The Stranger - Billy Joel

Billy Joel’s 5th studio album released in 1977 proved that he was more than just The Piano Man. Produced by Columbia records maestro Phil Ramone. Ramone has produced everyone from Marilyn Monroe (singing Happy Birthday to John F Kennedy) to George Micheal and Luciano Pavaroti. It was with his use of modern recording techniques and Joel’s ability to write flawless pop gems that the album came together in such a fantastic way.

Where to begin, well lets start with the cover, a bizarre concoction with Billy sitting on a bed staring at a mask which is lying on a pillow. The early advertising for the record had only this image on it with no other words, it was as stroke of genius. The album lived up to the adverts and was an end to end pop masterpiece.

The big hitters on this album are, Movin Out (Anthony’s Song), The Stranger, Just the Way You Are, Scenes From An Italian Restaurant, Vienna, She’s Always A Woman and Only The Good Die Young. Bizarrely

The Stranger is actually about the Id. The part of the Human Psyche where desire and primal instincts are held, it was of course a big hit in Japan. Just The Way You Are was a birthday gift to Joel’s first wife Elizabeth Weber. Joel’s was actually going to leave the song off the album and actually doesn’t like playing it. Another song She’s always a Woman is also about his first wife, who used to be married to Billy Joes drummer at the time. Joel had an affair with the woman and was so tormented by it that he drank furniture polish and guess who rushed him to the hospital, his drummer.

Scene From An Italian Restaurant is actually three different tunes put together, it is Joel’s Longest studio recording coming at over seven and a half minutes long. It is a fan favourite and one of his greatest songs and actually has something of a Beatles Feel to it. Only The Good Die Young believe or not was controversial at the time due to its lyrical content where a boy tries to seduce a catholic girl and was banned form a number of stations in the U.S. This only served to shoot the album further up the carts. Billy Joel actually received a threat of assassination before a concert in St Louis if he played the song. He went on and played the song twice. Vienna a personal favourite is about growing old, Joel was visiting his father in Vienna when he saw an old woman sweeping the streets. Billy was appalled by this but his father told him the woman had pride and was doing a service, Joel realised how America pushed aside its elderly and strips them of their purpose and worth.

It may be sentimental, it may be a guily pleasure it may in fact be the greatest album Joel released but what it is is a superb album which sounds fresher and edgier now that most of what charts today.

Track listing

1. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
2. Stranger, The
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