Some artists release their debut record and are successes from the beginning. Look at Guns N’ Roses‘ Appetite for Destruction. The band’s debut jumped to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart one year after its release. For other bands, it’s a longer crunch to make it to the big leagues. A perfect example of this is Kiss. The New York natives had mediocre and poor sales of their first two records until 1975, when they released Alive! Then, ‘Kissmania’ was all over the United States and the world.
For New York’s Billy Joel, his story is a lot similar to his fellow New Yorkers, Kiss. Joel’s record before The Stranger, 1976’s Turnstiles, sold modestly in the United States and landed at spot 122 on the charts. Joel’s debut didn’t even crack the top 100. Meanwhile, his sophomore record, Piano Man and ’74s Streetlife Serenade made it past the top 50 in America. Still, by 1977, Columbia Records was considering dropping Joel if his next releases didn’t sell… and sell it did.
The record starts off with the all-too-familiar “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song).” This track was one of four singles to be released during the record’s promotion. What makes this track so special is Joel’s songwriting ability to hook listeners on the chorus with his repetitive yelling. For New Yorkers and New Jerseyans, the familiar Sullivan Street in New York City and Hackensack, New Jersey, hit close to home. It’s hard not to fantasize about playing saxophones as good as Richie Cannata. On this song, Cannata’s saxophone is the second most recognizable thing on the song.
Song two, “The Stranger,” is more moody than its predecessor. While Joel enters by whistling, the rest of the band creep behind him and jump headfirst into the tune. “The Stranger” has much more of a bite than other songs. What is most notable on this track is the catchy chorus, which dips around the twang of the percussion. Producer Phil Ramone (no relation to the band) does a great job of capturing the band’s sound. The inclusion of bassist Doug Stegmeyer in the final mix was magical – his sound on this song is unmatched on the record. As the song closes, the symmetrical ending to the beginning is a great way to close a song. It’s a nice callback to tie a bow on the tune and lets the listener know that the band is wrapping up. Plus, a good whistle takes a song from good to great.
“Just the Way You Are” is after “The Stranger.” The two tracks play well with each other, with their softer, more piano-oriented song. On this song, what is spectacular is that Joel sings about a girl, if one is obviously in mind. But for each and every listener, a different and unique person pops into their head and they’re able to relate to this song. What makes certain songwriters better than others is if they can make every listener relate to their words. Again, the band elects to incorporate a Phil Woods alto saxophone solo instead of a rock and roll guitar solo. It’s an easy listen, yet it’s just so good. It’s easy to see why this song won the Song of the Year award in 1979.
Another Joel powerhouse song appears at No. 4. “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” is the most scenic song. As Joel belts out the lyrics, you can see the most picturesque Italian restaurant in your mind. Whether it’s a legendary place like Puglia in New York’s Little Italy or Tony & Elaine’s in Boston’s North End, you transport somewhere else. Whether it’s Joel slamming on his piano or Cannata on a clarinet, there’s a plethora of sounds. There’s an argument that “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” is Joel’s best work even though he’s released a total of 12 studio records. What is really interesting on this song is that Joel starts with personal pronouns like “You” and “I” before switching to the characters “Brenda and Eddie.” It’s an interesting point of view from someone in an Italian restaurant.
The greatest hits continue with “Vienna.” This song is classic Joel. The song is centered around Joel’s piano as the main instrument. On first listen, fans get the sense that this song is more about slowing down, taking life easy and that not everything needs to be done immediately. “The song offers gentle advice about pacing life and valuing patience,” Joel said on his TikTok account. “Lines that contrast youthful urgency with the steady presence of ‘Vienna’ convey a message of tempering ambition with perspective.” It’s a great reflecting song no matter what age you are. Whether you’re 18 or 81, the perspective changes over time, but the message stays the same.
On track six, fans are greeted with a much more fun and lighthearted tune. “Only the Good Die Young” has the opposite message from “Vienna.” It’s a song about having fun, living vicariously and living life to the fullest. I like the comparison between “Vienna” and “Only the Good Die Young;” it’s a nice balance between a really serious song and a fun tune. This song is one of the few that you could blast at the highest volume out of your speakers and do so on repeat a handful of times. It lifts listeners out of the moody bowels of “Vienna” and uplifts them to live their life; it’s the perfect balance.
The Stranger did not become a stranger in Joel’s discography. At first glance at the record, you’re almost sure that this is a greatest hits record. Six of nine songs have become concert staples and mainstays in his set since the album’s release. Joel captures the magic of New York City on the record and transports people to the World’s Most Famous City, New York, which has become a staple in Joel’s career.
Joel’s The Stranger is a must-listen to, not just for fans of his music, but for fans of music in general. There are so many great tunes on this song that make fans keep coming back as the record slowly creeps up to its 50th birthday. It’s hard to write this record off; it’s, in fact, impossible. So, you might as well embrace the joy, fruitful magic on this record.
Rating: 9.5/10
Tracklist:
1. Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)
2. The Stranger
3. Just the Way You Are
4. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
5. Vienna
6. Only the Good Die Young
7. She’s Always a Woman
8. Get It Right the First Time
9. Everybody Has a Dream
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My love for live music started with my first concert ever, Guns N’ Roses back in 2016. Since then, I’ve been able to capture photos of some amazing artists like Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Ace Frehley, and Post Malone. I am based in the Boston, Massachusetts area. I am always looking for the next concert to attend.