The Stranger

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"The Stranger"
Single by Billy Joel
from the album The Stranger
B-side	"Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)"
Released	May 21, 1978 (Japan)
Format	7"
Recorded	A & R Recording Inc., New York City
Genre	Rock
Length	5:10
Label	CBS Sony (Japan)
Writer(s)	Billy Joel
Producer	Phil Ramone
Billy Joel singles chronology
"She's Always a Woman" (1977) "The Stranger" (1978) "My Life" (1978)

"The Stranger" is a song by rock artist Billy Joel from his 1977 album of the same name, The Stranger, about the id of the human psyche where desire and primal instincts are supposedly held in check by the superego (according to the theories of Sigmund Freud). The song was released as a single in Japan where it became very popular and peaked at #2 on the Oricon chart. It was the last single from the album in Japan, while the US and UK saw "She's Always a Woman", released the previous year, as the last single from the album.

The single is featured on Joel's greatest hits album, Greatest Hits - Volume I & II.

A two-minute instrumental reprise of this song is featured at the end of the The Stranger album, after Everybody Has a Dream.

Billy Joel originally wanted the melody to be played by some kind of wind instrument, suggesting a clarinet. But after hearing a preview of the song, producer Phil Ramone convinced Joel to scrap the idea of a clarinet and whistle instead.

Track listing

Japanese 7" vinyl

1. "The Stranger"
2. "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)"

Chart positions

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