can't believe how catchy the songs are and how good his vocals are...and then I forget again

Several iconic songs. Great, consistent sound. Some upbeat stuff mixed with more serious lyrics. 8/10

2.6 I've only just found out how massive Billy Joel is. Either I'm missing something, or it was great at the time but has since aged poorly. Album starts off alright, first three songs are enjoyable. Just the way you are corny but still quite a sweet, decent track. Then the album descends into nonsense 70s/80s shite. How Vienna has almost 1 billion listens on Spotify boggles the mind. Glad music moved on from this genre.

Très sympa

Not my favorite due to too much radio play growing up but its got over a billion plays on Spotify

great album, really enjoyed it

Jedinica iz principa. // Bila bi četvorka jer sam na moje ogromno iznenađenje baš uživala u slušanju.

Genuinely one of the best albums I've ever listened to. It has my 2nd and 3rd favourite Billy Joel songs on it (Vienna and Scenes from and Italian Restaurant). Also so many songs on here the made me want to learn piano in the first place, which I am now incredibly grateful for. Too influential, on myself, to give it less than a five.

Favourites: Movin' Out (Anthony's Song), Just the Way You Are, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Vienna, She's Always a Woman, Get It Right the First time

Loved every song

Just the best album by Billy Joel! I loved it and it made me relax for a while!

Undeniably well written and catchy songs with a good honest core to them. It's a bit overproduced and poppy as a whole, but if you can overlook that a little then there's a lot to like.

yeah it's billy joel, yeah it was a pretty good listen top to bottom with some huge hits in there as well, not really my style but gotta appreciate it

Amazing record. Loved the melodies and the storytelling. Every track on here is catchy and made me want to sing along. Favourite Track(s): Movin' Out, The Stranger Least Favourite Track(s): Only The Good Die Young

I was absolutely dreading this. The only song I know of Billy Joels is Uptown Girl and I cannot stand that one. Luckily enough though it isn’t on here and this album is bloody BRILLIANT . Genuinely surprised how much I liked it. Turns out I had actually heard Shes Always A Woman before but the Fyfe Dangerfield version, I just never realised it was a cover. Brilliant song but I do prefer the cover. Top Track -Scenes From An Italian Restaurant

Class so far. 3 of the first 5 songs are fairly iconic. Not life changing but very good. Not doing enough for 5 stars but super solid album.

I won't apologize for loving Billy Joel's music. Yes, there is some real crap in their but his catalogue is as strong as almost every individual artist in history. This album is filled with catchy, sing to yourself numbers. the stories are always real to me and that is where he sets himself apart.

I love a piano ballad from time to time. I love great story-telling in music. But I just can't get into Billy Joel. I don't know what it is. Even his upbeat jams feel like someone trying to sound cool and I can't buy into it. I was hoping to come out of this album a fan of Mr. Joel but I'm left feeling the same.

Love this album! <3

Ton of great tracks. Fizzled a little by the end but wraps up nicely.

Classic album. Likely Joel's most accessible. The album that got me into him. Hit after hit after hit after hit and the only downside of that is the last two tracks do not hit as hard as the preceding seven. They are still great songs though! This is one of my favorite albums and I will continue to come back to it for years to come.

Inoffensive flashback to childhood radio, may contain ear worms.

I love it! Best album I’ve listened to so far. It’s got atleast 4 songs that I really like and for me if an album does that than it’s a hit in my books. Billy Joel’s singing is generational; he just has the sauce. Cent rate it 5/5 because I don’t believe in perfect scores but it would be really close to 5/5.

Classic and still good to listen to

Billy Joel is nice. Everything here sounds nice. The melodies are nice, the piano playing is nice, the vocals are nice, the lyrics are nice. Something is missing, though, to make it more than just 'nice'. Key tracks: Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) Just the Way You Are Only the Good Die Young

I mean, it's just simply put one of the greatest albums of all time. 7 of Joel's biggest hits or best songs and often both, with 2 lesser known deep cuts that are still incredible. "Get It Right the First Time" might be my favorite Joel song ever. The piano playing is top notch, just listen to that solo in "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant"!! This album is just so ridiculously well made in nearly ever measure. I can't even find fault with this. Pure magic committed to tape

I’m currently in my Billy Joel era, so listening to The Stranger feels perfectly timed. I love Joel’s voice in his 70s work—warm, distinctive, and full of character. His ability to tell a story within a single song is remarkable, and when all those songs come together, the album paints a complete picture. The Stranger is packed with highlights and stands as a true showcase of his songwriting brilliance. Favourite track: It’s hard to choose, since so many feel like 5/5 classics. But Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song), Just the Way You Are, and Vienna stand out for me. Least favourite track: Every song here has its place—there isn’t a weak moment. Album artwork: A cool, slightly quirky cover that suits the album well.

ultra

Hits like a bowl of bolognese on a cold New York winter evening. Billy made bangers that stand the test of time. A great album.

There's some awesome bangers on there, but found some of the lyrics a bit odd ie. 'catholic girls' etc.

It always looks like Joel doesn't write songs but he discovers them, as they are immediate and clear.

Lite halvbra, lite halvdåligt. Det blir en trea.

I've had a visceral dislike for Billy Joel since hearing Uptown Girl and Just The Way You Are. I have never listened to a whole album and was not looking forward to it, even more so when I saw The Stranger was from 1977, the year punk broke, where there was so much good music being released. It was better than I was fearing and I enjoyed Vienna and She's Always A Woman but some of the tracks were dreadful, particularly Only The Good Die Young and Get It Right The First Time. I'm relieved to see this is his only album on the list. It wasn't quite as bad as I expected, but I in no hurry to listen to it again. 1.7 stars rounded up to 2.

Great but not Joels best

Wow. Amazing that this many great songs are on one album. “Movin’ Out” is a killer opener. It’s like a Beatles song with a theatrical sweep! And the title track right afterwards is fantastic. It sounds like Steely Dan, which is some of the highest praise I can give a song 😂 But Billy Joel has his own style too. He’s a great showman. I resisted his music when I was younger, and now I’m not sure why. I guess I found him a little cheesy. Parts of “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant” are a little corny, but it’s an epic song filled with ear worms. I only learned recently that “Only the Good Die Young” is about a guy trying to convince a Catholic girl to sleep with him. I don’t know how I missed that before. It’s such a funny premise. I had already liked it, but it got so much better once I realized that.

This is an obvious 5/5. "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)", "Just the Way You Are", "Only the Good Die Young" "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" are all truly incredible music compositions. So many sing-along moments, so many hooks, great energy, and instant joy. I imagine when this record came out it was spun on record players until the vinyls got worn out. Awesome, awesome record.

What a masterpiece from Billy Joel. Dude can sing. Real nice flow to this album and could easily listen all day and play for company.

Melodies and arrangements are strong and I can see the appeal but the sound is a little bit safe for me.

Something in the back of my head told me that I didn’t like Billy Joel in the same way that I just can’t stand Elton John. Yes it’s a bit schmaltzy, there are over the top flourishes that it doesn’t really need, and some of it is overplayed to buggery but underneath this album is some really good production and some genuinely good songwriting.

Maybe just a younger age thing, sounds like a musical soundtrack. Just not my cup of tea. Some good songs and storytelling lyrics but nothing that evoked a lot of emotion for me

Pure nostalgia

3/5. Пока единственный альбом, который могу оценить хоть как-то положительно.

Very solid lyric and delivery wise. Reminds me of music i would hear driving with dad as a kid lol. Started strong and ended strong, I kinda see the appeal now.

Oh yeah.

Not a big fan. His music always feels like show tunes to me. But if I had to listen to a Billy Joel album it would be this one.

Fun album, quite a few hits, some songs were a bit boring

Big hits stand out, but kind of background noise otherwise.

I liked it. You oughta know was great. It had a lot of classic songs on it.

I had no idea he had such strong religious components. Very talented musicians.

(66/100)

Smooth music, and I had not expected I would like it so much given it has no real edge. 4.6 stars

Альбом просто блестящий! В этот раз понравился весь, даже середина, не столь классная (но всё равно интересная), как начало. 10 из 10. Понравился и голос исполнителя, и душевность песен, и общая жизнерадостность и душевность. Редкий случай, когда придраться практически не к чему.

Dette albumet har noe her å gjøre

meh

En mycket skicklig melodisnickrare, definitivt. Men jag behöver också lite som skaver. Det blir rätt tråkigt.

Tooting my own luck here. 5 amazing albums after many, many, duds. Thank you 1001 generator for smiling on me this week! Time to change my medications back to I’m sane. Billy Joel’s and mine best relationship by far. Thought out story telling that shows his timelessness. Really great compositions and piano. Voice that is iconic. Thanks Billy! 9.1

Maybe the best BJ album of them all. Great upbeat vibe, consistent across the entire album.

One of the best pop rock albums I’ve heard bangers front to back

I’ve never actually listened to Billy Joel beyond the odd single. This was seriously great. Will be returning

This album is almost non-stop hits and it's easy to listen to and enjoy. It's likely the best you get in this area but I always felt Billy Joel was kind of lame. Makes sense to be on the list. Well done for what it is meant to be.

This seems like this is the Billy Joel album you put on a list. I've never listened to it, but I recognize a lot of the song titles. There are a lot of stand out songs on here. They don't feel repetitive. I just find that his voice isn't as strong as the songs. This kind of deserves a 5 for being a really solid album, but it's just not my thing tho.

Never really listened to much Billy Joel and this wasn't what I was expecting. Starts pretty strong with Movin' Out and I thought The Stranger was decent (even if the whistling didn't do it for me). However I really loved the overblown theatre of Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - which was a standout for me. That said I think the second half is a bit weaker (I’m really not a fan of She’s Always a Woman)

Well it's about damn time, being 882 albums into this list! I know there are a lot of opinions out there, and this is very disputable, but for my money, Joel is, and has been since 1973, America's songwriter. There's a reason his songs have endured the test of time, and it's because how well the resonate to a mass audience. No matter who you are, what walk of life you come from, or circumstances you've lived under, you can relate to Billy Joel's lyrics. He's a master at crafting simple, infectious hooks, all while challenging typical song structure. The Stranger is where we really get to understand this. This album is flawless. There is obviously not a bad song in the bunch, and it truly gets better upon each subsequent listen. I've been listening to Joel for nearly 20 years, and digging into his discography is always an absolute delight, but nothing quite hits as hard as The Stranger.

I'm no stranger to Billy Joel's undeniably stellar storytelling, but there's something about his earnest piano-bar theatricality that keeps me at arm's length.

Had me whistling and thinking

such an iconic album, just classic song back-to-back easy 5

Phenomenal album, Billy Joel absolutely nails it here

This album is just Boomer suburbanism in its purest form. A few decent tracks, I guess.

I have a like/hate relationship with Billy Joel, and this album in particular. In the mid-70’s I was having my rock music awakening and my brother loved this album and played it all the time, irritating the crap out of me. And then in college I met my future (and now ex) wife, and she LOVED Billy Joel. Thanks to that fact, I’ve seen him in concert quite a few times. All of that being said, there are songs I like (and even really like), and this album has quite a few of them. When I saw this pop up today I was determined to give it a fair listen. And it f’ing won me over. One of the songs I’ve despised over the years is “Only The Good Die Young” and even that one made me not hate it as much. Damn you Billy Joel. I want to hate your music and I just can’t do it.

loved!

Straight up Bangers

My god! This album must be the gold standard if you're a Billy Joel fan. I swear it would be easy to convince someone they were listening to a greatest hits album if they didn't know better.

48/1001 :: Billy Joel - Stranger Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ❌ Rating: 6 Fav Tracks: Only the Good Die Young, Vienna Don’t let your hatred of Billy Joel get in the way. Don’t let your hatred of Billy Joel get in the way. Don’t let your hatred of Billy Joel get in the way….OK Shawn? Fine. I really don’t like Billy Joel. In fact I kinda think he’s a hack with a couple of really great songs. This album kinda proves that theory. Only the Good Die Young is easily my favorite Billy Joel song. It’s great. Vienna is also on this album which is pretty damn good. Just the Way You are also decent. But Always A Women? Moving Out? Are these really good songs? I’m not sure they are. Billy Joel is so big in New York. Did you know he basically does a residency at The Garden? The Garden! I feel like people who love Billy Joel are quintessential “Radio Listeners”. Meaning they like middle of the road radio stuff with no real taste in music. Maybe I’m wrong? But I listened to this whole thing and I don’t think so. Dude can play the piano though.

Stranged

Thought I hated Billy Joel, I might have been wrong.

Great songs without any wasted space from start to finish. A benchmark for what a great album should be.

1. fun horn lick 2. pretty piano intro with a whistling solo, chef's kiss. great song, the outro wrapping the whole song up like that was a nice touch. 3. absolute classic, sax solo takes it to another level. every song needs a sax solo. phil woods, i see you.... 4. more sax? yes.....so many sections! his band is absolutely killer and its on display in this song. 5. showcase of billy's singing with minimal backing. he good. accordian solo? hell yeah! 6. another bj classic song. another great example that all good songs have a sax solo. more evidence that all songs need a sax solo. 7. another great song. great use of the mellotron, love to hear it... 8. the band is back! laa la laaa laa laa la laaa. great track placement on the album bringing the tempo up after the ballad. what a great album, so many great songs. i am very pleased with the amount of sax solos in this album. i love that the album outro is the theme from the title track, ties the whole album together as a singular piece.

Started strong with some big bangers and went out with a little bit of a whimper. Good instrumentation!

Pre good

Great album, love alot of the songs on this. Vienna is my favorite on the album

Beautiful album of some classic Billy Joel tunes

Mmm... Definitely part nostalgia but mostly in it's timeless beauty, I love this. Billy Joel is a story teller. Some of his stories are just that, about people going through life, wins and loses. But I can't sing along without tearing up. It could be nostalgia, but it is less petty than that. I don't recall better days or whatever. I live for now, and my life is today. No. It is more about how Billy Joel music touches ones soul. It is not trivial or commercialized. It is about life and trying to make sense of it. And it is very powerful indeed.

Eher langweilig und auch gar nicht mein Geschmack.

Only the good die young is one of the only Billy Joel songs I like. However I know a majority of this album, but don't care for it.

Banger after banger, solid 5

As a young’un I only really knew Uptown Girl. So never really took him seriously. I have since discovered some quality stuff from old Bill. This one has huge tunes from start to finish. Simpsons: Yes

If this were a football match, Billy would be 7-0 up at half-time and cruise home with a 10-0 victory. I don't think I can pick a favourite track off here coz they are all so darn good!!!!

I’ve listened to this album so many times but not for so long. I went in Blind, obviously I knew The Stranger would be on there but beyond that I didn’t know what else. BANGER. AFTER. FUCKING. BANGER. I’m singing along, I’m vibing. It’s so fucking good. The closest Joel comes to a bad track is Get it Right The First time and honestly I think it’s a good song that looks a bit shit in comparison to the rest of the album. Oh my good, possibly best Album on this list for me even if I admire other artists more. 5 is not enough.

Iconic. Master songwriter and storyteller. Impossible to overstate his influence. For me, his best

I hope there isn’t another Billy Joel album on this list because this was essentially his greatest hits. Not the biggest Billy Joel fan but undeniable classics sounding like they’re being performed by a Paul McCartney/Elton John hybrid. Very enjoyable

Just doesn’t miss. The stranger I always find haunting at the start. Scenes is such a good mid album mix up. Vienna probably my favourite Joel. Then you still have absolute classics littered throughout. Finishes on an upbeat too and stuck me in a cracking mood

Had a good time with this one. Lots of songs I already knew despite not knowing where they came from before.

sooo good

Movin Out will be very stuck in my head. Vienna of course is one of my very top songs. Very interesting album to listen to right before the start of sophomore year and also interesting considering the less than ideal day I’ve had emotionally. But hey Vienna waits for me!

Love billy joel sound an incredible album.

Funny enough, I listened to this a couple months ago on my own volition, and I've been meaning to watch the new docuseries about Billy Joel. Although I loathe "Piano Man"—thankfully not on this album—I'm not reflexively anti-Joel. "Only the Good Die Young" is great, I like "Movin' Out," and "Just the Way You Are" may be sentimental, but it works. That summarizes Billy Joel in general. There's always a good amount of cheese, but he makes it work for the most part.

I think this is the first time I've listened to a Billy Joel album, much less one all the way through. I've always thought of him as Bruce Springsteen for dorks. I think I still feel that way. I get that Billy Joel is a legend, and I don't disagree, but we strictly do 80s Joel music, sir!

Awesome, hadn't heard the back half but the front is all routinely still played

Some good tracks

So good! I forgot how many great hits are on this and knew every word of z7 of 9 songs. Also just watched part of the documentary which was great.

Was a classic album still is, was nice.

Rv/G

You can hear the songwriting is pretty refined and the songs are very well thought. I wouldn't necessarily listen to it all the time, but I feel 4 stars is necessary because it's such iconic music writing. Perhaps I miss having a bit more edge in this sort of music, although I do love pop music.

Movin out is a banger to start it off. Just the way you are is a classic. Vienna was good but doesn't deserve almost 1 billion plays on Spotify. She's always a woman is beautiful. Not really my usual style of music but I appreciate the lyrics and instruments. Quite a few classic songs on 1 album. A little cheesey, pub rock at times. 7/10

Never really listened to a full Billy Joel album before, it didn't floor me but I kind dug it.

This album is pretty good. It is melodic and has some of the best Billy Joel has to offer. He is one of a few artists that was able to transcend from the 70s to the 80s but also an artist that was able to perfectly fit that culture. Also Movin' Out is one of the greatest songs ever in my opinion! Favorite Songs: Movin' Out (Anthony's Song), The Stranger, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Vienna, Only the Good Die Young, Get It Right the First Time Rating: 4/5

Very fun, upbeat album. Great production. Definitely full of bangers. Not much bad I can say about it. I enjoyed all of it and was surprised at how many tracks I already knew.

This album was a relatively good surprise. I only knew Billy Joel through his cheesy 80s hits, so I expected something terrible. But The Stranger was something else. It’s a surprising mix of influences, with some very 70s music and a few interesting experimentations that probably helped define the sound of the 80s. The first couple of songs were really good, but the rest of the album was unfortunately less exciting, and some song were very forgettable. I had a reasonnably pleasant moment overall ; but ultimately, it’s really not my kind of music, nothing really struck a chord or made me excited. I’ll give it a 2* for effort and originality, but I can’t go higher, since I’m pretty sure I won’t listen again.

Familiar songs.

First impression pre listen: I don't think anyone really hates Billy Joel (except We Didn't Start the Fire) but I don't think I've ever met a Billy Joel superfan either. He's always just sory of been there in the background for me. Piano Man is a frequent karaoke song and Uptown Girl gets some radio play on retro stations, but for how popular he is it's not like he's been much of a presence in my music library. I'm not feeling much going into this, though Vienna is a pretty good song, so at least I've got that to look forward to. Individual song notes: Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) I mean this is just sort of what I expected. It's an decent piece of unproblematic rock music with a New York backdrop that I can't exactly relate to. I think the class related themes are kinda interesting, and I like the perspective he's presenting the song from. While not the most exciting tune, it's still a solid start. Decent. 3.5/5 The Stranger The piano is quite somber. Don't love the whistling, though it does provide some atmosphere. I like the structure of the song, it has two completely different moods and tempos which reflects the Jungian inspiration quite well. Has a decent pace to it, and I think Billy Joel does a good job being a charismatic and likeable presenter. Decent. 3.5/5 Just the Way You Are I immedately catch something I don't really like - his voice is mixed really forward making his higher notes really loud and overbearing. Don't like the echo effect either. Cheesy production trick. Boring and cliche writing style. So on the nose it could've been a parody. Stupid sax. Absolitely drags. Strongly dislike. 1.5/5 Scenes from an Italian Restaurant Overblown sax solo, but I guess it fits the theatrically of the premise. I enjoy the switchup, the instrumental is kinda charming. Fun storytelling. Bombastic, grandiose and entertaining. Good. 4/5 Vienna Kind of a reassuring song. Has some decent wisdom and an empowering chorus. The accordion is a bit cheesy, but it fits with the sort of european riverside city romanticism he's going for. Good. 4/5 Only the Good Die Young The wiki article makes it sound really interesting. I like the quotes on the song's content from Billy Joel himself. The guitar is mixed way too loud. Yeah the narrator sounds like a bit of a creep. Kind of disappointing song, I guess certain people overreacting to something that's in reality kind of tame has always been a thing. It's otherwise just an alright rock song. Fine. 3/5 She's Always a Woman Oh it's this song. I really like the piano here. Really satisfying. I like the buildup to the chorus, it has a really sweet melody. I like the very specific lyrics. I find the line "she takes care of herself" kinda funny, that should probably be the bare minimum requirement. Decent. 3.5/5 Get It Right the First Time I think the instrumental is kinda cool with the cheery flute. Otherwise kinda just fine. I like his performance, he's got quite the presence and pulls a lot of vocal tricks to elevate what's a bit of an average song. Fine. 3/5 Everybody Has a Dream Doesn't work for me at all. It's overblown and a bit all over the place. The extremely dramatic presentation sort of goes against the premise. This worship inspired chorus feels really cheesy and disengenious. Dislike. 2/5 Final Review: It's good. Not "knock your socks off" amazing, but definitely not something I'd turn off if it came on. I think the main draw for me here is Billy Joel's lyrical writing style. He's clever when it comes to storytelling, interesting language and impressive use of perspective. This frames his songs in such a way that they bring you into a grounded but detailed world. They're simple to follow along with, but carry so much colour and charm that they'll still impress you. The songs are generally structured well around the lyrics, and the instrumentation is mostly complimenting of the lyrical meaning. Rather emphasising their emotional impact than distracting from it. The only word I can come up with to describe it is simply fitting. This has its exceptions though, and on a couple of tracks the instrumentation does cross the line and gets overbearing or just plain cheesy. This is also true for the vocals, that are for the most part charismatic and entertaining, can also be over emphasized and over performed. Individually these issues rarely ruin a track, but they're definitely noticable enough. I'd also say the production has moments where it sounds kinda dated, or the mixing is a bit raw on modern equipment. Overall I enjoyed it more than I thought I would and I'm happy to have heard it, even if it won't exactly be in my frequent rotation. It's likeable and pleasant, and sometimes that is enough. 3.5/5 rounded down to a 3/5

Might be his best album. Scenes, Vienna, Moving Out... solid 5 for me.

I know it all by heart.

He really is a piano man.

3.7/enjoyable

Better than I expected! Lots to bop along to, didn’t realize “Just the way you are” was his and not Stevie wonder’s. Also dug “movin out” and “only the good die young”. Pretty solid.

Never interested in Billy Joel or any of his (mainstream, polished) music, but I was quite surprised by this album. Undeniable seventies pop, but well executed and with some well known songs. Tracks like "Just the Way You Are," "Movin' Out," and "Vienna" became standards for a reason, they're just really well-written pop songs with memorable melodies and relatable lyrics. Not my personal favorite, and not sure that I have should listened to it before I die, but I don't mind it either. 3/5

Tough to believe how many hits are on here. All the songs are unique while still feeling like they are cut from the same cloth. I love and know all the songs by heart besides the closing track. Even though I think that's the weakest song, it still works well in the context of the album and love the addition of the Stranger melody at the end to put a nice ribbon on the album. It's not even worth listing favorite tracks as it'd just be the tracklist. 16th perfect album, 762 albums in. Rating: 5.0

One of the greatest albums of all time. Every single song is a classic.

- i like the consistency of the melodies without sounding monotonous. - living for the saxophone - ACK ACK ACK ACK ACK ACK - “everybody has a dream” is a great closing song - the whistling emphasizes the “everyday man” feeling of the album for me, and i like the subtlety of that. - 10/10 tbh

Vienna awaits for you

Goated

Absolute classic album. Every song is a gem. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) The Stranger Just the Way You Are Scenes From An Italian Restaurant Only The Good Die Young She's Always A Woman All fantastic. Staple of classic rock radio in my childhood. Will say, still giving it just a 4 because, despite it being a perfect album, it's just not one that hits me like the ones that I have ranked 5s.

ekki tónlist sem ég er almennt hrifinn af, létt píanó og gaul. en líklega toppurinn á þeim ísjaka. gef aðra umferð. 3,5.

Classic album. Great all the way through

Classic song after classic song, this is the kind of album I would expect on this list.

Loooove

favs: - movin’ out (anthony’s song) - vienna - the stranger

never listened to him much, but now he's got my heart. Also as a Vienna local this is so special.

Sitting between a 3 and a 4. Could have been a five when I sat out in the backyard, wind chimes clinking softly, and Vienna came on. But aside from the tracks that I really really love I was just meh about it as a whole.

Album full of hits, didn't know all of these songs came from one album. Great listen, loved listening to it

i really enjoyed this album, i liked tge story telling and really enjoyed vienna and movin out

In my opinion, the best he ever did. Both in music and lyrics. After all he is the piano man!

I think this is a really solid album. It’s just really high quality songwriting and there’s more than a few classics. I wasn’t a huge fan of “Scenes from an Italian restaurant”, wasn’t sure how well that sat with the other tracks and it was lengthy but I can excuse the blip.

Interesting album. Its not actually that common to have a "random" album come up that you not only know to a large extent but it also delivers some consistant quality throughout. Even my favourite bands from the past are routinely dissappointing me with albums packing a couple of bangers only to distroy the rest of the album! I dont think this is my go to music style and it does show its age a bit. It is however a enjoyable divergence that immediately gets you engaged in the music so for that reason a solid album I think. Its not top but its above average.

Billy Joel was played a lot in our house growing up. He is a great songwriter and this album has a few examples of perfectly crafted songs. "Moving Out" and "The Stranger" are particular highlights. Joel manages to make songs simultaneously feel personal and like a piece of social history. Unfortunately the album cycles from superb to uninteresting and ends with "Everybody Has a Dream", a song that sounded trite, weirdly out of place, and not up to the usual lyrical interest. Overall, the album has some great song writing and strong nostalgia, it's on the threshold of great but I can't quite push it into the higher marks.

Very gallant.

Amazing album!

The Stranger is a master class in pop rock, showcasing Joel's unique ability to write infectious and catchy songs with storied subjects and really engage the listener to care about each and every person we meet on this record. Truly an amazing album deserving of every accolade it's received

The soundscape is beautiful. I love the densely packed compositions, full of vibrant horns, hypnotizingly beautiful percussion, and Billy Joel’s unique lyricism.

Sometimes it’s a little bit much, but the middle run of songs from “Scenes” through the end is staggering. Production is lush and Joel lays it all out there. Full of stories and feeling. I come back to certain songs on this album a lot.

Another El Classico from my student days. If you aren't awestruck by the timeless beauty of 'Scenes From An Italian Restaurant' (amongst many other jewels) then it's probably best to stick to alternative hip-hop. Sorry kids, we used up all the best music 😐

Good job Billy Joel. Many many hits.

Good fun with some memorable tunes and imagery. A bit on the cheesy/ overly earnest side in places, but eh it was a different time.

Started ok but got progressively cheesier and more irritating

Das Album The Stranger wurde überwiegend in den A&R Recording Studios in New York aufgenommen. Billy Joel, ein US-amerikanischer Musiker, war zum Zeitpunkt der Produktion bereits durch frühere Veröffentlichungen etabliert, erreichte mit diesem Werk aber eine neue Breitenwirkung. Musikalisch bewegt sich das Album zwischen Pop, Rock und leichtem Jazz-Einfluss. Joel kombiniert eingängige Melodien mit erzählenden Texten, die oft Alltagssituationen und persönliche Beobachtungen thematisieren. Besonders bekannt sind Titel wie „Just the Way You Are“, „Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)“ und „Only the Good Die Young“. Diese Stücke veranschaulichen die stilistische Bandbreite des Albums, die von ruhigen Balladen bis zu rhythmisch betonten Titeln reicht. The Stranger gilt als kommerzieller und künstlerischer Wendepunkt in Joels Karriere. Die Produktion ist zurückhaltend, aber klar strukturiert, und erlaubt dem Songwriting viel Raum. Insgesamt bietet das Album einen repräsentativen Einblick in Billy Joels musikalische Handschrift der späten 1970er-Jahre.

Billy Joel’s greatest contribution to the world is the sample from “Movin’ Out” that Das Racist used in that one song. “The Stranger” is also definitely a jam. I feel like it should’ve been a Steely Dan song.

4.5 Oh yeah Billy

I was seething throughout this whole album. I had to stop it and start it five times because I was so pissed off. Vienna is great but the rest can suck my left nut. God damn it.

Six stars at a minimum. Seven if you got em.

2/3

Kann im Hintergrund laufen, total uninteressant, werde jetzt ch nie wieder hören und falls doch nicht wiedererkennen.

Chillig, angenehm

Here's the thing. I'm a sucker for a few things. Some of those include: piano riffs, amazing storytelling, upbeat catchy tunes, interesting singing flair. And guess what? This album has all these and more. It's the best of pop, it's some of the best of Billy Joel. I have a sweet spot for my man Billy. I truly don't understand the disdain he receives. It's pop people!!! Stop expecting it to be anything anything but that! You could MAYBE make an argument for soft rock or pop rock, but that's about it. I love the way he adds ambiance to his songs to really sell the stories, they feel nostalgic and immersive and they're just feel good songs that have been through the tests of time and held strong! I don't think Billy Joel has to be anyone's favorite artist but everyone has a soft spot for at least one of his songs. And the Stranger has many of the songs that people love. It's a great album and I stand by that.

Great album

Better than expected, having only heard ‘drive’ before. Good pop songs, some boring generic rock shite too

just straight 5 stars. no discussions

What a stellar album. I remember when I first discovered Billy Joel, and I'm still just as much in awe of his talent today as I was then. You might think The Stranger is a greatest hits album if you didn't know better. I could go on and on, but I've got so much to do and only so many hours in a day. This is one of my favorite albums, and Vienna is one of my all-time favorite songs. With this particular listen, I spent some time with the melodies and arrangement in She's Always a Woman. It tugs at heartache and nostalgia and is really quite perfect. The lyrics are great, of course, but even if you take them away, it's still an exceptionally beautiful song. I'm glad I got to listen to this today.

Yes - would listen to again. Just they way you are a love ballad. The musicality of the whole album, liveliness ❤️ the only song I didn't like only the good die young. Overall 4.5

He's kinda fine ngl

Joel’s best, by far!

Starting with Movin' Out is peak, the rest of the album is pretty decent too

Jävligt bra. Mycket fint. Lite tråkigt med Billy Joel i längden. Men mycket fint.

Fun listen but i won't come back to this

Fuck yeh, turns out I’m a Billy Joel fan!

Ja tak. Elsker

I love you Just the way you are

The hits are amazing, all time classics. Vienna and Scenes are fan favorite deep cuts for a reason. The other songs, and it’s just two songs really, are almost filler tracks that drop it to less than five stars.

Knowing only piano man, I was ready to shit on this as dad rock, but actually really enjoyed it. Good musicianship, varied tracks, good production, good lyrics. 4* Highlights: vienna, she's always a woman, only the good die young, movin out

This was an enjoyable album. I knew many of the songs from childhood. Some definite hits but solidly in the “adult contemporary” category of the 80s and therefore a bit overplayed, safe, and unremarkable. I thought the Elton John album from earlier in the week was more entertaining. 3/5

I enjoyed the hits and the other songs weren’t bad but not my style. 3.5/5

Not a big Billy Joel fan but this album does have a lot of his hits on it.

Rating: 8/10 Most of his best songs are on this album, was pleasantly surprised by this one.

Fattigmans Elton. Habilt hantverk, vissa bra låtar och melodier. Väldigt radioanpassat. Samtidigt lite identitetslöst, han försöker vara all over the place med sången och stilar. Drar åt radioskval och blir lite forgettable. Kommer lyssna igen: nej Bästa spår: just the way you are (d1) Vienna (d2) Betyg: D: 5 av 10 / 2 av 5 D2: 5 av 10 / 3 av 5

I can hear the songs but not my thing

3,5

Billy Joel! The Stranger, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Vienna, She's Always a Woman, Get it Right the First Time, Everybody has a Dream - world class songs. Top stuff, 84/100, but not quite a 5*, which I will try to reserve for only the very best.

Much better than I was expecting. Soulful with complex music. A very pleasant surprise!

From what little Billy Joel I've listened to, I was dreading this album, and it was just as tedious as I expected.

perfecto para silbar y pasear buen humor

Billy Joel. Not for me.

very very good

I was never a fan of Billy Joel. Many of his songs are just too sweet for me. But there are also some wonderful songs. This album is no exception. Although I enjoyed listening to it, I don't think I'll listen to it again very often. 4/5

I had the biggest religious experience of the year with this album. 10/10

Some catchy classic tracks but not my steez. Probably heard Only the good die young too many times.

Cheesy. Way too much sax for my liking.

Iconic songs.

Classic songs you just can’t help but sing along with!

This album slaps. I knew some of the hits, but now realizing the whole album is just hits.

Sounds like he wished he could write a musical.

Good album! This is close to what I listen to on a daily basis. Some songs were a bit slow for my taste though.