Region 4 Winners and Losers

    This is an interesting and somewhat difficult comparison, as this exact disc is not actually available in Region 1, even though our release is a multi-region disc. There is a title available in Region 1 called Billy Joel - The Essential Video Collection that was released around the same time as this one. My copy of this disc arrived just before Christmas, so I am able to make a direct comparison. It is similar in parts but different in others. The cover art is the first major difference. Ours features a far more recent picture of Billy with dark shades and beard. The Region 1 disc features a photo that looks like it was taken in the early 80s. Despite the cover photos being so strikingly different, the wording on the rear cover is almost exactly the same.

    Apart from the packaging, the content is the other major difference between the two discs. The Region 4 disc has 25 videos, while the Region 1 offering contains 24 videos, and it's not a simple case of one video missing from the Region 1 disc.

    The following videos are not featured on the Region 4 Disc;

• Sometimes a Fantasy

• The Night Is Still Young

• Pressure

• Keeping the Faith

• Big Shot

• Los Angelenos

    The following videos are not featured on the Region 1 Disc;

• New York State Of Mind

• The River Of Dreams

• We Didn't Start The Fire

• I Go To Extremes

• Leningrad

• The Downeaster 'Alexa'

• All About Soul

    The quality of the videos that are common to both discs are exactly the same, as are the audio tracks. All menus are also identical. There is no compelling reason to prefer one over the other, so I'll call it a draw of sorts. Those of you with only a passing interest in Billy Joel's music or who simply want a comprehensive sample of some of his hits should not look past the Region 4 title. Die-hard fans though, with the inclusion of six videos on Region 1 disc that are not on the Region 4, are well advised to pick up both.