On "Stories of a Stranger" the band set out writing songs for the project in 2004. The intention was to create what would one day be referred to as THE record that best represents the power O.A.R. brings to stages across the country, while simultaneously giving the listener a glimpse inside the heart of a traveling musician, the frustration that comes with having to be a million places at once, and the many faces of the wandering soul. O.A.R. has made it their mission to become in the studio what they have worked so hard to become in the cities and on the stages of America. Accomplished, relevant, and most importantly a voice of optimism in a world filled with doubt. The songs on the record were hand picked from a well full of stylistically diverse tunes each with a story to tell. The album was recorded during 2005 at Crystalphonic Recording Studio in Charlottesville, Virginia, Sausalito Sound in California, and at Chung King Studios in New York City. The set features such guests as Parliament keyboardist Bernie Worrell and singer/songwriter/Lava labelmate Toby Lightman. The album was released on October 4, 2005, and debuted and peaked at #40 on the Billboard 200. Three songs from Stories of a Stranger were released as singles, "Love and Memories" in 2005 as well as "Heard the World" and "Lay Down" in 2006. "Love and Memories" was at the time their best charting single, peaking at #98 in the Pop 100, #30 in the Modern Rock Tracks chart and #18 in the Adult Top 40.