The Streisand Vaults : Rare & Unreleased Recordings
The Holy Grail for Barbra Streisand fans would be "The Streisand Vaults" where you would find all of her unreleased recordings! No such place exists, of course. One assumes that Columbia Records has an archive of all of Barbra's recordings over the years.
The list below is compiled from various sources, plus my own research. Excellent resources are The Barbra Streisand Scrapbook by Allison Waldman and Barbra, The Second Decade by Karen Swenson. On the web, visit Ultimate Barbra.
The Barbra Archives' list is in order by the year recorded.
For a comprehensive list of Barbra's officially released albums, singles (45rpm's), see The Barbra Streisand Music Guide. The singles are not included here, although some are very rare and collectible.
| Song/Album | Year | Notes... |
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| The MGM Audition | 1951 | At age 9, Barbra auditioned for MGM and sang "Have You Heard" (a song Joni James made famous) and "Allegheny Moon" (a Patti Page song). She sang in a glass recording booth. "I don't know what they thought of me, but obviously not too much since they never called me back," she reflected in the Just For The Record booklet. The recording remains unheard. Who knows if it even exists over fifty years later? |
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Nola Recording Studio Acetate
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1955 | At age 13, Barbra recorded "You'll Never Know" and "Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart" at Nola Recording Studios.
This was dramatized by Barbra for her Timeless concert. "You'll Never Know" appeared on Barbra's 1991 retrospective Just For The Record. "Zing!" remains unreleased, however, a short snippet of it has been traded among fans. Barbra wrote in 1991: "This scratchy acetate was the kind that would wear out after a couple of dozen plays. Mine sat on a shelf for twenty years before I put it on tape." |
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The Barry Dennen Tapes
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1961-1962 | In 1961 Barbra Streisand auditioned for an agent who was casting The Sound of Music tour (Barbra was up for the part of Liesl). She asked her friend Barry Dennen, who had an Ampex tape recorder, if he would tape her singing. Barry Dennen recorded Barbra (and guitarist Carl Esser) singing "Day By Day" (not the Godspell song!). Unfortunately, the audition tape was sent away to the agent and not copied.
Dennen recorded "A Taste of Honey" (with himself playing guitar) shortly after Barbra returned from Detroit - probably early April 1961. Dennen spoke at one of the Streisand Fan gatherings in the mid-90's and played the tape for stunned fans. Streisand fan Silvio Palmieri inquired about the Streisand tapes in 1999. Barry Dennen answered, via email, "I still have the tapes." |
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Fine Recording Inc. 10" Demo
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1961 | In 1961 Barbra recorded a 10" 45 rpm acetate demo at Fine Recording Inc., 118 West 57th Street, New York. On one side was "I Stayed Too Long at the Fair," and the flip side, "Come to the Supermarket (in Old Peking)", with piano accompaniment. There is also banter by the accompanist. | ||||
| The RCA Records Demo | 1962 | Marty Erlichman was trying to get Barbra a recording contract. Although his focus was on Columbia Records, he did try other companies like Capitol, Atlantic, and RCA. Barbra's RCA Records audition has surfaced in recent years. The original acetate was auctioned at Christie's in 2002. The demo is truly amazing - Barbra and piano (played by Marty Gold).
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Columbia Records Demo
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1962 | While rehearsing I Can Get It for You Wholesale, director Arthur Laurents did Barbra Streisand a favor. He put in a good word for her with Columbia Records President Goddard Lieberson, who Barbra's manager Marty Erlichman was already pursuing, and for whom Barbra had already had one audition. Marty Erlichman said, "This time he wanted to put her into a studio and record her. He wanted to hear how she sounded professionally taped. Part of the deal I made with him is that we'd get to keep those tapes. And we weren't gonna sit forever for his decision. We'd record on a Friday, and he'd get back to us on Monday. So we went up there - me, Barbra, and her accompanist, Peter Daniels." The audition was at Columbia's Studio B at 799 Seventh Avenue. Lieberson and record producer John Hammond attended. Four or five songs were recorded. The tapes have never appeared on any Streisand albums, nor have they circulated among fans. However, according to Marty Erlichman's comments above, they probably sit in Barbra's personal vault. |
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| BARBRA STREISAND LIVE AT THE BON SOIR! | 1962 | Barbra's "first" album, which was abandoned. MORE >> |
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| BASIN STREET EAST | 1963 | Barbra performed at Basin Street East from May 13 - June 1, 1963. There are bad-quality recordings of "Cry Me A River", "When the Sun Comes Out" and "My Honey's Lovin' Arms". Who knows? Maybe the whole show exists? |
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| LIVE AT THE HUNGRY i , San Francisco | 1963 | Barbra's nightclub performance. MORE >> | ||||
| Who Would Have Dreamed? | 1963 | Recorded but unreleased. This is probably the COLE PORTER song from his 1940 show, "Panama Hattie" |
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Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most |
1964 |
The original release of the SIMPLY STREISAND album contained a pamplet of Barbra's complete album listing on Columbia Records to date, showing album covers and listing every song on the albums. The striking black and white photo (left) was used on the cover of the pamplet. Included on that pamplet was the song "Willow Weep for Me" — which did not appear on the final album. It's possible someone made a mistake and listed the song in error. It is also possible Barbra recorded it, but did not include it on the final album. The words & music for "Willow" are by Ann Ronell (1932). LYRICS >> It is also rumored that Barbra recorded a studio version of "Spring". The only previous recording of it was live on the Tonight Show in 1963. |
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Federation for Jewish Philanthropies /Retarded Children's Sing-Along
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1964 | Barbra was filmed at New York's Edenwald school, which catered to retarded children. She introduced a woman who uses guitar "therapy" to work with the kids. The woman and children sing a short "folk" song, Love Somebody Next To You; Barbra then takes her turn and sings Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf to the children, accompanied by guitar. Then, Barbra sings a beautiful song never recorded by her before: Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child (the title is simply repeated over and over like an old spiritual song...) |
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| FUNNY GIRL Closing Night (Live) | 1965 | Dec. 26 at The Winter Garden Theatre; recorded live; Barbra breaks down during People. This is an audience recording and the quality is mediocre. However, Barbra utilized 2 tracks on JFTR. The sheer historic importance of this recording makes it so rare! | ||||
| AN EVENING WITH BARBRA STREISAND | 1966 | Barbra's abbreviated concert tour. Several recordings exist (Newport & JFK). MORE >> | ||||
| Festival of American Arts | 1966 | (June 12) U.S. Embassy, London: England. Songs performed: Where Am I Going?; Porgy & Bess Medley; People. Since it aired on the BBC, a recording of this definitely exists. If only it'd be released... More >> | ||||
| Hollywood Bowl Concert | 1967 | (July 9) "Marty the Martian" and "Natural Sounds" have circulated among fans. Columbia recorded the entire concert, however, which was performed a few days after Central Park. In fact, the "Value" monologue on the "Happening in Central Park" album is lifted from the Hollywood Bowl concert. It'd be nice to hear the entire concert! | ||||
| Happening in Central Park | 1967 | "More Than You Know", and "All the Things You Are" have found their way out of the vault. However, "Happening" was a two-hour concert. The special was less than an hour, as was the album. There's LOTS more that could be released that was recorded that night. MORE >> | ||||
| THE BELLE OF 14th STREET | 1967 | The soundtrack album was scrapped. "My Buddy/How About Me" was included on "The Way We Were" studio album. But it'd be nice to have a proper "Belle" soundtrack album -- just like "My Name is," "Color me," and "Musical Instruments." There is a BELLE demo disk which contains "Going South" and another unused John Bubbles song; 2 takes of "Put Your Arms Around Me Honey"; The Tempest incidental music and Barbra's medieval song; "Mother Macree" without the mixing of the two parts, and "Liebestraum". MORE >> |
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| Broadway For Peace | 1968 | Carnegie Hall, NY. Songs include: "So Pretty," "What About Today?", "Little Tin Soldier," "I'd Rather Be Blue". Barbra and Leonard Bernstein on piano! MORE >> | ||||
| Funny Girl (Alternate Movie Tracks) | 1968 | Alternate takes/vocals/lyrics on: My Man; You Are Woman/Man; Parade; Funny Girl; People; Sadie + Pink Velvet Jail (Sharif's cut solo song). | ||||
| Lost In Wonderland / Antigua | 1968 | Recorded but not released .... a version of Antonio Carlos Jobim's (who wrote Girl From Ipanema) song Antigua with English lyrics. Below is a page of Jobim's notebook in which he seemingly scribbled some notes about songs for Barbra. Antigua is one of them ... so is Chovendo na Roseira ("Double Rainbow"). Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra's names also appear in his notebook with song suggestions next to their names (Ana Luisa and Waters of March, respectively).
Claus Ogerman (Classical Barbra) worked often with Jobim during the late 1960s. It's possible he arranged this track. |
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| AN EVENING FOR JOHN LINDSAY | 1969 | (Oct. 11) Felt Forum. Barbra sings "Don't Rain on My Parade," "People," and "On a Clear Day." MORE >> | ||||
Live At The International Hotel, Las Vegas
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1969 |  Barbra and Chemstrand (her t.v. special sponsor) recorded this Vegas show during her engagement for a possible television special. It was never released, although Barbra recycled several songs taped at this concert on other people's shows (Wee Small Hours; Dolly Medley; Clear Day; Best Gift.) MORE >> |
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| Tonight I Will Bring You A Rose | 1969 | Recorded but not released | ||||
| Because | 1970 | Recorded but not released | ||||
| Broadway For Bella |
1970 | (Nov. 1) Felt Forum NYC. Songs: Somebody Come & Play (different arrangement than her Vegas show); I've Never Been A Woman Before; Don't Rain On My Parade; People; Let Me Go; Happy Days (* this is the only time Barbra's sang Happy Days as an uptempo song. After the intro she vibrantly sings it uptempo then returns to her easy-tempo version at the end.) An audience recording exists; doubt if Columbia recorded this one. |
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| He's A Runner |
1970 | Laura Nyro tune ("he's a runner and he'll run away ... woman ain't been born who can make him stay... ") * A music industry source tells me that Richard Perry says Barbra never recorded the track. Apparently, David Geffen brought the song to Barbra in the late 60's — again, my source tells me that Geffen says Barbra never recorded it. |
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| I Think Its Gonna Rain Today | 1970 | Recorded but unreleased. By Randy Newman. | ||||
| Live At The Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas |
1970 | Songs included: Somebody Come & Play; Happy Days/Oh Happy Day; Someone To Watch Over Me; Good Man Is Hard To Find/Some of These Days; I've Never Been A Woman Before; Let Me Go. MORE >> | ||||
| Living Without You |
1970 | Recorded not released. Randy Newman tune - it appeared on his 1968 Reprise album. |
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| ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER Alternate Soundtrack Recording | 1970 | Produced by Chappell Music and given out at industry functions prior to the film's release to publicize it. All of Barbra's songs feature either alternate vocals or different orchestrations (i.e. "On A Clear Day" has Barbra and a choir oohing and aahing behind her.) Contains cut songs: Wait 'Til We're 65; Who Is There Among Us Who Knows?; She Isn't You; Love With All The Trimmings (reprise). MORE >> | ||||
| Your Love's Return |
1970 | Recorded but unreleased. A Gordon Lighfoot song (Barbra recorded another Lightfoot song: If You Could Read My Mind). Lyrics: Roses are waiting for dewdrops to fall/ Climbing your windows and walls/ Leaves in the garden are falling calling / Listen to them talk about your love's return... | ||||
| Talk About Your Troubles | 1971 | Recorded but unreleased. | ||||
| THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT Soundtrack | 1971 | Has not been released on CD yet. | ||||
| ACLU - The Daniel Ellsberg Legal Defense Benefit | 1973 | (April 7) Columbia taped this concert in Beverly Hills. Songs: People; You're The Top; Long Ago & Far Away; Time After Time; I'll Get By; Don't Know Where I Stand. Barbra sang for almost 2 hours. There's more, and not all of it has been heard. Spada's book also lists the following songs: My Melancholy Baby, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (with Carl Reiner), and The Very Thought of You. Also, the late Michel Parenteau said Barbra sang a medley of Soon its Gonna Rain/Come Rain or Come Shine/Singin' in the Rain. You can hear Barbra on the bootleg say "we will do our rain medley, our show business rain medley..." However, the bootleg cuts off before the medley mentioned above is performed. It sure would be nice to hear an official release of this very special concert. |
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| An Sylvia |
1973 | or "Who is Sylvia" ... This song, a lieder for voice and piano by Franz Schubert, was most likely recorded for CLASSICAL BARBRA but unreleased. The lyrics, in German, are from William Shakespeare (Two Gentlemen of Verona) with the German translation done by Eduard von Bauernfeld | ||||
Auf Dem Wasser Zu Singen
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1973 | Another CLASSICAL BARBRA outtake. The album, by the way, was recorded three years before it was actually released in 1976. Barbra recorded a serious version of "Auf Dem Wasser Zu Singen". Previously, Barbra included a comedic version on her television special ...OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. |
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Other Musical Instruments (TV Special Soundtrack)
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1973 | The tv special differs from the Columbia soundtrack album. (1) "Look What You've Done To My Song" (with Ray Charles) not on album (2) "Sing/Make Your Own Kind Of Music" is different arrangement than FORUM album, and has never been released. MORE >> | ||||
| Do Me Wrong But Do Me |
1973 | Recorded but unreleased. | ||||
| La Revision |
1973 | Recorded but unreleased. | ||||
| Life Cycle Of A Woman | 1973 | Bergman & Legrand songs unreleased: Once You've Been In Love; Mother and Child; The Smile I Never Smiled. MORE >> | ||||
| Make The Man Love Me |
1973 | unreleased, sung at an early Dec. recording session. | ||||
| For Pete's Sake (Don't Let Him Down) | 1974 |
Unreleased title tune from movie. |
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| B u t t e r f l y Outtakes | ||||||
| Everything Must Change | 1975 | (Rehearsal) | ||||
| Funky Type Thang | 1975 | (Rehearsal) | ||||
| On Broadway | 1975 | (Rehearsal) | ||||
| You Light Up My Life | 1975 | (Rehearsal) "You light up my life like sunshine in the morning..." by Carole King. | ||||
| Better | 1975 | Ed Kleban song recorded during LAZY AFTERNOON sessions with Rupert Holmes. Listen to "Better":
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| I Love Making Love To You | 1977 | Recorded not released. | ||||
| Music Man | 1977 | Recorded not released. | ||||
| Nightmoves | 1977 | Recorded but never released. The same-titled song has appeared on a Shirley Bassey album. | ||||
| Shadow In The City |
1977 | Recorded not released. | ||||
| Till I Get It Right |
1977 | Recorded not released. | ||||
| Try To Win A Friend | 1977 | Recorded not released. Johnny Mathis recorded it on his 1972 Live album. It was also recorded in 1972 by The Carpenters. | ||||
| Looking Out For Number One | 1978 | Recorded but not released ... this is a Carole King song. | ||||
| I Am Alone Tonight |
1979 | Recorded but not released | ||||
| Rainbow Connection | 1979 | Recorded but unreleased ... Paul Williams wrote it for THE MUPPET MOVIE | ||||
| Something's Missing From My Life | 1979 | Recorded but unreleased. | ||||
| Tracks Of My Tears |
1979 | Recorded but unreleased. Song by Smokey Robinson. | ||||
| Understand Your Man |
1979 | Recorded but unreleased. | ||||
| ACLU - TRIBUTE TO ALAN AND MARILYN BERGMAN | 1980 | (June 1) Dorothy Chandler Pavilion L.A. Songs: WWW; After The Rain; Summer Me Winter Me; What Are You Doing The Rest; Way We Weren't; You Don't Bring Me Flowers (with N. Diamond). Barbra released "The Way We Weren't" on JFTR. MORE >> | ||||
Kansas City Lady Madonna |
1980 | Barry Gibb recorded Barbra singing these rock-and-roll classics during the GUILTY sessions. Since the concept for the album was Barbra singing Gibb songs, these two were dropped. | ||||
Y E N T L  |
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| YENTL Demo Recordings | 1982 | Features Barbra and Michel Legrand on piano, and M. Bergman performing Hadass. Includes some songs that did not make it into the movie: Several Sins A Day; The Moon & I. | ||||
| Choral/Synagogue music | Features Mandy Patinkin singing (Yes, Barbra did try to make use of his gorgeous singing voice!) | |||||
| Papa Can You Hear Me (studio version) | 1983 | Dave Grusin arranged "Papa" in a pop manner. Was not included on soundtrack album. | ||||
| Piece of Sky (studio version) | 1983 | Dave Grusin arranged the YENTL finale in a pop manner. Was not included on soundtrack album. | ||||
| How Do You Keep The Music Playing? | 1984 | from the EMOTION sessions. A Bergman tune. Unused. (Barbra recorded a new version for THE MOVIE ALBUM in 2003. ) | ||||
| When The Lovin' Goes Out of The Lovin' | 1984 | A Bobby Whiteside / Richard Parker tune from the EMOTION sessions. Unreleased (and gorgeous!) | ||||
| THE BROADWAY ALBUM | ||||||
| Being Good Isn't Good Enough | 1985 | Jule Styne (music); B. Comden A. Green (lyrics); Sid Ramin orchestrated. From 'Hallelujah Baby! Comden & Green submitted lyric suggestions for an update of one of the choruses. Barbra was not satisfied with the two new lyrics so the song was not included. | ||||
| Home | 1985 | Recorded but unreleased. From The Wiz. | ||||
| Shall We Dance?/Hello Young Lovers/I Have Dreamed/We Kiss In A Shadow/Something Wonderful | 1985 | P. Jabarra created a much longer medley of KING & I songs for THE BROADWAY ALBUM. "Shall We" and "Lovers" were uptempo/disco (and ultimately cut!) | ||||
| Show Me | 1985 | Recorded but unreleased. From My Fair Lady. | ||||
| Unusual Way | 1985 | Recorded but unreleased. From Nine. | ||||
| Send Home The Clowns | 1986 | From One Voice. Barbra performed this song with political lyrics supplied by M&A Bergman. |
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| NUTS Soundtrack | 1987 | out of print; goes for close to $100 on ebay | ||||
BACK TO BROADWAY
In 1988, Barbra began recording her follow-up to THE BROADWAY ALBUM. Rupert Holmes, who had worked with Barbra on the LAZY AFTERNOON album, arranged and conducted the sessions. Barbra abandoned the project and recorded TILL I LOVED YOU instead. The tracks remain unreleased. Only "Warm All Over" and "You'll Never Know" (not intended for BACK TO BROADWAY, but recorded during the same sessions) were released on JFTR. IMHO, the song selection for these abandoned sessions was MUCH better than what ended up on the 1993 album. See THE RUPERT HOLMES interview, in which Rupert speaks in depth about the session. MORE >>. Also see the BACK TO BROADWAY page >> |
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| A Funny Thing Happened On My Way To Love | 1988 | From I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE; Barbra recorded two versions. The long version has key change (Barbra likes her songs to have a key change!) and additional lyrics. | ||||
| All I Ask Of You | 1988 | From PHANTOM. The orchestral arrangement for this song gave them a lot of problems. Barbra recorded a completely different version/arrangement for TILL I LOVED YOU (using a David Foster/pop arrangement instead). | ||||
| How Are Things In Glocca Morra?/The Heather On The Hill | 1988 | From FINIAN'S RAINBOW / BRIGADOON. Simply gorgeous! Why this remains unreleased is anyone's guess. | ||||
| Make Our Garden Grow | 1988 | From CANDIDE. Barbra holds the last note to this song a la Piece of Sky -- amazing! | ||||
| Moonfall | 1988 | Rupert Holmes wrote this song for his own musical THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD. Another simply gorgeous track. | ||||
| On My Own | 1988 | from LES MISERABLES. Barbra only did a couple of takes. She did not sound very thrilled with this song. | ||||
| Warm All Over | 1988 | From MOST HAPPY FELLA. This song found its way onto JFTR in 1992. | ||||
| You'll Never Know (Duet) (Alternate) | 1988 | Barbra did several alternate takes and this eventually ended up on JFTR. | ||||
| Give Me Tonight |
1988 | Recorded but unreleased. | ||||
| Keeper Of The Flame |
1988 | Recorded but unreleased. | ||||
| Halfway Through The Night |
1989 | Recorded but unreleased. | ||||
| One Day (from THE EARTH DAY SPECIAL) | 1990 | Bergman/Legrand tune. Barbra appeared singing this song at the end of the special. Barbra also recorded a new version of Somewhere which opened the special. | ||||
| APLA COMMITMENT TO LIFE VI | 1992 | (Nov. 18) songs performed live: One Hand/One Heart (with Johnny Mathis); Somewhere | ||||
| AMERICAN REUNION: The 52nd Presidential Inaugural Gala |
1993 | (Jan. 19) USAir Arena, Landover, MD. Songs: Evergreen; Children Will Listen; God Bless America. ** At the dress rehearsal the previous evening it is reported that Barbra began with Some Enchanted Evening. | ||||
| The Concert | 1993-1994 | Since I Fell For You (12/31/93): Vegas You've Got To Be Carefully Taught/Children Will Listen. (Performed in London only)
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| Clinton Fundraiser | 1996 | Sep. 12...songs performed: WWW, Higher Ground, Somewhere, At The Same Time, God Bless America. | ||||
| It Doesn't Get Better Than This | 1996 | alternate song for MIRROR HAS TWO FACES; used during preview of film instead of I Finally Found Someone. | ||||
Other Recordings Pages:
Bon Soir Album | Back to Broadway | hungry i Album | Life Cycles of a Woman Album | Kismet Albums | Quadraphonic Albums
copyright © 2003-2008 Matt Howe
