Barbra Streisand's recording career spans over 40 years!
Here at The Barbra Archives, we'll examine a few facets of Barbra's recording career. For an in depth look at Barbra's officially released albums and singles, The Barbra Archives recommends http://www.bjsmusic.com.
- Streisand Super Hits CD 2007
- Streisand Live 2006 CD
- Guilty Pleasures (2005) CD
- Funny Lady Arista Soundtrack
- Streisand Vaults: Unreleased Songs
- The Broadway Album (unreleased songs)
- Bon Soir (unreleased LIVE album)
- hungry i (LIVE, unreleased album)
- Quadraphonic Albums
- Life Cycle of a Woman (abandoned album)
- Kismet Albums (80's bootlegs)
- Back To Broadway (abandoned sessions)
Recording Beginnings ...
Before Barbra Streisand signed with Columbia Records, she almost recorded songs for an album project — a collection of John Latouche songs. A protege of Latouche's managed to get Carol Channing and Jerry Orbach to sing some of the songs. Barbra was to sing three songs: "Takin' A Chance on Love", "It's the Going Home Together" and "Lazy Afternoon" (ultimately recorded by Barbra in 1975). Financing and legalities, however, prevented the album from being recorded.
The first time Barbra appeared on vinyl was when she recorded "Miss Marmelstein" and other songs that she sang in the Broadway show I Can Get It For You Wholesale.
Next, Wholesale composer Harold Rome asked Barbra to record a few songs in the 25th anniversary recording of Pins and Needles. Barbra sang "Doing the Reactionary", "Nobody Makes a Pass at Me", "What Good Is Love", and "Not Cricket to Picket". The album was released in May 1962, but Barbra still remained without a record contract.
Harold Arlen was singing her praises. Harold Rome and Arthur Laurents (I Can Get It for You Wholesale) wondered why she hadn't been signed by a record company yet. Barbra's manager, Marty Erlichman, was holding out for Columbia Records, though. Erlichman told Billboard Magazine: "One of the considerations I insisted upon when Barbra signed with Columbia was that we'd get an album within the first six months. The wording was that twenty sides, which meant two LP's, had to be recorded and released at six-month intervals that first year. I wanted to be sure that in the event she was dropped by the label she was first given every opportunity to succeed - our way, not theirs."
Barbra and Marty's wishes came true when, finally, after several auditions, Columbia Records President Goddard Lieberson signed Barbra to the label on October 1, 1962. Barbra Streisand has remained on the Columbia Records label ever since. Her recording legacy, to date, includes more than 60 albums ... 50 of them Gold and 30 Platinum.
Once upon a Fairy Tale: Four Favorite Stories
Twenty-one celebrities from Oprah Winfrey to Barbra Streisand to Robin Williams to Steven Spielberg share their short, unique takes on four traditional stories. A full-length audio CD, slipped into a pocket in the back of the book, is chock-full of bedtime stories read by celebrities, complete with delicate musical accompaniments.
Celebrities such as Barbra Streisand and Nicolas Cage speak as characters from the stories, each using a distinctive voice, which readers can hear on the accompanying CD or read on a single page.
Frank Sinatra Duets
Barbra sang "I've Got a Crush on You" with Sinatra, a track which was produced by David Foster and Phil Ramone.
Tony Bennett: An American Classic
Streisand and Bennett duet on "Smile".
The Normal Heart: The Broadway Benefit Recording
Released on Simon & Schuster Audio, the 2-disc recording featured Barbra's introduction the evening it was recorded (April 18, 1993) at the Roundabout Theater. Streisand was in the audience along with author Larry Kramer.
Baby, It's Cold Outside
This holiday 2005 CD, sold exclusively at Starbucks coffee shops, features the English version of Gounod's Ave Maria. The Latin version appeared on Barbra's first Christmas Album in 1967.
copyright © 2003-2008 Matt Howe
