The Stranger

Classic

Have I heard this album before? No Highlights: Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song), Just the Way You Are, Vienna, She’s Always a Woman Rating: 8/10 Billy has a knack for writing great melodies, coupled with his excellent piano playing. Some truly incredible ballads on here such as ‘Just the Way You Are’ and ‘She’s Always a Woman’ that steal the show, with some of the rockier tracks a little less memorable in comparison.

This album is proof that Billy Joel is one of the greatest songwriters to come of the 1970s. Unfortunately the last 2 tracks on this album feel like duds compared to everything else.

8/10

Billy Joel is the 22nd best selling artist of all time (7th highest-certified all time based on certifications of albums and digital singles). “The Stranger” is his only album on the 1001. I’ve never considered myself a Billy Joel fan. I know the hits. But I feel like the Piano Man deserves more. (More accolades, not more album sales. That’s wild enough as it is.) Maybe it’s an issue with the overall strength of his albums. “The Stranger” is great start to finish. The tracks are not all hits, but the ones between the hits keep up the vibe and quality of the album. Of the four hits on “The Stranger,” “Movin’ Out” and “Only the Good Die Young” are all-timers. And while they are cheesy, “Just the Way You Are” and “She’s Always a Woman” are fantastic as well. I briefly checked out “The Piano Man” and “An Innocent Man,” and they don’t seem quite as consistent. Those hits I know are from the radio. So never together, never in succession. Going through and listening to them all now elevates every single one of them. I feel like I like each of them better when placed more properly in the context of his other work.

Very enjoyable listen

Muito bom.

An iconic album, kind of a staple in all senses of music. She’s always a Woman will always have a special place in my heart. 4.2

Lots of hits, a good listen

Mostly really good songs on here. I didn’t love everybody has a dream. Otherwise I at least liked and very much enjoyed many of the songs. Italian Restaurant is one of my favorites from Billy Joel.

Pretty deeply ingrained, and seems to hold up. Even the back of the album still pays well.

Best wel een prettig album zeg! De nummers vloeien in elkaar over en luisteren heel prettig weg. De muziek is ook afwisselend met trompetten en saxofoons op het album, Billy's stem is ook aangenaam om te luisteren. Ik ben best wel tevreden met dit album zo! Ken Billy Joel eigenlijk alleen van Piano Man en zn andere hits, maar ik vind dit echt beter dan ik vooraf had gedacht! Billerd, je krijgt gewoon een dikke voldoende, zelfs een goed van me. FAVO:Just the way you are, Only the good die young, She's always a woman

not bad

Very good album. Not really a bad song on here.

Fine music, a few absolute classics, just missing full marks at the end.

Movin’ out (Anthony’s song) Bra Just the way you are Klassiker Scenes from an italian restaurant Bra She’s always a woman Mycket bra

Hasn't aged well and he definitely copied from the Beatles on at least one of the tracks, but some classic pop songs on this. All round a staple of 80s pop.

A trip down memory lane. The lyrics are clever and the music is crafty. Each song stands on its own, and the album spins an overall story that works from start to finish. Fun to listen in its entirety after so many years. Those sweet, romantic teenage nights: album was great back then and still is. (3.75*s)

This album is great through and through, he has such a talent for painting stories for the working class. It's very New York (before the internet), it's like memorabilia from a more innocent time (all the feels). How is "Vienna" not a bigger song? I love everything here. In fact, if you don't like this, you're not American.

Was not a fan of Joel for a while but after hearing this album all the way through, I came around. I now prefer Joel over Elton. I like that Joel is not always on the piano here and almost all the songs can stand the tests of time.

Great album, a couple really good songs

Love Billy Joel.

super catchy and very beautiful melodies - unique and yet approachable chord structures and musical design

Had this on an 8 track tape in 1977, nuff said

7/10

- Billy Joel might be the goat - Great sing along jams - The man can tell a story - 4.5

really liking this one, very well produced and arranged. the vocals seem to be very well thought for each song style. that main theme on the beginning of the album with the piano and whistle is my favorite part of this, such a misterious and different sound. love the way the album ends like this too.

class

Higher than I anticipated

Will need to give it a proper listen, but the mix is superb, the songs are unoffensive with a couple of classics thrown in

Very good album from the piano man

Great. Feeling 4 right now, maybe later could be a 5

Great album but slightly overrated high 7

Good at times, maybe too country-ish

Good album, not what I expected from Billy Joel.

A lot of classics from Billy Joel

This is my first time listening to a Billy Joel album, but I already knew most of these songs just from radio/the culture. This was a strong collection of tunes, I liked the ones I hadn't heard before as well.

It was nice to revisit this album.

💖 movin out (anthony’s song) 🗣️ 8️⃣

Die Instrumentation und Produktion wirken teilweise veraltet. Und zwar nicht die großartigen Saxophon-Parts und das Akkordeon (!) in "Vienna", sondern eher Synths und Perkussion, die für ein Ohr im 21. Jahrhundert einfach etwas klischeehaft klingen. Was soll man sagen, der Lauf der Zeit ist unerbittlich und nicht alles altert gut (fragt mal ein Wurstbrot, das in der Brotdose vergessen wurde). Aber im Grund ein perfektes Album.

Had no idea these were on the same album. Good writing, thematically cohesive, but musically diverse.

01) Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) - 9,0 02) The Stranger - 8,0 03) Just the Way You Are - 9,0 04) Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - 7,5 05) Vienna - 9,0 06) Only the Good Die Young - 8,0 07) She's Always a Woman - 9,0 08) Get It Right the First Time - 7,0 09) Everybody Has a Dream - 7,0 TOTAL: 8,17 (82/100) A nice sounding pop album with a few timeless classics like "She's Always A Woman", "Vienna" or "Just The Way You Are".

Short, poppy without being too pandering, chock full of bangers. Not my favorite album, but this slaps.

great story telling, great listen.

The word simple always comes to mind with Billy Joel Simple, pretty melodies. Simple, earnest lyrics and delivery. No pretense, no showboating, no gimmicks. Simply good songs. The older I get the more I appreciate Billy Joel. 8/10

not my exact taste but so many classics on one album and Scenes from an Italian Restaurant is something else.

Favorites: Travelin Band, Lookin Out My Back Door, Run Through the Jungle, Up Around the Bend, Who’ll Stop the Rain, I Heard it Through the Grapevine, Long As I Can See the Light. Awesome!

An old familiar one. He was always a bit too pop for my taste but the wife was dancing around the house and singing along while it was on. 4 stars for longevity and wide appeal.

Mjög fín plata hjá Billy, Yndisleg lög eins og Just the way you are og Vienna, en líka öðru vísi lög eins og Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.

They don’t make piano music you can groove to anymore :(

He’s the piano man. He played me a song tonight. Some of those songs were pretty good. I may ask him to play them again.

Its strange that I think this abum starts out perfect, its tight and clear and then it gets to scenes from what are considered the masterpieces Scenes from an Italian Restaurant and Vienna... and I am not as impressed, while these maybe grander in scope I like the hits on this album. I think the slower think pieces are not as fun or moving.

I like Billy Joel's penchant for storytelling in his lyrics...fun album overall.

Very good album no real filler and several stand out tracks. Only the good die young has always been a favourite of mine.

This album starts with Movin' out which is probably my favorite Billy Joel song. The whole album is really great from start to finish, it feels almost like a 'Best of'.

Very very good. Never paid much attention to billy Joel but he had some amazing tracks on here. F.song: The Stranger

I wasn’t that excited when this one came up, but really loved listening to it. I underestimated you, Billy Joel! So many good songs, all the better for being familiar (some very) yet seeming new.

The good songs are great, the others are just okay.

Almost 4.5, amazing

legendary rock, fabulous music - I like it

The

When I was in junior high I had a dubbed cassette of his Greatest Hits record and a bunch of these tracks were on there. Always A Woman hit pretty hard for 13 yr old me haha. Also I’ve always wanted to be able to do an acoustic version of Only The Good Die Young - such a killer song and it seems like it would be a good campfire tune if one could work out how to pull it off. I always appreciated the varied instrumentation on Billy Joel recordings. It’s like NYC Beach Boys or something. It’s not always to my taste exactly but it does keep things interesting. Goddamn the acoustic + doubled electric guitar parts in Only The Good Die Young is really fantastic. Cool recording technique and it sounds great. I’ve only ever listened to this through FM radio/dubbed cassette and Spotify is giving me the good today quality-wise. This stuff is very well recorded. Doing the review the morning after I still have the chorus from Movin' Out rolling around in my head. So catchy and smooth. This is. great record with a couple of low points but overall just a great time.

Pretty good!

ACK-ACK-ACK-ACK! You can imagine this album popping up as the soundtrack to a Dudley Moore film from the 80s, but holy hell it makes me want to move my feet.

Well-known songs that are still a pleasure to listen to

i would give it five except…the handclaps. in only the good die young. handclaps always deduct a star. sorry Billy, you should’ve known better. other than that, this album is sublime! a proper album with proper songs.

7/10

Surprisingly good

I was really into this album in high school, but then probably decided it was inadequately pretentious and set it aside. I returned to it a few years ago and the unabashed lameness of Billy Joel is pretty great.

This is an accomplished but of pop music. Joel has a way with melody and also for creating characters that feel like they are real.

Great Album!!!

7.5/10

Good to hear some of the lesser known, yet awesome songs.

This album surprised me. Enjoyed it

Haven’t heard him before! I like it! But a bit monotonous

All around great album with a good mix of up tempo songs and amazing ballads. Vienna is a perfect song.

Favourite song - Always a women

Goated. Absolutely love The Stranger and Vienna is an all time favorite followed by OTGDY is an amazing 1-2 punch. Starts off strong with movin out and carries the momentum. The outro to the album is hauntingly beautiful. 8.5/10

Nice Piano and melodic songs.

Billy Joel is great. The diversity of the songs throughout the years is impressive. I'm more used to his 80s stuff except Piano Man of course, everyone knows that song. This is s more softer type of rock than his more upbeat songs from the 80s. Do I like it? Yes.

sooo passionate, it's a great pop rock record, really fun if we consider the year it was released. it's that 70s love story album, and i don't careit still sound cute. it's one of those cases where the peak of an artist is also it's mainstream peak. someone told me it found the album kitschy, but why do we care? is it really that bad of a critic?

Never bought a BJ album - never put one on a turntable or in a player. Yet, I know every single song on this album which speaks to the power, origiality and listenable nature of these songs. Great voice, great songwriting, but as evidenced by my lack of ownership, not really my listening wheelhouse.

Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) - 8/10 The Stranger - 9/10 Just The Way You Are - 8/10 Scenes From An Italian Restaurant - 8/10 Vienna - 10/10 Only The Good Die Young - 8/10 She's Always a Woman - 10/10 Get It Right The First Time - 8/10 Everybody Has A Dream - 8/10 TOTAL - 78/90

Never listened to a BJ album and kinda loved this. Storytelling through engaging songs. It just works. 3.75.

Some of the songs are pop classics, and for good reason. Some probably shouldn't have ended up on this (or any) album. On the whole, it is a seminal album which foreshadows the great works to come by him.

Whistler at beginning and end, nice lyrics

Average Billy Joel album. Enjoyable.

No one doesn’t like only the good die young

I absolutely love this album. Billy takes a lot of heat from folks, but his music has a HUGE following, and for good reason. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant is always a great listen. The title track is a keeper as well. Love this one.

This album starts with Movin' out which is probably my favorite Billy Joel song. The whole album is really great from start to finish, it feels almost like a 'Best of' with all of the recognizable songs.

Knew all the words to the songs.

More enjoyable than I expected. Song writing chops. The Stranger / outro’s whistle theme is an ear worm. Anthony’s song hits you in the feels. She’s Always a Woman, however corny, is a great song.

Better than I thought. Recognize handful of songs. Good listen

Loaded with bangers. Better than expected.

I liked the vibe. Scenes from an Italian restaurant had all kinds of cool instruments. 8/10

I've not listened to a Billy Joel album before, and wow this guy can write a hell of a song, what a great Album!

mikið af bangers, get ekki annað en gefið þessu fjórar

It’s cheesy and not my style, but it’s also endearingly earnest and well-crafted. I also give it credit for not overstaying its welcome. 3.5 rounded up, though not something I’m likely to seek out and listen to again in its entirety.

Movin' Out Just the Way You Are Vienna Only the Good Die Young She's Always a Woman

God damn, I don’t think I could have predicted just how much I would enjoy this. I don’t think I’ve heard a Billy Joel ever in my life before. But this immediately made itself clear and I was immediately attached to it. By all means, this album lays all of its cards out from the start, but it’s like a really good hand in poker. And that hand carries Billy through the entire album. The sound you hear on Movin’ Out is the sound you get for the rest of the album. But it’s amazing, so why does it matter? The only way I know how to describe the feeling I get from this, and this is probably very stupid, but like theater kid music. I get the same appeal from this as I do from Ben Folds or Elton John. I just can’t help that my brain is simple and I like the way Billy’s voice sounds and the way he plays the piano. Good shit. That’s all this is. Rating: 8/10

Gutes, anhörenseertes Album. Faboriten: „Moving Out“, „Just The Way You Are“, „Only The Good Die Young“, „She‘s Always A Woman“.

Schönes Album, kann man sich auch mal komplett reinziehen, jeder Song hat was. Best Song: Only the Good Die Young

I'd like this one, it had a good theme. I detected several bands i listen to that are definitely influenced by this album. Ben Folds and definitely Weezer especially with the opening track. Didn't dislike any song, and the continual theme throughout was very well presented.

Pretty good, Billy Joel definitely has his own style

You sort of go into this expecting to be unimpressed and you are at first but then you listen again and there's a lot of sincerity in Joel's work and even when he is schmaltzy and a little hacky ('A bottle of white, a bottle of red / Perhaps a bottle of rose instead') you end up won over by the end because he is giving his all and you're humming the tunes throughout the day...

These are some real Stellar songs on here: just the way you are is a standout.

Old School/ Vintage Whole Album sounds good

Movin' Out - 5 The Stranger - 4 Just the Way You Are - 3 Scenes - 4 Vienna - 4 Only the Good - 4 She'll Always be a Woman - 3 Get it Right - 3 Everybody Has a Dream - 3

The Stranger by Billie Joel Monday 5/6/2024, 2:24, office S Tier————————— The Stranger Movin Out’ (Anthony’s Song) A Tier————————— Only The Good Die Young Scenes From An Italian Restaurant Just The Way You Are Vienna B Tier————————— Get It Right The First Time She’s Always a Woman Everybody Has A Dream

Ack ack ack

Polished, accomplished pop. A nice listen.

The yin to Bruce Springsteen's yang. I like a lot of Billy Joel Songs so this is pretty enjoyable already. This is full of certifiable bangers (for white people) In my mind's eye I can see a lot of these songs in commercials in the '80s and '90s; Only the Good Die Young being the biggest offender.

Before reviewing this album in its entirety, I thought Billy Joel nothing but schmaltz. Tasty for a nibble, but not something I would make a whole meal out of. I was wrong. It is a great album. With the exception of "Just the Way You Are", I loved each song. "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" great lyrics, the first section manages to not become saccharine and in the second section uses pace and new instruments to build upon the early theme. Likewise "Vienna" mimics the same structure. This structure of slower, more deliberate, more sparse performing followed up in the second part as something more complete, more whole, more energized seems to be his "hit song" formula. It works well, like the best Broadway songs do. He is less strong when he keeps emotions vapid and strangles the rhythm of a song. Overall, a very fine album (really a 4.5)

This album is perfect in every way. Long live, Billy Joel.

Good, I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I've listened to this before and was not too impressed, but this listen changed my mind.

Välproducerat! Svårt att inte le när jag lyssnar på detta.

It’s tough to beat a Billy Joel song when it comes on the jukebox, but a whole album of them at once is too much strained drama for me to really get behind it. I respect the commitment though, and was happy to hear some new ones for me that are fun - especially Get It Right the First Time.

I grew up listening to this album. One my moms favorites. 4/5

Fun piano ballads, Elton John ish? Although I've never really listened to him so couldn't say for certain. Enjoyed it. Five star rating system is too primitive as I keep rating them all 3 star

Bangers on bangers. Movin' Out, The Stranger, Scenes from Italian restaurant, and Vienna

Had this album growing up; it was a favorite then too!

Some of Joel's best work! Fantastic album.

Straight banger

Listened to this while playing Calico solo against scenario 4. I lost. This album was sooooo much better than i was expecting it to be! I had never given him much attention before. As a pianist, I owned the sheet music to his "classical" album, which I just was not a fan of. I hated it when people would perform "Piano Man" and I'd have to accompany. The sheet music is an absolute nightmare in the way that it is layer out, and for being a song called "Piano Man" it was really boring to play. Soooo...I had this preconceived negative bias against Billy Joel's music. This album was pretty darn fantastic though. So many recognizable songs...such great song writing and lyricism. This may be the best of Billy Joel's music that I've heard.

Very good album. Knew most of them already, but learned a few as well.

Slow but really fun and classic

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

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

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

wowzer

Solid rock album from the piano guy.

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

Yeah it's good

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

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

One of the greats for sure!

I love billy Joel

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

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

4.5

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

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

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

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

Good stuff

This album reminds me of 13 Going on 30

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

Brilliant

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

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

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

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

Album of bopss

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

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

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

Happy, Billy Joel pop/rock

Great storytelling, easy listening

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

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

Some bangers on that album.

Pleasant, inoffencive - if a bit plain - album.

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

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

I like Moving Out and The Stranger

billy Joel is am American singer songewitger

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

Not my usual preference but whatever it’s good.

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

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

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

Marvellous

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

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

That Billy guy can really jam out on piano.

that stranger must have been a real deal

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

solid

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

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

4.25

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

3.75 / 5

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

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

Upbeat and a number of songs about love and change.

Superb

This is more like it. Great album.

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

Really fantastic clear voice, harmonised guitars… sappy tho!

I hate myself for enjoying this.

Brilliant album, nearly a 5*

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

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

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

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

Bully Joel is amazing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Erg leuk

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

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

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

this album was actually class. good tunes on it

Great album.

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

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

first listen a beautiful piano singer album

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

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

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

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

me hizo llorar

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

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

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

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

LP

Beetje ballades, beetje vrolijk. Goed album

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

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

really catchy.

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

Pretty good

This album is just chock full of hits. I’d never listened to the album as a whole but I’d heard the songs from it my whole life. I REALLY dug what Billy Joel put down here. A fantastic pop rock album for the late 1970s.

Ok sure. I was never really sure where to place Billy Joel. I guess this helps me answer that question: good middle of the road pop/rock.

hyvä albumi WAU PALJON SINGLEJÄ!! TUTTUJA SINGLEJÄ OLEN KUULLUT !! ei v*ttu väliä sillä... ALBUMI KOKONAISUUS..tärkein elementti... vittu mitää hittejä... ja tässä ne on selvästi huonoimmat biisit... riistää kuninkuus spotin!! valtaistuimen!! Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

After a run of uneven and commercially disappointing albums in the early 70's, Joel hit it big with the release of The Stranger. This was my introduction to Billy Joel with plenty of radio play for Just The Way You Are and The Good Die Young which fit in with what I was listening to at the time (Elton John, Paul McCartney...etc). I didn't buy this album, as most of the good songs were already on the radio, back in a time when I used to tape songs directly off the radio. I hadn't heard the whole record in a while and I must admit it brings a lot of nostalgic memories. I would never admit I'm a fan of Joel's music, but this album personally is all I need to hear from his exhaustive catalogue.

A pretty dang good album. Billy Joel does good. Four good songs, four stars.

Good album with some classics. I feel like I need to give it a few more listens to really appreciate it though

Above average album, fun to listen to

No me pareció nada del otro mundo. Un disco difrutable en el que todo el tracklist es mas que llevadero. No hay mucho hilo conector pero si que logra cautivar aspectos de la vida amorosa de billy y dilemas en los que se ve envuelto. Una reescucha que me la guardo para un domingo tranquilo 7/10

Solid

The Stranger is cool and cheesy together, it's a great listen. Just The Way You Are is an all-timer, then it's followed by the sweet sax of Scenes from an Italian Restaurant which is mega playful and heartfelt and everything else building to a cinematic crescendo. Vienna is a wonderful song and She's Always a Woman is stunning. This falls short of a 5/5 by the finest of margins but my word is it good. This is so well-crafted.

Billy Joel gets a lot of shit, and I totally understand why - stuff like Uptown Girl is painfully cheesy. But, this album is so much better... Apart from the last two tracks, he stays on the right side of schmaltzy, tells some good stories (although occasionally they do slip into being lectures), and does it in a really catchy way. Works as an album, has some really memorable songs, 4/5.

Just like your favorite Italian restaurant. Fills you up with the right amount of cheese.

Okay, this album is good. Very very good. Billy Joel is usually too schmaltzy for my taste. But like, come on! Movin’ out is undeniable! Phil Ramone is very good at his craft! I wanna get into him more. This just feels very specifically New York, Philly, jazzy, theatrical. I like it. It’s not Paul simon for me. I think the comparison is unflattering. The lyrics aren’t often to my taste, but like… this is a story. There’s a throughline. That’s what I want in my albums. And this one is undeniably a story of a lot of America from a time long ago, one that seems almost extinct except for when you turn on the radio. It’s not my favorite listen of the era by any means, but it definitely belongs there. 4/5

This is from what I’d consider Billy Joel’s golden era. Brings back lots of memories of just random pieces of life in upstate NY, where Billy Joel songs were everywhere.

Great songs from start to finish. Favorite is Vienna.

Quite enjoyable, although the titular track is meh.

Lots of bops on this. Solid 3 tracks I already knew and enjoyed. Great work Billy!

Good stuff

Upbeat pop rock album using a wide variety of instruments. Very catchy songs make for an easy listen. Some are better than others but there’s no shockers. I liked Movin’ On, Scenes, Vienna, and She’s Always a Woman.

There’s such a humanness in this album. That’s weird to say but whatever. The songs about his wife are really sweet too. There are some sort of reggae elements to a couple of the songs that caught me by surprise. I absolutely love the first song it’s sassy and an anti capitalist anthem bitch!!!! The title track reminds me of an old noir detective movie. The whistling is iconic paired with the piano. The whole track has an air of mystery to it for sure. The piano playing through the album is quite simple but suitable. The thing that really shines on this album is the groove of the guitar (even though there’s a different guitarist on every track) and the sax playing is wonderful as well with the engaging vocals of Joel. The organ is used sparingly and I didn’t enjoy its use as much but it’s not bad by any means. Least favorite track is probably just the way you are but I can appreciate the sentimentality of it and i love the sax playing on it. Scenes from an Italian restaurant transports you to Italy and is a jazzy delight for sure for sure the piano is so fun on this and all in all it’s enthralling. Vienna to me is like a companion piece to movin out. Idk what that fuckin instrument is that I also heard in scenes from an Italian restaurant it sounds like an accordion but I like it. Love Joel’s vocal performance on this track his voice crescendos in pair with the instrumentals as they build to the chorus. The attitude on only the good die young is so fun and I think I hear a trombone on this track. It ironically sounds like something you’d hear in church like a gospel. The sax solo on it tooooo. Slay. She’s always a woman makes my heart hurt. One of my favorites off this album. The flute playing loans a gentleness to this track that perfectly matches Joel’s vocals. Get it right the first time is jarring after the previous track but goddamn if it don’t seeeerve. This is the reggae sound I was talking about. The flute is used creatively in this id never think it would work. Joel’s performance is so energetic and he’s got a growl in his voice that adds a conviction to the song. Bro was singing for his LIFE fr. Everybody has a dream seems inspired like the church sound that we occasionally hear in the album with the organ and this time a choir. I don’t love the use of a choir as I don’t think the buildup is suiting enough to warrant for a choir and it seems out of place in an otherwise sober and solemn track. However in the final chorus I like it. The return to the melody of the stranger is kinnnnd of jarring because the last song doesn’t fade into it quite right. But I like the callback to it. It helps me frame the album in my mind more entirely. Overall I rate this album an 8.5/10 I really enjoyed it and will continue to revisit it.

This is an interesting album with great textures and lovely storytelling. Billy Joel gives a short-and-sweet demonstration of his talent in an honest way. I can definitely see him with stumbling upon Tom Waits while playing around 2:00 AM in LA bars. Thanks for the recommendation

still good

An album that allowed millions to fall in love with Billy Joel. I've never noticed how much Billy's voice sounds like Rufus Wainwright before. Well I guess Rufus sounds like Billy.

Oh I do enjoy this album a lot. Some classic William.

Funkier than I thought. Enjoyed the samba influences

I'm a sucker for a good storytelling artist. This album had an amazing number of radio hits and even if they are a bit overplayed, the songs are just plain enjoyable!

Great album!

This is essentially a Billy Joel’s greatest hits. So many classics with poetic lyrics and piano.

I can't help it. I was raised on Billy Joel. Lots of memories with this one.

Such an interesting voice

Initially: recognizable. Cheesy. Nostaligic...but in a 70s theatrical way. I really wanted to dislike it. Unfortunately it's relentlessly upbeat and catchy, while also complex in composition and with interesting slice of life/observational quality to it. UGH. Good shit.

I enjoyed listening to this album, some classic tracks so I'm going to say 4*

Movin' Out slaps. Very catchy The Stranger (song) is groovy, but shouldn't end so slowly for the last minute. But it's actually so good Only the Good Die Young is a banger

I will be honest, was not thrilled to see this pop up but actually really enjoyed the album. He can really sing!

Un muy buen disco, optimista y vitalista, de un hombre al piano. Excelente voz, canciones y muy de disfrutar en directo.

me gustó mucho actually 8/10

Good smooth rock

I don't really like Billy Joel. I don't know if I understand how someone can categorically dislike Billy Joel, but there's a reasonable level of dislike that I can understand. I'm not a huge fan of his and there are certain songs I find unlistenable and annoying, but damn, the man can write a pop song. That much is undeniable, at least to me. This album feels like a Greatest Hits, and honestly I was surprised how many songs I recognized by sound but not by name. Very solid. Standouts: Movin' Out, The Stranger, Vienna

full of wonderful lyrical storytelling

Very nice to listen to

4.5, love many of the songs on here

Very good album

Very solid late 70s pop rock. Varied songs, varied moods and well made as a whole

These are some mf bops not gonna lie 😌👏🏽👏🏽

Such a great album

Track 1: Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) - I had heard this song before just because of its notoriety. I like the 'ack ack ack.' Also the backing vocals are pretty sweet. It reminds me of Piano Man, following these different stories in the city. The cymbals are really nice on the verses. The backing tracks fit Joel too. The song has such different paces throughout, it is interesting. (He is moving out) Track 2: The Stranger - Piano intro very nice. Whistling very nice. Very campy. Now we kick off with the guitar. This riff is fire. Relating heavily to the album cover. Trying on a new face that you do not show to the people around you. Book ending we got more piano and whistling. Pretty sure it is the same as well. Then silence. Track 3: Just the Way You Are - Probably the most popular song this album. I have heard it so many times. Oh hell yeah saxophone. Perhaps Richie Cannata. Almost an antithesis to the last track lol. Joel now loves the secrets that have been let out. The Saxophone just like with the piano last track carries us out. Track 4: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - I like the little "italian" esque interludes. Ok the sax is back second best track. Wow this is a long track. The tone has definitely changed. It feels like the first verse was asking out someone on a date. While the second verse was the chaotic beauty of going on the date. We are back to Joel singing about different characters lol. BrendaxEddie ship it now. It feels like we have switched from a first person pov to a third person pov. Now we got a sax that is upbeat even though the relationship is slowly coming apart. The drumming on this song is particularly carrying us through the track. Song has to end Joel didn't stick around long enough for the end of the story. Oh hell yeah. We are back to the beginning. Seems to be a common theme for this album. Life being a cycle or something. Perhaps Brenda and Eddie are finding someone else to meet in an Italian restaurant. Saxophone carries us out once more. Track 5: Vienna - Austria time. Like so many songs we are starting out with a sole piano. A reflection on youth hmmmm. I really like this one. Can just kind of vibe out to it. We got some of the same instrumentals from Scenes from an Italian Restaurant. Taking a phone off the hook seems a little more poignant now lol. Feels like a self reflection for sure. Track 6: Only the Good Die Young - I have heard this at many barbeques. Joel anti-catholic tirade /j. Feels very late 70s lol. Bad boy trying to date a "good girl" lmao. Grease movie plot. I like the clapping a lot. Might be the best vocals on any track for me so far. That raspy saxophone *chefs kiss*. Probably the best dancing song lol. I like it. Track 7: She's Always a Woman - Starting out with a ballad almost. I think all of these songs have pertained to romance in some sense maybe besides the first track. Had to move out before finding love? I think I am reading to far into it. Oh damn she cutting him. Hope it is metaphorical. All these songs are just generally pleasant to listen to. Oh yeah hum that shit. Track 8: Get it Right the First Time - Ooh is that the bass. And a flute? This song is just pretty groovy. Don't really got to much to say about it lol. I did not get it right the first time :(. There is a very finite feeling to all of Joel's songs lol. Do what you want before your chance passes. Especially on track 1 and this track. I like the strumming at the end. Track 9: Everybody Has a Dream - Last track! Feels like another self reflection for sure. A song that an artist would definitely relate too. Feels like a high school graduation playoff song. Or an album send off (hehe). A very romantic dream. Feel like I should be swaying with arms over people's shoulders. Backing tracks are very nice. Makes the song feel communal. Oh shit there is more! The piano and whistling once again! I believe it is the same music from The Stranger. Track 1 now feels even more out of place lol. This is a book end for "The Stranger." Just as many tracks are. The cycle of life I suppose. Oh shit it looped and Movin' Out jump scared the shit outta me. Pretty good. Pretty good. I like Movin' Out but it feels almost out of place with the rest of the album. The others songs all pertain to love. Maybe Movin' Out is how he is able to experience all these different love stories he portrays in the rest of the songs. It is not typically my kind of music but I enjoy it immensely still. I liked the balance of ballad type beats and a groovy energetic instrumental. All in all. I give this a 8/10.

Very good. Orchestrated nicely, great musicianship. Billy's voice is quite nice. Gets a little bit draggy for a 5 stars but we'll deserving of a 4

Classic Billy Joel. #Scenes from Italian Restaurant.

Vienna alone prevents this from being less than 4

Great album, catchy songs. Saved tracks: Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song), The Stranger, Vienna, Get It Right the First Time

Great stuff

Really enjoyed this one. I associate songs like "She's Always A Woman" to Billy Joel, but he's got a lot of variety on the album. 4/5

I’m not a huge Billy Joel fan, always been more of an pre-baritone Elton guy, but this is easily his best work. It’s already basically a greatest hits, since everything but the last two has become a part of the public consciousness since it came out. And it’s a highly enjoyable pop rock album, well worth the spin even if you think you’re too cool for it. B+

A lot of hits on this one. I have the vinyl in the basement and am almost certain it was stolen from my brother. Whenever I see the LP, I think of our mom which means a 2 or 3 rating ain't happening. I remember her in the kitchen signing the songs and being so happy and feeling cool since she was listening to modern music. I expect one of the reasons she took a shine to Billy is that she thought he was a fellow Italian. Trust me, in 1977 Sudbury, no wop would know that Joel meant Jewish. There weren't any Jews in Sudbury then - except, perhaps, the lovely and talented Elisa Sch. but I didn't figure that out in 1977. I wonder how she's doing? I digress. My favourite songs are Scenes from an Italian . . , and Moving Out. The sax and clarinet work are excellent and work so well with the piano interchanges. As a good ole Catholic, half Italian boy, I've heard every line on Only The Good Die Young so many times over in the hood and could see the song play out on every street corner in Gatchell. I even like the ballads. I could understand people using the "weinie" label on "Just The Way You Are" but his vocals are so genuine it makes the tune likeable.

+catchy choruses +all the hits +varied instrumentation but still cohesive +doesn't overstay its welcome -deep cuts not so memorable - maybe overplayed? Fav song - only the good die young, scenes from an Italian restaurant Least - get it right the first time

Hard to think anything will top movin’ out, starts off very strong

One of the best!

Beautiful

The piano man does not disappoint on this one. 52nd street may be a bit more familiar to most but this is equally as good.

Never intentionally listened to Billy Joel. Great catchy and story-driven songs. 4 stars

Bel album !

A vibe

Billy Joel makes you feel good.

billy joel’s breakthrough, what an album.

Good album.

So smaltzy! Billy Joel is so not my thing but I have to admit this has some fine pop stuff on it.

This man has a knack for story telling

I don't really want to like Billy Joel. Not for any particular reason, it just feels vaguely weird to like a musician that my mom is really into because she has terrible taste in music (sorry mom, but all Christian music is garbage). I don't want to like Billy Joel, but goddmanit if that man can't write a catchy song. There's a lot of variation in style in this album while still sounding coherent, and this album is wall to wall hits. It's an album full of bangers for people who like to sit down at concerts. This may not have been the most interesting musical movement happening in New York in 1977, but it's pretty undeniable. Fuck. I guess I like Billy Joel 4/5

Just the other day a clown uploaded a meme that implied someone had told him Billy had no good songs and he was proving them wrong. Yeah, like someone would have said that lol. Great record, I don’t whine I’ve ever listened to it in full before but I recognized most of the songs.