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.It has been over 15 years since Billy Joel released his final Pop album, River Of Dreams. Nevertheless, it is so sad that he hasn't made a new record ever since. Regardlesss, while his life has dramatically changed, his career has always remained as timeless as any icon you could ever imagine. While the Sony BMG Music family has scene many records get to be celebrated this past year including the re-release of Michael Jackson's Thriller for its 25th Anniversary, and Celine Dion saw her recent re-release of A New Day Has Come from 2002. But with all that, Billy Joel in my opinion has madde albums that weren't just filled with delightful diddies, they spoke great stories that stand the test of time, and that proves that this is still no stranger.The 2008 re-release of Billy Joel's landmark album, the Stranger feels like a true breath of fresh air, and a reminder of how potent Billy Joel's songs still are. The highest-selling album of the Columbia Records Label, still is a delight to listen to, as the album which last year was released 30 years ago, still remains more than just a stranger. All the songs have been brilliantly restored from beginning to end, and are still enjoyable from beginning to end. You still get all of your faorite classic songs including The Stranger, the epic storytelling of Scenes From An Italian Restaurant, the Rockabilly themes from Only The Good Die Young, as well as the tender ballad She's Always A Woman To Me. Not only that, the newly re-released album includes for the first time ever a live recording from Billy Joel's 1977 concert at New York's Carnegie Hall, where he sounds great peforming some of these great songs, as well as some of his standards like from his earlier records like New York State Of Mind from his overlooked Turnstyles album, and his signature song, She's Got A Way.If you haven't yet owned any Billy Joel album yet for your MP3 Player or as an addition to your record collection, than you really don't know what you are missing. The Stranger: 30th Annversary edition is a great buy not just for die hard Billy Joel fans who just love him for the way he really is, a great pianist. I absolutely think this is one of the best re-released albums of 2008.Album Cover: BSongs: B+Price: A-Remastering: A-Extras: BOverall: B+
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