Barbra’s thirty-fourth album, Partners, is not only brilliantly and cohesively produced by Babyface and Walter Afanasieff, but the pairings or rather “partners” on this record are superb! From Michael Bublé, John Mayer, John Legend and even her own son, Jason Gould, the album shimmers and confirms that even at 72, Streisand’s voice is still stellar! Definite highlights include: “It Had To Be You” (Bublé) “Come Rain or Come Shine (Mayer) “Evergreen” (Babyface) “The Way We Were” (Richie) and, of course, “How Deep is the Ocean” (Gould). This album proves what we have known about Barbra Streisand from the word Go: she is a musical genius.
Streisand’s appearance on Tonight Show last night was a truly “Must See TV.” From her charming medley with Jimmy Fallon, who filled in for Elvis, Blake Shelton, and Michael Bublé was not only delightful but so cute to watch. It is so obvious that Fallon is a Streisand fanboy, he even let her sit behind the host desk.
So if you’ve been reading any of my posts from 2012 you know, or should know by now, that I love all things STREISAND related. Next week, the legendary Streisand releases a brand new album entitled Partners, featuring 12 new recordings featuring the greatest male vocalists! By male vocalists I mean Josh Groban, John Mayer, John Legend, Lionel Richie, et al. Also she’s getting her own Sirius XM channel starting at 5pm this evening and running, for a special limited engagement, until October 10th!
Featured on Sirius Channel 69 “Escape,” Streisand’ s show will include a Town Hall that was recorded on Wednesday in New York City. A handful of lucky fans got to be in the same room with the legendary vocalist – Lucky devils! Color me completely jealous! That will air on Sunday, September 14th 12:00pm.
Columbia has lined up a complete slew of appearances to plug the new album, and it’s #1 on Amazon! Go BARBRA! For a complete list of her appearances you can visit my favorite site barbra-archives.com
Okay, that is enough Babs for today. I will be posting my full review of her album, Partners when it debuts next Tuesday!
Blogging and New Media
I just saw on Mashable that Facebook is taking cues from Snapchat and may be experimenting with “Disappearing Posts.” For anyone who uses the Snapchat app, we are all familiar with the 10 second window in which to see someone’s picture or video. Now according to writer, Adario Strange, that same feature may be coming to Facebook. You can read the article here. Apparently Facebook is running a small pilot program for a feature that “lets people schedule deletion of their posts in advance” (according to a Facebook spokesman). I’m not sure I’d be too keen on seeing my own posts expire or be deleted, but I wouldn’t mind seeing annoying posts disappear off my own newsfeed.
To be honest, I wish Facebook would just poll users and ask them what they would like to see happen with Facebook. What sort of integration would users like to see?! How would users improve the messenger app for iOS. Oh! Speaking of the messenger App, what exactly is Facebook planning for its iOS apps with the new iPhone 6 and iOS 8 due out soon?! Hmmm, that may be something to watch.
By the way, the Escape channel on Sirius XM is nothing but glorified elevator music, if you’re into that sort of thing.
Barbra: Back To Brooklyn
Barbra Streisand (Columbia, 2013) Audio CD
***** 5 stars
promotional image from germany, for “Back To Brooklyn”
I wrote this in a rush. Please excuse grammar errors, they are unintentional.
I remember seeing her on October 11, 2012 – it was a night I will never soon forget. Barbra was truly and utterly sublime. The audio recording is a marvel, the sound is fantastic. The orchestra sounds so lush and Streisand’s voice is front and center! Was she really 70 years old last fall?! Her voice remains beautifully intact after five decades of dazzling millions worldwide. There isn’t a single track on the CD that warrants skipping, honestly it’s Barbra, why would anyone skip over a song she sings.
The album opens with what has to be the greatest comeback song ever written, it is of course, “As If We Never Said Goodbye” from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, Sunset Boulevard. Streisand used it almost 20 years ago to open her triumph New Years Eve concert at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 1993/94. Here, the song gets retooled with new lyrics to commemorate Barbra’s return to her hometown. Funny, poignant and moving, the crowd roars its approval when she reaches that immortal line, “I’ve come home at last” – simply amazing!
“The Way He Makes Me Feel” from Yentl, is one of the songs that Barbra has never performed live in concert! Now that the film has celebrated its 30th anniversary, the song is all the more special. Barbra’s voice sparkles here and it’s amazing to me how wonderful she sounds.
“Didn’t We” is a song Barbra sang live in 1972 for the McGovern fundraiser and her earlier version can of course be found on Live Concert at the Forum. I loved this when I heard it at the concert, Barbra’s voice is strong and the reverb on the big chord near the end is fantastic! I saw video footage from Phildelphia (10/8/12) and she talks about that back in 2006, she and music director, William Ross, tried to do the song but it didn’t work. I’m glad Barbra decided to try it out again, it’s wonderful!
“The Way We Were/Through the Eyes of Love” needs no introduction, her tribute to her dear and late friend, Marvin Hamlisch is so emotional. Listen to it! If you don’t get even a little misty-eyed then you have no soul.
“Rose’s Turn/Some People/Don’t Rain on My Parade” – The Styne medley is a killer, and possibly the best track on the album. Seriously, I repeated it like four times. Her shout at the end, “You bet your ass, Papa” is the best – it’s a remarkable statement to Streisand’s naysayers who frequently shout that she’s too old (or she can’t sing anymore) to play the role of Mama Rose in Styne and Sondheim’s Gypsy. Although it’s a missed opportunity, she could have tackled “Rose’s Turn” and ended the concert’s first act with a big bang. Nevertheless, it’s a showstopper as only Barbra can deliver!
“You’re The Top” is definitely from the second night (10/13) as during Thursday night’s performance, the song seemed clunky and out of place. It’s been polished and rehearsed, again with special lyrics dedicated to all things Brooklyn. Barbra really seems to have fun with it, so does the audience.
“What’ll I Do/My Funny Valentine and Lost Inside of You”
Despite the fact that I am thankful Chris Botti’s solos were cut from the audio CD, his duets with Barbra are wonderful and his trumpet playing is a great compliment to her voice. I also love the arrangements of these pieces. The high note near the end of “Lost Inside of You” gets a great reaction from the audience.
“How Deep is the Ocean”
Jason Gould has a beautiful voice. Obviously, he has inherited his mother’s gift of singing. The mother and son duet is beautiful! Don’t take my word for it, give it a listen.
“People”
How many version of this song has she performed live?! Not that it matters, this one is just as beautiful as any of the others!
“Make Our Garden Grow”
This is the big finale and Barbra delivers her money-note at the end with great gusto! This is identical to the arrangement Rupert Holmes did in 1988 for the abandoned Back To Broadway sessions. It’s funny too, IL Volo also sings but their duet with Barbra on “Smile” isn’t included. The end of truncated as the tail end of “Somewhere” is left off, which was heard during the concert. I love this song from Candide, and I can only hope that the studio version of it recorded in 1988 will come out soon!
The Voice: I just read a recent review front the New York Daily News, in which Jim Farber writes, “…her lower notes have a phlegmier texture. When she wants to belt, she turns hoarse before chopping the note down to a length she can sustain. That means bravura numbers, like “Don’t Rain on My Parade” or a rare “Rose’s Turn” from “Gypsy,” have to borrow some of their drama from acting rather than vocal chops.” I will admit, Barbra’s voice has lowered since her last live concert tour in 2006. No, she doesn’t sound like she did 20 years, even 30 years ago – but who would expect her to? The woman is 71 years old. Yes Mr. Farber is entitled to his opinion; however, I think he’s being a bit unfair – obviously he forgets that the voice is also part of the body, it ages too. Barbra is well aware of her narrowing vocal range, but does that stop her?! No. The concert tour was still SOLD OUT. Age has unfortunately taken some of her higher register; however, her middle range is lush and intact. On such gems like, “The Way He Makes Me Feel” you can hardly tell that her voice has aged at all.
Verdict: Barbra is in fine form on the album, I am stunned that she is 71 years old.. truly! This definitely deserves repeated playing. The mastering is great, there’s a real improvement in this CD than the two disc 2006 outing. Too bad we don’t get any extras (read: bonus tracks) like “On A Clear Day” which was used as an opener later in the tour and there are other varied songs that Barbra performed elsewhere but not in Brooklyn.
Even if the government is still shutdown and democrats and GOP members continue to squabble about the country’s debt, Obamacare, workers being furloughed, etc I find solace in music and music news. Here are a few things I’ve been thinking about over the past week.
Despite the strong returns (100% ticket sales) on Barbra’s 2012 North American tour, I find it troubling, if not perplexing, that Back to Brooklyn has only been touted to be a one disc affair (versus two, like her three previous concerts) from Streisand’s long-time label, Columbia Records. Given that CD sales have slouched in favor of the more the digital iTunes, and other digital media outlets, is this just a sign of the times or is Columbia losing faith in Streisand as a record selling artist, deciding instead to devote more money to its younger, more hip artists and record buyers?
Can Barbra Streisand still sell records?
Instead of a exclusive deal with QVC, PBS is broadcasting the concert for their fall festival this year. The concert will air next month (for the Winter membership drive) hopefully with extra footage from other concert dates or her summer tour in Europe. The official Press Release from PBS is found here I will not even touch on the subject of the cover art for Brooklyn which has divided fans, some love and others find it cheap, almost fan made – a departure from the usual meticulously planned cover art that Streisand herself usually supervises.
Cover Art for Barbra’s new live album and DVD “Back To Brooklyn”
Given that Barbra has been with the same record company for her entire career, I feel like there was a missed opportunity to celebrate her golden anniversary with a major promotional product push in 2012 (i.e. the fabled 12 disc set that has been rumored about for a while now). In 1991 to celebrate her 30th anniversary, Columbia Records released Just For The Record, a four disc compendium of Barbra’s recording history, featuring rare and unreleased tracks. However, according to Barbra-archives.com, the set was originally mentioned in 1983, it was finally released in 1991. Granted Release Me, last year’s release before her concert tour was a nice compilation of unreleased material from Streisand’s vault, I still think it was a missed chance to do something BIG to keep Barbra Streisand in the forefront of the record buying public.
With speculation of Barbra doing Gypsy having cooled, and the disappointment at the box office with The Guilt Trip, I guess I just worry about Barbra’s staying power as she makes her way into her 70s.
Apparently, she is still working on the Duets album with Walter Afanasieff and Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds; however, it is anyones guess when that project is being released, possibly early next year?!
Just today, Mary J. Blige and producer David Foster released A Mary Christmas, MJB’s first full length Christmas recording. The album includes a marvelous duet with Barbra Streisand on “When You Wish Upon a Star” and features Chris Botti on trumpet. Fans of Streisand, on the Barbra Streisand forum, were at odds with whether Streisand’s vocals were new or old. Listening to the album and the track itself, they were decidedly NEW and is well worth buying the entire album – which, I might add, is fantastic.
There are thirty-four days until Back To Brooklyn hits record stores and online.
Last year on October 11, 2012, I was in New York almost 16 years after my first visit. 10/11/12 was a very special for me because at age 24, I was finally seeing BARBRA STREISAND live in concert. After more than 20 years of wishing and waiting, I got to see a entertainment legend on stage! Some may think it silly to mark the occasion, but I cannot help myself. It seems appropriate to do so on my blog, after all I did blog about how I desperately wanted tickets to see her perform.
I have preordered her CD and Deluxe CD/DVD combo of Back to Brooklyn, which is due to be released from Columbia Records on November 19th!
Since the concert was 10/11/12, I truly think the record company could have just gone ahead and prepared the concert DVD for release on 11/12/13!
I miss Brooklyn, I think it is high time I visit again.
I love finding out when musical artists that I adore are readying new albums. A favorite british music group of mine, Pet Shop Boys, will be releasing a brand new album in June, entitled, Electric and it’s being produced by Stuart Price. Now. I am tickled pink by this news. I love PSB, I have for years. Ever since I heard their two collaborations with Liza Minnelli and the late Dusty Springfield Results (1989) and Reputation (1990) I have loved, loved, loved PSB. Stuart Price is another musical genius that I just love, his work on Madonna’s 2005 album, Confessions on a Dance Floor was nothing short of spectacular. Price has worked with all sorts of artists: Kylie Minogue, Scissor Sisters, The Killers, et al.
But, I had an idea.
Since Stuart Price is producing the new Pet Shop Boys album, Electric, for their new record label. You know, I think Barbra Streisand needs a new POP album. A strongly produced project that has a ballad/dance theme to it. Stuart Price would be an excellent choice. I’ve loved his production values since he did Madonna’s wonderful Confessions On A Dance Floor in 2005. I think Barbra deserves new “earworms” that she can attach her signature voice to. After her two pop albums in the 1980s: Emotion (1984) and Til I Loved You (1988) both of which were marred with mediocre writing and too many producers, I think the best way to commemorate her 50th Anniversary with Columbia is a with a great album of new material.
I commend Columbia for the duets project, which is still ongoing; however, I think Tony Bennett effectively exhausted the “duets” idea with 3 albums worth of them for record label. Will the music buying public be willing to hear Barbra sing duets? Guess time will tell.
If MADONNA can still do dance oriented albums in her mid-fifties, why couldn’t Barbra revisit her disco days?
Since I got my Ford Focus SE after graduation, I have been finding all sorts of excuses to drive it all over the town I live in. Tomorrow, I’m going to Nashville to do some tech consulting for a medical corp. I work part-time for. I just really enjoy driving my car. It fits me and I like the way it feels on the road. When I used to drive my ’92 Jeep Cherokee, I was so afraid the vehicle would fall apart, or worse, not be able to make it on or off the interstate. These days, I’m content in the knowledge that my car can play CDs, my iPod, and even has airbags. My jeep didn’t have airbags at all. I guess its the little things we take for granted, but I am quite thankful and grateful that I have a new car to drive around in. Speaking of driving, apparently the Washington Post did a guide of the 10 worst cities for drivers. I’m glad I have audiobooks and music on my iPod to keep me company during traffic snarls.
Last night, I attempted to post a review of the 2013 remaster of Barbra Streisand’s 1976 album, Classical Barbra. Unfortunately, WordPress had other ideas and decided not to allow me to post it. So without further ado here is my review:
Due out tomorrow, is the 2013 remaster of Barbra Streisand’s 1976 album Classical Barbra from Masterworks, the classical/broadway arm of Sony Music Entertainment. While managing to go GOLD in 1999, Barbra’s foray into Classical music is to some an enlightening experience, while others have been seemingly mislead by the album title. I read the review of one lady on Amazon.com who posted, “Listened to this one probably once, I guess I just like pop music, because this stuff really strained my patience!” Classical music isn’t meant to enjoyed by the impatient. No. Classical music is meant to be enjoyed with a glass of wine, and thats exactly how I intended to treat this new remaster of an already classic recording. However, I was dismayed when I heard very audible hiss emit from my speakers, as the opening bars of Debussy’s “Beau Soir” met ears. I’m stunned at the album’s reissue producer, David Foil. The original album recorded during in 1973 with The Columbia Symphony Orchestra with arrangements and conducting by Claus Ogerman, is a lovely adventure into the realm of classical music by Streisand. Tracks such as “Beau Soir,” “Apres Un Reve” and “In trutina” from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana are favorite tracks of mine. Since I have both the Lp and original compact disc edition of album, I was excited about the prospect of a new remastered album. Apparently, Barbra Streisand’s renewed contract with Columbia Records includes at least two or three remastered albums in addition to new projects. However, I figured that with a remaster of a now 40 year old recording would be complete with cleaned audio tracks, yet it all sounds like a regular, every day, run-of-the-mill, tape to compact disc transfer complete with very audible hiss. I mean very audible hiss.
I thought with all the advancements we have in technology, a 40-year-old recording should be able to sound terrific. Right? Regardless of how it sounds, I personally love the recording, and applaud Streisand for her confidence in tackling such material. I find it funny that a sometimes artists who cross into different genres fall hard on their faces. For example when Renee Fleming released Dark Hope produced by David Kahne I was really quite excited and intrigued by the list of songs on the album; however, the album falls flat. Fleming’s voice is held back and kept in her lower register, while the arrangements are tepid and unremarkable. I enjoy the fact that Barbra’s classical debut is a straight, no frills album. It’s just Barbra and the music. Pity about the sound though..
Since Columbia released the vinyl edition of Release Me on September 25th, the company has posted other tracks on Soundcloud for all to hear. Finally, the album was released today, and I also got notification that QVC shipped my CD/DVD set. I love every track on the recording. Most fans have been dying to hear these unreleased gems for decades. After years of waiting and wishing, Barbra fans have them in three formats: CD, vinyl and digital download. The vinyl edition of the album took me by surprise for reasons: she said back in 1986, “I never want to hear vinyl again,” and Love Is The Answer Barbra’s 2009 offering had a double-Lp release that was super limited. I find it so intriguing that after not having a vinyl pressing of a Barbra Streisand for decades, her 2012 release of “unreleased” material gets released on Lp. Nice choice for Columbia to do that, or did Barbra Streisand change her tune on conventional records?
Here are my thoughts on my favorite tracks:
“Being Good Isn’t Good Enough,” an outtake from the 1985 Broadway Album sessions, opens the album with an anthem that seems to be perfect for Streisand – “being good isn’t good enough.” The song perfectly summarizes Streisand. Once labeled a perfectionist, the lyrics suit the ideal that being good just isn’t enough. In musical terms this is true, if Streisand heard a wrong note, or was unhappy with her vocal take, she would shelve a song or perhaps an entire session of work. The track was supposed to open the GRAMMY winning album; however, the business related “Putting it Together” by Stephen Sondheim with commentary on Streisand’s struggles in the music made the album.
“Didn’t We” is a classic Jimmy Webb song, which was featured during Streisand’s live concert at the Forum. Strangely enough, it didn’t have a studio version release. That injustice has been corrected. Streisand’s voice soars on the track and blows her live version from 1972 out of the water.
“Willow Weep For Me” recorded during the Simply Streisand sessions with Ray Ellis, in 1967, is beautiful, jazzy and smooth. The arrangement by Ellis is perfectly suited to Streisand’s early voice.
“How Are Things in Glocca Morra?/Heather on the Hill” – The medley of two classic Broadway songs, is from the 1988 Back to Broadway sessions with the brilliant Rupert Holmes, who had created the successful Mystery of Edwin Drood for Broadway in 1986. The wonderful thing about these sessions is they’re available on YouTube. The video footage of Barbra in full recording mode is fascinating, albeit dated. The process of recording the arrangement, tempo, orchestra and voice just right is so intriguing. Amazingly, Streisand makes it all look and sound effortless. The track on Release Me is just beautiful. Editorializing, I wish she had gone ahead with her Back to Broadway sessions in 1988, instead of what Columbia released in 1993.
“Mother And Child” is a duet between Barbra and herself in two roles: mother and child. The track is taken from a Michel Legrand (and Bergman) song cycle from the 1970s. The song is wonderful, almost something from Sesame Street like the classic “Sing” by Joe Raposo. I love the whole thing. When I was listening to the song, for some reason, I shed tears. I’m not sure why. Perhaps it was the lyrics? The Music? I don’t know. Subesquently listenings moved me to tears as well.
“Home” – from The Wiz was made famous by Diana Ross when she sang the song in the motion picture version of the musical. Streisand’s interpretation doesn’t offer anything new; however, she does add her signature styling to the song. The song was recorded initially for the The Broadway Album in 1985. Fortunately, the arrangement has been slightly updated to fully realize the potential of the song. Barbra is in her element on this song. She should include it on her new tour!
Yesterday, I received confirmation via email that my background check and drug test came back fine. I’m one step closer to securing my employment with Amazon. I cannot wait to get to work. I’ve been out of work for so long I’m craving the activity, the chance to make some money, meet new people and gain much needed work experience.
I’ve never been this thrilled before I’m over the moon.
I also heard that there is something else to be excited about too!
As most people know, 70 days from now I will be at The Barclay’s Center for Barbra Streisand’s opening night of her “Back to Brooklyn” concert. There is NEW Barbra news out! Columbia Records is due to release a 50th Anniversary commemorative box-set of rarities from the Streisand vault. An eight time GRAMMY winner, Streisand signed with Columbia records in October 1962, the set rumored to be titled Release Me, is due out some time next month, and will include her hits along with unreleased tracks. This isn’t the first time Columbia has honored the stars illustrious career. In 1992, a career retrospective box set entitled Just for the Record, celebrated Streisand’s 30 years with the record company, she also received the Grammy Legend award that year.
It will be a very active Fall for Barbra Streisand and her fans, as she is singing in October and her NEW film The Guilt Trip co-starring Seth Rogan opens on Christmas Day.
It’s been a while since I’ve posted, I know. Fortunately, I have made it through yet another semester of school. I was very concerned about my grades for the Spring 2012 semester, but I made it through with very respectable grades. I even passed Spanish 2010, the same class that gave me such terrible trouble last fall. There’s light at the end of the education tunnel, and I’m on track to graduate December of this year. I cannot wait. It’s been a long journey, and I’m itching to embark on other escapades that don’t include being stuck in the land of academia.
I’m looking forward to this summer. I’m taking two summer classes: Spanish 2020 and Poetry Writing (I need the writing class for to complete my minor) which I am actually excited about. Weird. I haven’t taken a summer class since 2007, and admittedly I should have been proactive on summer classes in the past, I might have graduated earlier than December 2012 – live and learn.
This summer is also perfect timing to get a job. I’ve not had a summer job since I graduated from Motlow this time two years ago. I actually want a job, and I’ve put out resume after resume. I even took a class this spring that helped me write a professional grade cover letter and resume (an employment package as my professor called it) but I can’t seem to get any call backs. I’ve put out tons of resumes. It’s so disheartening. I will keep going however, nothing is going to stop me.
Also this post wouldn’t be complete without a mention of BARBRA STREISAND. The entertainment grand dame recently celebrated her 70th birthday, and Columbia Records/SONY Entertainment announced that she will be making a return to New York on October 11, 2012, to take part in the opening of the new Barclays Arena, in her hometown of Brooklyn, NY. This news is a welcomed surprise to Streisand fans (like myself) who have eagerly awaited news regarding her film The Guilt Trip, and the any development on a big screen adaptation of Gypsy.
Tickets for this “one-off” concert range anywhere from $90 to $650 with a rumored $1500 available with presale codes offered on Wednesday morning. The presale starts this Saturday at 10a.m. EDT.
Streisand has toured in 1994, 2000, 2006 and now 2012. That’s 4 tours, 6 years apart. Streisand’s favorite (and lucky) number is 24. What is 4 x 6 = 24! It’s perfect.
I’ve never been able to see Streisand live. I was either not aware that she was touring, or the tickets were out of my price range. When she toured in 2006 and did a show in Atlanta, I desperately wanted to see her. I had recently graduated from high school and had started college. At the time, I thought the concert was the perfect belated graduation gift. Unfortunately I could not convince my parents to lend me the $750 + needed for a ticket.
However, here we are, six years later, and I’m due to graduate again – this time with my Bachelors degree. What could be more perfect: another graduation – yet another chance to see the greatest female recording artist on stage. I’m also 24 years old, Barbra’s lucky number!
I’ve prayed and prayed and prayed. I have friends who live in Brooklyn and would love to see New York again. I can just feel it – two tickets have my name on them, and come October 11, 2012 I will sitting amongst 18,998 of Barbra Streisand’s fans listening to her beautiful burnished voice.
"... for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts, and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life and rest in unvisited tombs."
Musings of an English Major 