Customer Reviews

Barbra Streisand Album

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The cover actually is the cover to Barbra Streisand's first album, recorded at the Bon Soir. The photo was taken there. But the album inside was actually the second album, recorded in the studio, and released as the first album. Overnight the entertainment world changed. Everyone knew the greatest star of the second half of the century had arrived. She has a voice and style unlike any other, highly original and impeccable choice of music and she clearly was a perfectionist (actually she's said since she'd love to record the album again and get it right). A brilliant tour de force, gorgeous and moving and funny and startling, bristling with a talent so bright and so shining you'd think she never could top this premiere effort. The fact she has topped it again and again and again and again is an astounding as this astounding achievement.

Nothing here needs to be said about Barbra's voice everyone knows its one of the most astounding instruments in the world. Whats unique about this CD is that a: its her debut and b: its one of the few times in her career when Barbra didnt attempt to micromanage every aspect of the recording process. As she would later do with Guilty, Barbra simply sings the songs and allows the music to work with her instead of dominating the music. Its thrilling and refreshing all at once. There are a few kooky cuts like Peking, and Wolf, but even those are merely part of the Streisand mystique. Besides her absolutely melting versions of songs like "soon its gonna rain" and "sleepin bee" more than forgive a little kookiness here and there. this album is a piece of musical history not to be ignored

I find it sad, reading the reviews on line of Barbra's albums that many of her fans find it necessary to divide themselves into camps: "60's Barbra fans" "Pop Barbra" "Rock Barbra" etc. I can listen to this and then jump to The Broadway Album (not a huge leap), spin some tracks off Emotion or Till I Loved You or Guilty. The voice is the thing with Streisand. This insane voice, which at this early stage was so powerful and pure, with that magnificent Broadway soprano on top. People complain of this album at the whimsical "Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" but what I think this shows - along with Come to the Supermaket and Adelaid's Lament off The Broadway Album is that Barbra is the finest ever (bar none) singer of comedy songs. That she pulls off the juxtaposition with the melting "A Sleeping Bee" and "Soon It's Gonna Rain" and the tortured "Cry Me A River" is testament to her artistry. Truly a fully formed singing actress at the age of 20. Breathtaking. The last in the royal line of great singers of the 20th Century - Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Bing Crosby, Doris Day, Dean Martin (yes, I do include him on this list - just listen to his SLEEP WARM album!), Sarah Vaughan, Tony Bennett, and a few others from before but none since Barbra can seriously be added to the list.

Barbra Streisand's brilliance is apparent from the very first note of her sensational solo debut album, which quickly hit the Top Ten and was certified Gold mere weeks after its release. The raucous-yet-intimate vocal performances contained on this album were considered nothing less than revolutionary when first released in 1963, and are still just as stunning today. This is a recording where all of the elements work together flawlessly to create a work of art that is genuinely breathtaking. Particularly amazing are Peter Matz's stunning and inventive arrangements, which provide a spectacular aural landscape without ever becoming intrusive or interfering with Streisand's virtuoso singing.

This album perfectly displays Streisand's gift of beautifully merging well-known classics with lost gems and forgotten standards, as well as her ability to make nearly any song her own. The HOUSE OF FLOWERS ballad "A Sleeping Bee," the pleading "Much More" (from The FANTASTICS), and the ultimate torch song, "Cry Me a River," had all been recorded by many others, although Streisand performs the definitive rendition of each and far surpasses all previous versions. The song selection is an odd assortment of varying styles and tempos, yet everything gels into a satisfying whole. It's no small miracle that the rambunctiousness of "My Honey's Loving Arms" and "Keeping Out of Mischief" would work so well when played next to such gorgeous and sophisticated ballads.

The contrasting styles weave a marvelous tapestry, in addition to providing a showcase for the amazing spectrum of Streisand interpretive skills. It's positively astounding that the same woman who can perform such devilishly hilarious readings of "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf" and "Come to the Supermarket (in Old Peking)" could also deliver such aching, spine-tingling performances on the wistful "I'll Tell the Man in the Street," the haunting "A Taste of Honey," and the painfully beautiful "Soon It's Gonna Rain." With an album this stunning, it's completely pointless to look for highlights, however, no review of this album would be complete without giving special attention to Streisand's immortal, radically-revamped version of the Depression-era standard "Happy Days are Here Again" - which is still arguably her best-loved signature song.

One of the most important and influential recordings in the history of recorded sound, the album was the first major success of Streisand's multifaceted career, becoming one of the best selling albums of the year and winning the 1964 Grammy awards for "Album of the Year" and "Best Female Vocal Performance." For once, such prestige was greatly deserved. Streisand has continued recording many classic albums, yet she has rarely (if ever) done anything that has approached the quality of her first release. A very important milestone in American music.

I am a twelve year old barbra streisand fan, and this is actually my fifth album in my collection. I adore this CD, because that songs are full of life, and very catchy. My favorites are My Honey's Loving Arms, and Come to the Supermarket(in old peking). Youy won't regret it if you purchase this album. Vanessa

In the early 1960's, a young woman with a great big voice began plying her musical talents in small but important cabaret venues like the Bon Soir and the Blue Angel. Barbra Joan Streisand was her name. Her raw, firebrand vocal delivery soon won her a legion of fans, and it wasn't long until composer Harold Rome recommended her for the featured role of Miss Marmelstein in his 1962 Broadway musical I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE (as well as his PINS AND NEEDLES revival that same year). Just two years later, Streisand won the role of Fanny Brice in FUNNY GIRL, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Here on her very first album, Streisand performs the bulk of her best cabaret material. Her voice is full of youthful promise, a brash firebrand style which instantly appeals. In later years, Streisand would refine her voice into one of a sleek, almost glacial beauty; but there is still a lot to admire in Streisand's vocals here. Pieces like "Come to the Supermarket (In Old Peking)" and "Soon It's Gonna Rain" are fantastic numbers that she absolutely goes to town with.

She soared to the top of the charts with "Happy Days are Here Again"; and singlehandedly revived interest in the forgotten Broadway musical HOUSE OF FLOWERS with her cover of "A Sleepin' Bee".

Musical director Peter Matz provided arrangements which suited Streisand's still-evolving voice perfectly, and would subsequently guide her through many more albums. Her brash, unkempt personality shines through beautifully on this recording, and newer fans who aren't terribly familiar with Streisand's pre-FUNNY GIRL material should seek the album out.

[Columbia CK 57374]

Barbra Streisand was at her best in the 1960's with raw and pure talent. I recommend this album if one wishes to start a definitive Streisand collection. Her renditions of "The Man in the Street" and "A Taste of Honey" are simply exquisite. And of course her re-invention of "Happy Days are Here Again" is a joyous classic. This album is based on the songs she performed in the Village nightclubs, and the listener can truly appreciate the potential star that would emerge.

I love this album as Barbra's "first" - well big first with Columbia, anyway, though I adore the songs on her Third Album more - they convey the absolute musicality of her voice.

As the reviewer below said, this was meant to be a live album, and was recorded (minus about 3 songs including Big Bad Wolf) at the Bon Soir. However, for whatever reason, the recording wasn't deemed good enough. Happily, at least some of that Bon Soir recording IS available - on the 1992 release ' Highlights from barbra Streisand: Just For The Record", including my two very favourites: Cry me A River and A Sleepin' Bee.

I can remember hearing a song from the Second Album, when I was 18. I didn't like it! This person sounded so different, unlike anyone I had ever heard before. After radio stations here in Australia began playing more and more of her songs, I was warming to the wonderful sound of her voice. So I bought The Barbra Streisand Album (on vinyl). I still have it! Now I have all but two of her cd's, and this was the start. For me it is one of the best for it's content, its arrangements, and the sheer class of the lady herself. I particularly like "A Taste of Honey", and "Happys days are here again" Start with this one, and you too will soon want all the others!

If you own the box-set and think you've heard much of this material elsewhere, look again because there are some hidden gems on this Streisand outing that are lovely to hear: "Much More", "A Taste Of Honey", "Soon it's Gonna Rain", and the frisky, comical "Come to the Supermarket in Old Peking" still sound fresh, even today. Songs that haven't been overexposed and will be a welcome addition to a Streisand-fan's world. Her debut album, and man she does set the melodrama-meter on high! Crazy romance and self-effacing nuttiness combine to make this a slick, memorable package.