OK, first things first: The Stranger is the album that made Billy Joel a household name throughout the world (though not because it was a breakthrough album in terms of content; the earlier "Turnstiles" is at least as good). It is a very well recorded album with many of Joel's best loved songs. It has been reissued multiple times in the digital era (the original CD, the remastered CD, the SACD version, etc.). It is hard to imagine anyone interested in this expensive expansive edition doesn't already own AT LEAST one other digital version of the album, so the inclusion of the album on this package is a money grab.

Unfortunately, it's worse than that: The remaster of The Stranger included here is far-and-away the WORST remaster of the album to ever appear. It is extremely compressed and maximized, which means it sound nice and LOUD, but it sacrifices all sorts of subtleties of the music itself. If you are only interested in The Stranger, go and buy yourself any other edition. Or if you already own The Stranger in some other digital edition, keep that if you buy this: The version here is just plain junk.

Now, on to the bonus CD which, honestly, is the lure of this package. On the second CD you get a TRUNCATED version of the shows that Billy Joel played in New York City in Summer 1977. This was Joel and his band at the height of their powers, and with a trunkload of great material (from the Stranger and earlier albums) to draw upon. To any fan of Billy Joel, this is essential, terrific stuff. UNFORTUNATELY, you don't get an entire show (neither a real entire show, nor a cut-and-paste from separate performances to simulate an entire show). This is a real travesty and begs the question "Why?" The source material to offer a full show is available. Someone made the decision to offer the abridged version here, and, given the relatively high cost of this package and that fact that a full show from era of Joel's career is not legitimately available anywhere is just criminal. What's here is excellent, but it's just not enough.

(Note: There is also a more deluxe version of this set available, which also includes a DVD and more elaborate packaging. The DVD on that version includes an hour long show originally recorded for the UK's Old Grey Whistle Test. Again, it's excellent, but does not represent a full show of the era (even if an hour is all that Joel and his band recorded for that fixed format show). There's also a documentary and a bit of other ephemera that's nice, but won't merit repeat viewings in most households.)

In all, this is an opportunity missed. A poor remaster of the original album coupled with a tantalizing but unsatisfying abbreviated version of a classic era show. Bad decisions were made here and--sadly--I'd guess there won't be a another physical media attempt to correct them in the future.

Hardcore Joel fans will buy this, as well they should (what legitimate alternatives are there for the live material?) But anyone on the fence should think hard before jumping.

Billy Joel had tasted some success before the release of The Stranger, with the hit single "Piano Man", but this is the album that made him a superstar. The album is a virtual greatest hits record with most of the 9 songs being instantly recognizable. The songs move from sentimental ballads like "Just The Way You Are" (which won the 1978 Record of the Year Grammy) and "She's Always A Woman" to rockers like "Only The Good Die Young" and "Anthony's Song". "The Stranger" is a strange combination of what seems like two different songs. It opens and closes with a jazzy piano riff while the middle of the song is a hard rocker. "Vienna" is one of the lesser known songs on the album, but is a personal favorite of mine with it's sing-a-long chorus and what sounds like an old squeeze box in the break. The centerpiece of the album is "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" which tells the story of the rise and fall of Brenda & Eddie. Some of the songs may be a bit overplayed, but the reason is that they're great and timeless songs.

This is indeed one of rare albums that is a must have for any serious collector of today's music! Joel's brilliance and talent shines throughout the entire CD. He has a very talented band, too! Not only are these great songs with entertaining lyrics and melodies, Joel uses these songs to portray common life experiences for people in today's world: Anger, disillusionment, the struggle to be truly vulnerable with a lover, despair, love for another, the temptation of drugs, raw sexuality and hope for the future. (In "Movin' Out," "The Stranger," "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant," "Just The Way You Are," "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant," "Only The Good Die Young," and "Everybody Has A Dream," respectively.) It is Joel's treatment of these natural human emotions and experiences coupled with great music and lyrics that makes this a stellar album.

Billy Joel gained much status as a result of this album-deservedly so! I recommend this for ANYBODY who wants an excellent instant classic addition to their collection! A BUY! GRIN

This could have been my favorite Billy Joel album, but I heard 52nd Street long before I ever heard The Stranger. I didn't get around to listening to The Stranger until about 1981, but heard 52nd Street back when it came out in 1978 (my sister had the 52nd Street album and actually saw Billy's tour of that album). I had heard the big hits of The Stranger, but just didn't hear the album in it's entirety until 1981. "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" alone is worth buying the album for. That pretty much seals the deal about who was the finest pop songwriter in the 70's. I always respected the hell out of Billy because he always wrote about every song he ever played. Billy really plays the hell out of the song "Scenes". It just gives me goosebumps whenever I hear it, just a good song story. "She's Always a Woman" and "Just The Way You Are" were huge hits and deservedly so, but I still prefer "Moving Out" and "Only The Good Die Young" a little bit more. I do honestly believe that his 52nd Street album was a slight improvement, but really it's debateable which one's really better. I really believe after the GLASS HOUSES album, the songs just weren't very good anymore. He just made some incredible albums in the 70's and that's when he really shined. If you're a youngster and you're thinking about buying this album "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" will just blow you away, and you'll want to delve into all of his albums from at least the 1970's. ENJOY!!!

Get ten people in a room, ask all of them what the "greatest album ever" is, and you'll get ten different responses. But I'd pick this finely crafted masterpiece. Though it doesn't contain his number one signature song-"Piano Man"-this is certainly Joel's most recognized album, and with good reason: Nearly every song shines with the glimmer of virtual perfection. Of the nine songs on this album, six appeared in Joel's Greatest Hits Volume 1 album. Of the three songs left, one ("Vienna") was recognized by fans in a poll on a Billy Joel fan site as their fourth favorite song, overall, by him. But if it was just the idea that nearly every song is recognized, I very well could have declared Rumours by Fleetwood Mac, Sports by Huey Lewis, or even Thriller by Michael Jackson the greatest ever. No, the reason this album is the greatest for me is because its brilliant songs forever changed the way I listen to music. Every track pushes the limits of pop music in a way that keeps me captivated still today, years later.

Here's my guarantee to you: no matter your amount of knowledge of Billy Joel music, or of music in general, you will fall in love with these songs. "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" is never given the props it deserves as one of the all-time great songs, perhaps Joel's best. "Only the Good Die Young" is catchy, captivating, and timeless (even if it is full of generalizations and criticisms of Catholic teachings), "Just The Way You Are" is down-to-Earth romance at its most beautiful and poignant, "She's Always A Woman" is clever and bittersweet, and "Vienna" is something to be heard.

BOTTOM LINE: If you don't own this album, get it. If you own no Joel, this is a great place to start. If you own The Essential or maybe some of his other stuff, it's worth the ten or so dollars just for "Scenes" and "Vienna".