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Special Features
- Complete discography
- Biographical timeline
Editorial Reviews
With 20 old favorites and four rare clips, this impressive collection of videos showcases the 30-year career of the ivory-tickling Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. Such Joel faves as "Piano Man," "Uptown Girl," "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" and "Honesty" are accompanied by the previously unavailable "James" and "She's Right on Time," as well as live versions of "Leave a Tender Moment Alone" and "Goodnight Saigon." 105 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, PCM stereo; biography; discography; scene access.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 49 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This was released by the same distributor in Australia but ... it has a different cover, and some different songs to the American DVD release. We get 25 songs in total, compared to 24 on the American DVD.
The songs on the Australian DVD that are missing on the American DVD are:
- 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 songs on the American DVD that are missing on the Australian DVD are:
- Sometimes a Fantasy
- The Night Is Still Young
- Pressure
- Keeping the Faith
- Big Shot
- Los Angelenos
It depends on which Billy Joel songs you like, but for me I would rather have the American tracks because they capture an era when Billy was at his very best. Some American reviewers wish their DVD version had "River of Dreams", so the answer is to import it from Australia.
I'm tempted to buy the American DVD as well but seems like a bit of overlapping just to get 6 videos not available on the Australian DVD. The real solution is for DVD producers to release one definitive DVD version including ALL tracks!
And I agree with many consumers, we want music clip videos on music DVD's not concert videos (leave concert videos for full concert DVD's). I refer to videos like "Piano Man" which has been replaced with concert footage. Urgh!
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The content of this Billy Joel collection is more than you can ask for in a decent music DVD. It has most of his hits like Uptown Girl, Piano Man, Its still rock and roll to me etc. The visuals might look jaded but that has to be the case as these songs are old and videos were shot during the 70s and 80s. This DVD is a must for Billy Joel fans.
Now, I must explain the "but" in review title.. those of you looking for his later videos like We didn't start the fire, River of dreams might be dissappointed. What really made me drop one star off the rating was the missing "Shes always a woman to me" song. That happens to be one of my favorite and I was a trifle irked to find it missing.
Now, I must explain the "but" in review title.. those of you looking for his later videos like We didn't start the fire, River of dreams might be dissappointed. What really made me drop one star off the rating was the missing "Shes always a woman to me" song. That happens to be one of my favorite and I was a trifle irked to find it missing.
In short, a good buy for a B.J fan as its got almost all his good songs.. mark the "almost".
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Having received a copy of Billy's "Greatest Hits Volume III - The Video" as a gift two years ago for Christmas 2000, I asked "Santa" for a copy of Billy's "The Essential Video Collection" as a gift for Christmas 2002--and I'm exceedingly glad that "Santa" gave me what I'd asked for! I've been pleased with "The Essential Video Collection" from the first time I watched it (Christmas-mid-morning).
The DVD is a great collection of original music videos, live concert performances and live studio performances from a legend of rock-n-roll, the "Piano Man".
Although I've never been a die-hard fan of Billy (I'm a true fan of his piano-partner, Elton, instead), at the time I got into the DVD format (April of 2000) there were more Billy discs than Elton discs available (but, thankfully, that's changed within the past two years); nevertheless, I do appreciate Billy's catalog of rock music.
Prior to experiencing "The Essential Video Collection", I had seen only a few of the orignal music videos on the compilation ('Pressure','Allentown','Tell Her About It','Uptown Girl'), none of the live concert footage and none of the live studio footage--so the DVD is a real treat!
The sound quality is up to par with DVD, yet the video quality varies from song selection to song selection, especially the studio footage from the mid-to-late '70s/early '80s and the original music videos from the early-to-mid '80s, while the live concert footage is passable.
Overall, this disc is a great Billy video release
Still, there is one little gripe I have about the disc compilation: three of the original music videos ('Keeping The Faith','A Matter Of Trust' and 'Baby Grand' w/Ray Charles) are repeated from 1997's "Greatest Hits Volume III - The Video" Since the same manufacturer (Sony/Columbia Music Video) produced and released the two titles, it's displeasingly surprising to me how such a content overlap could have occurred; I mean, come on, the supply of material from which Sony/Columbia had to compile this DVD couldn't have been so low that three other *different* original music videos and/or live concert/live studio performances of three other *different* songs couldn't have selected in place of the content overlap. Oh well, I suppose I will be thankful for the majority of the material that this DVD contains.
In terms of DVD features, I like the interactive discography and interactive biographical timeline; also I like the audio choice: PCM stereo (which I use) and DD suround sound. I don't really need fancy-shmancy things like subtitles, on-screen lyrics and different camera angles--pretty much a waste of disc space, if you ask me.
All in all, "The Essential Video Collection" is a solid representation of Billy Joel's indelible mark on the world of rock music--a mark that he could have further perpetuated had he not turned 'classical' with "Fantasies & Delusions" (2001).
In conclusion, "The Essential Video Collection" disc is a should-have, even for casual Billy fans, such as myself.
The DVD is a great collection of original music videos, live concert performances and live studio performances from a legend of rock-n-roll, the "Piano Man".
Although I've never been a die-hard fan of Billy (I'm a true fan of his piano-partner, Elton, instead), at the time I got into the DVD format (April of 2000) there were more Billy discs than Elton discs available (but, thankfully, that's changed within the past two years); nevertheless, I do appreciate Billy's catalog of rock music.
Prior to experiencing "The Essential Video Collection", I had seen only a few of the orignal music videos on the compilation ('Pressure','Allentown','Tell Her About It','Uptown Girl'), none of the live concert footage and none of the live studio footage--so the DVD is a real treat!
The sound quality is up to par with DVD, yet the video quality varies from song selection to song selection, especially the studio footage from the mid-to-late '70s/early '80s and the original music videos from the early-to-mid '80s, while the live concert footage is passable.
Overall, this disc is a great Billy video release
Still, there is one little gripe I have about the disc compilation: three of the original music videos ('Keeping The Faith','A Matter Of Trust' and 'Baby Grand' w/Ray Charles) are repeated from 1997's "Greatest Hits Volume III - The Video" Since the same manufacturer (Sony/Columbia Music Video) produced and released the two titles, it's displeasingly surprising to me how such a content overlap could have occurred; I mean, come on, the supply of material from which Sony/Columbia had to compile this DVD couldn't have been so low that three other *different* original music videos and/or live concert/live studio performances of three other *different* songs couldn't have selected in place of the content overlap. Oh well, I suppose I will be thankful for the majority of the material that this DVD contains.
In terms of DVD features, I like the interactive discography and interactive biographical timeline; also I like the audio choice: PCM stereo (which I use) and DD suround sound. I don't really need fancy-shmancy things like subtitles, on-screen lyrics and different camera angles--pretty much a waste of disc space, if you ask me.
All in all, "The Essential Video Collection" is a solid representation of Billy Joel's indelible mark on the world of rock music--a mark that he could have further perpetuated had he not turned 'classical' with "Fantasies & Delusions" (2001).
In conclusion, "The Essential Video Collection" disc is a should-have, even for casual Billy fans, such as myself.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
good music
I bought this DVD along with another DVD of Billy Joel's videos. He is so talented and makes it all look so easy. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jamie
Most videos are on it
Billy Joel - The Essential Video Collection is one hour and forty-four minutes and was released on DVD on November 20, 2001. Read more
Published on May 9, 2010 by Michael Patrick Boyd
Billy Joel
This DVD is great! It has all of your favorite Billy Joel songs/videos on it and it is very lengthy. The quality is great and I know for me it brought back alot of memories!
Published on September 8, 2009 by Tam K
Essential misses its mark by a hare.
I was very excited about this video album. I have the video collections volumes 1 + 2 on VHS. I thought this would be better because of the additions. Read more
Published on September 26, 2008 by D. A. Nicastro
Nice collection
I bought this as a gift for a Billy Joel fan and he loved it. I enjoyed it too. Lots of nostalgia in those old MTV videos.
Published on August 29, 2008 by onewisewoman
A must for the Billy Joel fan,a great DVD of essentail videos!!!
If your're a Billy Joel fan,then this DVD is awesome,great videos of Billy Joel's greatest hits(worth it for the classic "Keeping The Faith" video alone! Read more
Published on January 20, 2008 by Jason P. Pumphrey
I Want My MTV?
I was disappointed. It was like watching an MTV special video series on Billy Joel. I've owned it for years, but only watched it once. I'll probably sell it on FeeBay.
Published on January 6, 2008 by H. Brown
Brilliant Songs; Slapstick Video
This DVD has my most favorite Billy Joes songs. The songs I used to listen to endlessly as a teenager and those that have so much memories associated with. Read more
Published on September 9, 2005 by Ocean Dweller
ITS A ESSENTIAL VIDEO COLLECTIO YOU SHOULD HAVE
If you know Billy Joel work. You will like this DVD. Maybe could have better clear image but maybe is not possible. I recommend it.
Published on September 5, 2005 by weltall
Billy Joel Fans will enjoy these Videos!
I'm also a huge fan of Billy Joel (have all of his albums since I was a kid). I often tell friends, I have never been to New York, but listening to Billy takes me there! Read more
Published on April 9, 2005 by Jesse R
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