Although Billy Joel has seen a moderate success with his “Piano Man” tune, it wasn’t really until Joel’s 4th studio work, The Stranger, that things picked up at a fast pace.  Those who latched onto Joel early in his career via his “Piano Man” tune already knew the strengths that Billy Joel brought to a song.  But the masses soon found The Stranger and its four Top40 songs (“Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song),” the Grammy-winning “Just the Way You Are,” “Only the Good Die Young,” “She’s Always a Woman”) along with several strong deep cuts played on FM to be exactly the music they wanted to hear.  From 1977 through the ‘80s, Billy Joel ruled the upper edges of stardom with a collection of albums and memorable hit songs.

The Stranger is one of those album rarities that surface every once in a while, filled with songs that will always evoke memories.  Because of its status as an upper-echelon classic, it receives a lavish and grand reentrance with several styles of release that include LP, a 2CD set, and most notable, a 10” x 5 ½ “  boxed collection that adds a second disc of live performances but is exclusively bolstered by a DVD and some Joel-related memorabilia including a very cool notebook replica.

If you remember the Born to Run boxed set re-released by Columbia/Legacy several years back, then you know what to expect with this new Billy Joel reissue.  The most important element of this set is the re-mastered album.  Re-mastered by original album’s producer, Phil Ramone, the album sounds great.  Never too loud, wonderfully balanced, and crisp, the album is a joy to hear with its cleaner sound.  The sax on “Just the Way You Are” is still seductive and silky just as it is on the following song, “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” even as it escalates to brighter moments.

The second disc is a previously unreleased concert from 1977 at Carnegie Hall.  It contains an 11-song set with two of the songs from the as-yet unreleased The Stranger (“Just the Way You Are,” “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant”) with almost all of the rest from his earlier albums (Piano Man – ’73; Streetlife Serenade – ’74; Turnstiles – ’76).  The show is top-notch and sounds great.  At one point during the band introductions, Billy Joel sings an impromptu Happy Birthday to the soundman.  Wrap it all up and this live set is very satisfactory.

The DVD found in this Limited Deluxe Edition Box has a few assorted things on it that include ten excellent – and historic – performance tracks from his 60-minute appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1978.  Four of the songs are from The Stranger and are his heavy charters, with the rest from earlier albums.  You should pay special attention to Joel’s piano work in “Root Beer Rag.”  It showcases amazing finger-work.  In addition, there are two live-take promotional videos that include “The Stranger,” and the perfect “Just the Way You Are” that begin the DVD.  There is also a bonus inclusion with a 30-minute documentary on the Making of The Stranger that offers new interviews with Phil Ramone and Billy Joel.  The documentary is very revealing with most of the work done by Billy Joel, who appears very comfortable and is extremely generous with his remembrances.

The supplied booklet is 24 pages of glossy stock that include liner notes from Rolling Stone’s David Fricke (who’s showing up in a lot of liner notes lately; tells you how great it is to be a respected historian).  You’ll find a lot of photo shots from the camera sessions for The Stranger, as well as other photos from the period.  Lyrics are included along with extensive credits for the album and the set’s extras.  As bonuses, there is a replication of Billy Joel’s working notebook for The Stranger with lyric ideas and changes with interesting sidenotes.  This is a fantastic include as it provides an intimate interaction on the formation of the album, granting you a glimpse into its creation.  Finally, there is a replica fold-out poster of Billy Joel’s 3-day concert appearances at Carnegie Hall in 1977.  The included 2nd CD contains the June 3 set.

Everything found in the Limited Edition Deluxe Box is worthy of the album, both reverentially and historically.  It IS the end piece to a great album.  However, the 2CD set is also memorable and deserving.  As a fan, either choice will make you genuinely pleased.  And if you want LPs, that is a choice as well.