The Stranger

We sometimes forget how good a lyricist, arranger and musician Billy Joel is. I am backfilling my collection of his releases and revisiting The Stranger reminds me of the above mentioned qualities. It also takes me back to the days when this was first released. And what days! This is anther one of those releases that has zero filler. C'mon, who can't be mesmerized by Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)? Scenes From An Italian Restaurant? Great, great song! Vienna is just sooooo good. Only The Good Die Young - my goodness, I remember the uproar from the church when this first hit the airwaves! She's Always A Woman is so good is scary. The other tracks - The Stranger; Just The Way You Are; Get It Right The First Time and Everybody Has A Dream are all great pieces of music done by fantastic musicians. If you haven't listened to this CD in a while - get it out and enjoy. If you haven't heard the entire release - click on it and add it to your collection - you will not regret it.

I've owned The Stranger album in every format it was ever sold (except maybe for 8-Track!), but this was the best purchase ever. Yes, the album is the same. But the Carnegie Hall performance CD is worth the purchase price all by itself! It's cool to hear a young BJ having fun with the audience (and poking fun at the Carnegie Hall management!). You can almost see everybody in their '70s gear just having an incredible time with another rebel on the stage. But the most profound part of this CD was when Billy introduces a 'new' song called "Just The Way You Are". It was freaky to NOT hear the audience break out in a roar at the announcement of that song! It's been voted the best love song of all time (and it really is... the title itself is the ultimate definition of unconditional love), and here is Joel performing it for one of the first times ever. The accompanying DVD is an added treat, of course... watching that same young Billy Joel performing live on an old British variety show with his long hair and sporadic gestures enjoying what he loves and what we love to hear and see. And then the replica of his handwritten "Stranger" song book... Unbelievable. It's got all his scratch-outs and corrections... it even has a replica of a grease stain from some food he dropped on one page! This is the best Billy Joel compilation I've ever purchased. And I'm pretty sure I've bought 'em all...

WOAH! My initial thoughts when hearing the first parts of “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)”. WHAT THE?!?!? My thoughts after hearing the first few passages of “The Stranger”. When “Just The Way You Are” began playing a bit, I actually started getting a lump in my throat - This from someone who still listens a lot more to The Who, Led Zeppelin, and UFO. Billy Joel always hit a chord for me as well, and The Stranger was an iconic release. It really exemplified the 70s, a period I miss and crave. I find myself searching for links back to it often now. This version of The Stranger will have the 70s rolling over you in waves. Maybe too real, and almost definitely far better than you remember it. The difference from past versions you’ve probably heard (and music from that period in general) will be very readily noticed, even on a basic system. Even with basic Apple EarPods, I’m just amazed at the quality. The rest of the CD, including my two long-standing album favorites, “Scenes From An Italian Restaurant” and “Get It Right The First Time”, sound absolutely incredible as well. For now, I’ll leave it to others to comment on the extra material. But even before going there… If you or someone you love are a big fan of Billy Joel and/or The Stranger, I heartily recommend this set!

The 5 star rating is for the music. It's GREAT. One of Billy Joels best albums. But this particular CD would not play in my CD player. I ordered a replacement and it still would not play. For reference, the player is a Sony CMT-EX100. It's an older CD player but not sure why, other CD's play fine. I ended up ordering an older pressing from Ebay and it played fine. Leaving this review/info in case someone has a similar issue.

Item received on time and intact. Item was what I was looking for since I have been listening to his music for years for Love the CD. Great find and purchase

Just received the deluxe set today. I've watched parts of the DVD including the new interview. The interview is excellent, especially the comments from the legendary Phil Ramone. Watched some of the Old Grey Whistle test, and that was fine, also. But, first off, I listened to the 2nd CD with the June 1977 Carnegie Hall concert. I must say I listened the old fashioned way, with high quality headphones, and I must say I was getting goosebumps and I also had a few tears as I flashed back in my mind to 1977 and listening the The Stranger for the first few times on my first high quality hi-fi. I had been a sort of Billy Joel fan previous to The Stranger, but The Stranger became the benchmark of all Billy Joel albums and still is. The remastering of this over thirty year old concert is amazing. The small orchestra backing is just enough to make a difference. I also noticed the dynamics of the way bands played back then. These days it seems like it's pedal to the metal the whole song. No dynamics. I have Songs in the Attic (excellent),the Soviet Union concert, the Millenium concert, and the recent 12 Gardens all on CD. This 1977 concert blows them all away in my humble opinion. Reminded me of the Bruce Springsteen concert on the Born to Run deluze edition from a few years ago. So much energy. I'm thinking it has something to do with still being young and hungry. I remember thinking that when I watched the old Springsteen 1975 concert. Anyway, do yourself a favor. If you are any kind of Billy Joel fan from the old days, you owe it to yourself to enjoy this concert from 1977. And listen to it close. Not just as background music. Billy Joel was also an amazing piano player, and the band complimented him perfectly. Hopefully, we are able to get some new Billy Joel rock & roll music yet. It's been too long between albums and I'd love to hear something new from Billy.

There are some albums that appear to be instant classics as soon as they are released. In 1978 "The Stranger" was everywhere. Living on Long Island in a town very close to Hicksville Billy Joel seemed more like an older brother to all of my friends and family than a rock star. The music of The Stranger was all over the radio, playing inside of every house I visted, including my own, and playing overhead wherever I went. I have always been amazed at the fact that every song on this album is a classic song. Listening to the re mastered version you will quickly hear how poor the orignal CD release of The Stranger was treated. The best part of this package is the Live CD of the Carnegie Hall concert. It is simply the best live recording of Billy Joel that i have ever heard and no fan of Billy Joel should be without it. In fact, for the Billy Joel doubters out there, i suggest listening to this Carnegie Hall concert and questioning your doubting selves about how special his talents truly are. Any show taken from The Old Grey Whistle Test is bound to be special and the DVD, while short, is a nice look back at Billy and the band when they had full heads of hair and lots of rock and roll charisma. All in all a nice package in which i can say for once, i do not feel like a ripped off consumer.

No bad songs! Lyrically, musically, vocally, the best billy Joel album!