A series of bootleg Streisand albums were released in 1984 and 1985 called "The Kismet Albums". There were 12 albums in total, all containing rare and unreleased Streisand songs, recording sessions, interviews, live appearances, tv shows, and more. They were produced by Karma Productions in Denver, Colorado. Karma also published the Barbra Now & Then magazine.
This was before the advent of compact discs. Vinyl records had two sides. Also, in the mid-80's, Streisand fans most likely did not have a VCR nor did they exchange video tapes of the rare television appearances — the Kismet records were probably the first time fans could hear these famous shows!
The first four album covers featured gorgeous full-color Streisand pictures. All the albums were stamped in gold: "For promotional use only. Not for sale." This didn't stop Columbia Records, of course, from suing them.
Many of the tracks on the Kismet Albums ended up on Barbra's "official" release, Just For the Record (JFTR).
"The Barbra Archives" thought it would be interesting to take a look back at these mid-80's albums. You can find some of these albums floating around on ebay today.
Memories Are Made of This - Kismet 1001 |
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Side 1
- The Burt Bacharach Special:
- One Less Bell to Answer
- Close to You *
- Be Aware
- Cryin' Time (from BS & Other Musical Instruments) *
Side 2
- The Way We Were #1
- The Way We Were #2
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Notes:
* included on JFTR.
Side 2 featured a recording session of Marvin Hamlisch & Barbra singing the two versions of "The Way We Were". Their kibitzing and different takes were included. |
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| Lookin' Back - Kismet 1002 |
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Side 1
- Ed Sullivan, Dec. 6, 1962
- My Coloring Book
-Lover, Come Back To Me
- Ed Sullivan, Sep. 28, 1969
-Hello Dolly Medley
- Ed Sullivan, Apr. 4, 1970
-On A Clear Day
Side 2
- Judy Garland Show *
-Be My Guest
-Happy Days/Get Happy
- Hooray for Love Medley
- Bewitched
- Down with Love
- No Business Like Show Business
- For Pete's Sake (Don't Let Him Down)
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Notes:
* included on JFTR; also available in full on DVD.
The 1969 & 1970 Ed Sullivan songs are from the International Hotel footage that Barbra filmed for a possible television special. "For Pete's Sake" has never been officially released as an audio track. |
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| Moments to Remember - Kismet 1003 |
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Side 1
- If I Close My Eyes *
- On A Clear Day
- Who Is There Among Us Who Knows? (J. Nicholson)
- Wait Till We're 65 (with L. Blyden)
- The Best Thing You've Ever Done (recording session)
- Funny Lady: Let's Hear It For Me (long introduction)
- Butterfly Rehearsals
-Everything Must Change
-Funky Type Thang
-On Broadway
Side 2
- Funny Girl 1968 N.Y. Movie Premiere
- Dinah Shore Show (1963)
-Cry Me A River
-Happy Days Are Here Again
-Brotherhood of Man
- AFI Salute to William Wyler (1976)
- Funny Girl 1968 L.A. Movie Premiere
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Notes:
* was officially released as a single. It's included on this Kismet album. A digital version was included on JFTR.
The "Best Thing" session includes Barbra's blow up in the recording booth when the sound on her earphones goes out ("Christ! These fucking phones! They're off! Dead!"). Next, the longer intro from FUNNY LADY. Then, three songs that were rehearsed for BUTTERFLY.
On Side 2, Mayor Lindsay interviews Barbra at the New York FUNNY GIRL premiere. Barbra's songs from the '63 Dinah Shore show are included; so is Barbra's short speech for the AFI Salute to FUNNY GIRL director William Wyler. |
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| Flashback - Kismet 1004 |
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Side 1
- The Promise
- Quiet Thing/There Won't Be Trumpets *
- PM East (1962)
-Right As the Rain
-Soon It's Gonna Rain
-I Stayed Too Long at the Fair
- Gary Moore (1962)
-When the Sun Comes Out
-Happy Days Are Here Again
Side 2
- Chemstrand Commercial
- You're the Top (from DOC) *
- Bob Hope Show (1963)
- America (I LOVE LIBERTY)
- British Film Industry Awards '83
- Carelessly Tossed (ALL NIGHT LONG)
- The Tonight Show (1961)
- What's My Line (1964)
- Belle of 14th Street:
-I Don't Care
-Put You Arms Around Me Honey
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Notes:
* included on JFTR.
"The Promise" is a Carole King song. The Chemstrand Commercial is a filmed commercial for "My Name Is Barbra". Barbra is in her FUNNY GIRL dressing room and addresses the camera directly. |
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| S-R-O - Kismet 1005 |
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Side 1
- Overture
- Any Place I Hang My Hat
- My Honey's Lovin' Arms
- I Hate Music
- I'll Tell the Man in the Street
- Cry Me A River
- Folk Monologue
Side 2
- Value
- Gotta Move
- Why Did I Chose You?
- Where Am I Going?
- Who Will Buy?
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Notes:
This album contains the first bootleg version of the 1966 Philadelphia JFK Stadium concert. Columbia recorded the concert, but it was unreleased ... until Kismet. The entire concert is not on this album. Three more tracks appear on Kismet's "Memory Lane" album. |
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| Memory Lane - Kismet 1007 |
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Side 1
- NARC commercial
- Funny Lady Recording Sessions:
-How Lucky Can You Get
-Let's Hear It For Me (long intro)
- Funny Girl Alternates
-Funny Girl (title song)
-You Are Woman, I Am Man
Side 2
- Funny Girl Alternates
-Don't Rain on My Parade
-Pink Velvet Jail (Omar Sharif)
-People
-Sadie, Sadie
- Pennsylvania 1966 JFK Stadium
-When the Sun Comes Out
-I Can See It
-He Touched Me
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Notes:
Audio of Barbra's National Association for Retarded Children commercial is on this Kismet album. Three more songs from the 1966 JFK Stadium concert finish the album. |
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| After Hours - Kismet 1012 |
* special thanks to Adam Zapora for the track listings |
NMT = No More Tears (Enough is Enough)
TME = The Main Event
1 NMT first part a cappella
2 NMT second part a cappella
3 NMT ("this is another track right?") smooth version 8'40"
4 NMT a cappella third part + piano ("shit" barbra says)
5 NMT with gentle intro
6 NMT more disco rhythms instrumental
7 NMT intro rehearsals
8 NMT disco part
9 TME rehearsals take 1
10 TME/F take 2
11 TME/F
12 TME/F
13 NMT - Donna amusing Barbra
14 NMT- another joking take
1 5NMT - Bruce Roberts and Paul Jabarra as Barbra and Donna
16 NMT extra disco version
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| Beginnings - Kismet 1010 |
* special thanks to Adam Zapora for the track listings |
The Tonight Show 2/1/63
1 A sleepin’ bee
2 Interview
The Tonight Show 10/4/62
3 Interview Are You kooky?
4 Interview-What is a railroad flat?
5 Right as the rain/Interview
The Tonight Show 11/2/62:
6 Interview
7 Happy days
8 Interview
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| Good Times - Kismet 1013 |
* special thanks to Adam Zapora for the track listings |
- Christmas Seals radio show 1964 (Barbra talking between songs:)
-When The Sun Comes Out
-Don't Rain on my parade
-My coloring book
-People
- The Jack Paar Tonight Show 5/22/61:
-Much more
-Interview
- Hungry i 1963:
-monologue
-Soon it's gonna rain
-Happy Days
- Hollywood Bowl 1967:
-Natural Sounds
-Marty The Martian
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| Lost In Time - Kismet 1009 |
* special thanks to Adam Zapora for the track listings |
- I can get it for you.. interview
- Zing went the strings
- radio call to MG Kelly (Bebe Jesus in ASIB)
- Evergreen spanish
- Evergreen french
- Evergreen italian
- Et la mer
- Les enfants qui pleurent
- No More Tears recording session excerpt
- The Bob Hope Show 1963
-Jimmy the Crackhorn
-Any place I hang my hat
-Gotta move
- Yentl piano sessions:
-The Moon and I
-Several sins a day
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| Magic Moments - Kismet 1008 |
* special thanks to Adam Zapora for the track listings |
- A Star is Born recording sessions
- 6 takes of Woman in the Moon
- Hungry i 1963:
-Any place I hang my hat
-Keepin' out of mischief
-My honeys loving arms
-Right as the rain
-When the sun comes out
-Who's afraid of the big bad wolf
-Down with love
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| On Broadway- Kismet 1016 |
* special thanks to Adam Zapora for the track listings |
- Butterfly rehearsals:
-You light up my life (Promise)
-Funky type thang
-On Broadway
-Everything must change
- My heart belongs to me/a cappella
- Superman - a cappella
- Burt Bacharach show - One less bell to answer
- FL - How lucky can u get - single version
- FL recording session - How lucky can u get
- FL recording session - Let's hear i for me / my life on the stage
- All night long - Carelessly tossed
- A Happening in CP - All the things you are
- The Oscars - Evergreen
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