Talk:The Stranger (album)

Breakthrough album

The entry for Piano Man says:

Piano Man, Joel's second album and his first with Columbia Records, emerged out of legal difficulties with his former label and became his breakthrough album.

The entry for The Stranger says:

While his four previous albums were moderately successful, this was his breakthrough album, peaking at #2 on the U.S. album charts.

I think there should be some agreement on which of these albums was his "breakthrough" album. Dsreyn 14:09, 17 November 2005 (UTC)

Based on Joel's lack of success after Piano Man, I would say his breakthrough album was the Stranger, based on the hits and sales. Hurricanehink 20:26, 21 February 2006 (UTC)

• I would agree with this. The sales statistics pretty much speak for themselves. At least four of the tracks on here still receive fairly decent amounts of radio airplay on adult contemporary stations, while the title track from "Piano Man" is the only one from that album still in rotation. --Crimson Bleeding Souls (talk) 02:40, 2 February 2009 (UTC)

The Stranger is now cited as Joel's "true critical and commercial breakthrough"; there seems to be agreement on this point. How do people feel about describing Piano Man's status as follows: "sometimes cited as Joel's breakthrough album"?—or something to that effect (I have not changed that article's wording yet.) — Preceding unsigned comment added by A7592 (talk • contribs) 17:00, 28 January 2013 (UTC)

Contradiction

Lede says number 70 on the Rolling Stone list, body says number 67. Neither statement is sourced, can't both be true. 12.233.146.130 (talk) 01:30, 25 January 2013 (UTC)

This issue has been resolved. A source has been provided identifying the album's ranking as 70. I've edited this article somewhat extensively, and am now also removing the "repetition/redundant language" template. — Preceding unsigned comment added by A7592 (talk • contribs) 16:32, 28 January 2013 (UTC)

Production section

This section of the article badly needs citations. Of particular concern, it contains an unsourced quotation by Joel. If this issue is resolved, I am confident the article will meet the criteria for "B-class". — Preceding unsigned comment added by A7592 (talk • contribs) 17:03, 28 January 2013 (UTC)

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The actual first single from this album

Columbia 10624 - "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" / "She's Always a Woman" - released a couple of weeks ahead of the album. Radio liked "Just the Way You Are" much better, so this was pulled. Both sides were later released as separate hit singles. PatConolly (talk) 02:58, 4 March 2023 (UTC)