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- Posted: 04/06/2026 20:00
- Post subject: Album of the day (#7036): The Stranger by Billy Joel
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Today's album of the day
The Stranger by Billy Joel (View album | Buy this album)
Year: 1977.
Country: 
Billy Joel discography rank: 1 (out of 26 listed on BEA)
1977 rank: 7
1970s rank: 55
Overall rank: 235
Average rating: 82/100 (from 888 votes).
Tracks:
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
indicates a top-rated track.
Top voted comments:
"This album is SHOCKINGLY underrated in the overall score. Jesus christ people, look at the average ratings for the songs and compare it to others who score around 80-82 overall. I mean, I let a lot of stuff go on here, but COME ONNN"
- Medelsvensson (Rating: 85/100)
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"Easily Billy Joel's best album. The stranger, sees Joel at the peak of his songwriting powers, in a record that contains all that's great about an incredibly underrated songwriter. Movin'out, kicks the album off in superb style. The title track, another Joel classic, precedes one of his most celebrated pieces. Just the way you are, wasn't originally intended to be on the LP, but fortunately for Joel, was persuaded otherwise. It's slick, extremely sentimental, but it is lovely. The original first side ends with the centrepiece of the album. Scenes from an Italian restaurant, is one of, if not the greatest of all Billy Joel compositions. Epic in scale, it was inspired by the medley on the second side of the Beatles masterpiece, Abbey road, this is his Italian/American version. Vienna opens the second side, another excellent cut. It's followed by two more Joel stunners. She's always a woman, is a beautiful folk ballad, another of his best, and that's followed by the catchy, only the good die young, wonderful. If there is a weak moment, it's probably the penultimate track, get it right the first time. It's still a good song, but it's not in the same class as the rest. The intro also sounds like the theme tune to the old children's t.v. show, rainbow. The album ends on a spectacular note. Everybody has a dream, is a moving ballad about someone living in their imagination, but hoping his dreams come true, it's fantastic. And that's it. If you haven't heard this album before, give it a go. If you appreciate great songwriting, you will love it. Excellent."
- garycottier (Rating: 95/100)
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About album of the day: The BestEverAlbums.com album of the day is the album appearing most prominently in member charts in the previous 24 hours. If an album, or artist, has previously been selected within a x day period, the next highest album is picked instead (and so on) to ensure a bit of variety. A full history of album of the day can be viewed here.
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