The Stranger --- Billy Joel --- 1977 (Columbia)
One of Billy Joel's most successful and celebrated albums, “The Stranger” has it all. From its signature whistling introduction to the title track (which also ends the album) to classics like “Just the way you are” and “She's always a woman”, there's something just about everyone who listens to this album will recognise. It kicks off with “Movin' out (Anthony's song)”, a great little rocker and the tale of leaving smalltown America behind to search for the bright lights. Some great horn parts in this opener, but it's the title track, up next, where things really ratchet up a gear. Introduced, as mentioned, by a solitary whistling tune paralleling a soft piano melody, the tune soon gets going with an uptemop beat and the tale of how we all
”Have a face that we hide away forever/ And we take them out and show ourselves/ When everyone has gone.” It's a powerful song with a lot to say, some cool guitar licks and a funky jazz/rock beat, but the enduring image is of the opening and closing piano/whistle melody. This leads into the classic “Just the way you are”, which is one of three ballads on the album, and which surely needs no real coverage:
everyone will have heard this at some time or another, if not Billy's version then the cover by Barry White. Beautiful, understated ballad with a lovely message, some really effective digital piano and soulful sax helping lift this into the annals of the true classics.
More important though is the next track, and longest on the album, the seven-minute-plus epic “Scenes from an Italian restauarant”, which starts off slowly, as two friends share a meal with
”A bottle of red/ A bottle of white/ All depends upon your appetite” and then begin reminiscing about the days of their youth, recalling two old friends, Brenda and Eddie, as the music turns boppy and upbeat, showcasing Joel's piano playing skill, as the song charts the meeting, ill-fated marriage (
Everyone said they were crazy/ Brenda you know you're much too lazy/ And Eddie could never afford to live that kind of life!”) and eventual and inevitable breakup of the couple, as the song winds back on itself, returning to the original theme of the opening and fades out.
“Only the good die young” is good fun, poppy and I guess quite controversial for its time, with its talk of Catholic schoolgirls and its references to perhaps underage sex. Again the horn section are in fine form here. Next we have another of the mega-singles, and the second ballad, “She's only a woman”, played acoustically on piano with no other accompaniment. The album ends on “Everybody has a dream”, the third ballad, then the theme from “The Stanger” fades in to close out the album. A true masterclass on how to create a lasting monument to your talent, “The Stranger” is Billy Joel at his best, and if you haven't heard it up to now, here's your chance. I heartily recommend it.
TRACKLISTING
1. Movin' out (Anthony's song)
2. The Stranger
3. Just the way you ware
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/ The Stranger (reprise)
Suggested further listening: “52nd Street”, “Glass houses”, “The bridge” and of course “Piano Man: the very best of Billy Joel”