Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Track Listings
| 1. Everybody Has A Dream |
| 2. The Stranger |
| 3. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) |
| 4. The Stranger |
| 5. Just The Way You Are |
| 6. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant |
| 7. Vienna |
| 8. Only The Good Die Young |
| 9. She's Always A Woman |
| 10. Get It Right The First Time |
| 11. Everybody Has A Dream |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
This, Billy Joel's breakthrough album, came years after he first made his mark with the novelty-ish "Piano Man". In the meantime, the New York-based songwriter released two lacklustre and stylistically confused platters that blunted interesting songs with a sound that was neither Elton mellow nor Elton attitude. Produced by Phil Ramone, The Stranger took those who had written Joel off as a one-hit wonder by surprise and it remains a solid introduction to Joel's restless muse at a crucial point in his career. It invited a few comparisons to Bruce Springsteen, with its prominent sax breaks, hard-edged rebel-rockers ("Only The Good Die Young") and slice-of-life dramatics ("Scenes From An Italian Restaurant"), recounting life in a lower middle-class setting; but Joel's chameleonic, formalist approach to pop wasn't to be so easily pigeonholed. --Don Harrison
Product Description
titolothe strangerartistabilly joel etichettacolumbian. dischi1data20 aprile 1998supportocd audiogenerepop e rock internazionale----1.movin' out (anthony's song)2.the stranger3.just the way you are4.scenes from an italian restaurant5.vienna6.only the good
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
When it came out in 1977, The Stranger became Billy Joel's first very successful reaching no.2 in the album charts. It produced Record of the Year, "Just the Way You Are" and many other great songs. After all 6 songs from this album has gone to his greatest hits. The album is further enhanced by its ongoing theme of The Stranger with it's mysterious tune and epilogue. This is a fantastic album and I recommend it.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Billy's career had been building gradually prior to the release of this album, but this album made him a major star in America, spawning four hit singles, two of which (Just the way you are, Moving out) also became British hits at the time while a third (She's always a woman) made the UK charts six years later. The other American hit (Only the good die young) didn't chart in Britain.
Of all the hits, the standout track is Just the way you are, which was also a UK hit for Barry White less than a year after Billy's original made the UK top twenty. Many artists in several genres of music have covered Just the way you are, proving just how good the song is.
Among the other tracks, there is a great story song - Scenes from an Italian restaurant. It lasts for over seven and a half minutes so it could never have been released as a single. Vienna, Get it right the first time, Everybody has a dream and the title track are all excellent album tracks.
Although there are only nine tracks on this album, the playing time is over forty minutes and every song is brilliant. Among Billy's many excellent original albums, I rate this one as second only to An innocent man.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Musically, critically and commercially one of Billy Joel's finest albums 'The Stranger' has set standards of the popular song, it also shows a man very much on top form in the singer/songwriter category. With 'The Stranger' Joel has touched the pulse of pop perfection, and outcame such songs like 'Movin Out (Anthony's Song' - a fun narrative pop song with one of the most catchiest choruses I've ever heard. 'The Stranger' (a song on the album with the same name) - a dark funky rock song with an oriental guitar riff, not to mention the beautiful piano introduction. 'Just The Way You Are' - need I say no more.
'Scenes From An Italian Restaurant' is one of Joels best written songs, jazz, rock and roll and romance all thrown into this pop epic. It is Joels 'Bohemian Rhapsody' if you like. 'Vienna' is tranquil and poignant and 'She's Always A Woman' empathises with any man who's ever been in love, a song of such beauty and significance.
Melody, Harmony and Orchestration all have high standards and just pure enjoyment in this masterpiece.
This is a must have for Billy Joel fans, but even if you don't particularly like his work this is an elagant addition to anyones collection. A true classic from the Piano Man
'Scenes From An Italian Restaurant' is one of Joels best written songs, jazz, rock and roll and romance all thrown into this pop epic. It is Joels 'Bohemian Rhapsody' if you like. 'Vienna' is tranquil and poignant and 'She's Always A Woman' empathises with any man who's ever been in love, a song of such beauty and significance.
Melody, Harmony and Orchestration all have high standards and just pure enjoyment in this masterpiece.
This is a must have for Billy Joel fans, but even if you don't particularly like his work this is an elagant addition to anyones collection. A true classic from the Piano Man
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Stranger
I had This on vinyal and it still sounds so good today as it did when it was first r
Published 19 months ago by clyde
Billy at his best.
Great , Great , Billy J at his very best. A must have for anybody.
Published 23 months ago by Dazza D
Billy Joel - The Stranger
Classic album.
Billy Joel's best work condensed into an album of timeless quality music and perfect musicianship. Read more
Billy Joel's best work condensed into an album of timeless quality music and perfect musicianship. Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2009 by T. Harber
A classic album with no duds
A chance play of Just the Way you are on the radio instantly reminded me how much I used to love to play this album and 52nd Street as a spotty youth. Read more
Published on 25 Nov 2008 by Mrs. Electra S. Thompson
A classic, essential album
Billy Joel is the complete artist. A wonderful vocalist, a brilliant lyricist, an exceptional musician, an absolutely astounding pianist and an incredible performer. Read more
Published on 22 July 2008 by A. Sweeney
Contains some true all-time great songs.
Has Billy Joel ever written a song which is as true, and as fine a blend of by turns wistful and cutting lyrics with understated piano melody as "Always a woman"? Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2000 by Martin Isaac
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
