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An "Essential" Purchase

My Taiwan edition of The Essential Barbra Streisand arrived today. I bought this baby on ebay and it cost the same amount as the American edition which I purchased years ago.

Why did I buy a CD I already have? Packaging. The Taiwan edition features the international cover of the CD which is WAY prettier than the U.S. version. As you can see below, the international cover image of Ms. Streisand is VERY flattering, whereas the U.S. one uses an unflattering pic from the late 70's, early 80's when she was sporting that hideous curly permed hair that was all the rage back then.

U.S. Cover	International Cover

I also bought this CD for more than just the cover (though the stunningly better image was compelling enough a reason for me). The Taiwan edition also comes with a huge fold out poster, a lyric sheet with full lyrics to all of the songs, and a lovely cardboard slipcase to house the folded poster and CD in (the folded lyric sheet actually fits inside the CD booklet). All this for the same price as the U.S. release!

It just reminds me once again of a universal truth that I have come to realize over the years. When an artist releases a new CD, especially a compilation, check the international editions out and compare them to the U.S. editions as they often times have more material or better packing and you can usually get them for about the same price.