Stranger Than You

In a review of the single, FMQB wrote, "Joe Jackson's is a talent that encompasses styles and genres that just won't work on most mainstream radio stations. That's where we come in. Own this."^[3] In a review of Night and Day II, Bernard Zuel of The Sydney Morning Herald felt "Stranger Than You" was reminiscent of Billy Joel and described it as a "fine pop song, though too stylish for mainstream radio".^[4] L.A. Tarone of the Standard-Speaker considered it to use a "Chopin-ish piano as its foundation" and noted the "gorgeous chamber string explosion mid-tune". Lyrically, he added, "Jackson finds romance amidst the seemliness and is happy".^[5]

Steve Darnall of the Chicago Tribune commented, "The sardonic overture 'Hell of a Town' and the Brill Building-influenced "Stranger Than You" prove that intimacy and humor are still Jackson's greatest assets."^[6] Trouser Press noted the "humorous" aspect of the song's lyrics which "salut[es] the oddest characters Jackson's found in his adopted hometown".^[7] Dw. Dunphy of Popdose picked the song as number two on a top ten list of Jackson's songs. Dunphy felt that Night and Day II was "probably an ill-advised project" where "several of the songs simply don't hang together", but added "Stranger Than You" was an exception.^[8]

CD single

1. "Stranger Than You" - 4:19
2. "Hell of a Town" - 3:19

CD single (European promo)

1. "Stranger Than You" (Special Radio Edit) - 3:17
2. "Hell of a Town" - 3:19

CD single (Canadian promo)

1. "Stranger Than You" (Radio Edit) - 3:47
2. "Stranger Than You" (Album Version) - 4:19

CD single (French promo)

1. "Stranger Than You" (Radio Edit) - 3:47
2. "Love Got Lost" - 4:24

Production

• Joe Jackson - producer, arranger
• Dan Gellert - engineer, associate producer
• Charlie Post, Ross Peterson - additional engineering
• Ted Jensen - mastering

Other

• Alex Vandoros - photography
• Joe Jackson - art direction