The Essential Barbra Streisand [LIMITED EDITION] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Barbra Streisand

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 29, 2002)
• Original Release Date: January 29, 2002
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Limited Edition, Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005V3WH
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (120 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #785 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #4 in	Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Classic Vocalists
  #13 in	Music > Pop > Adult Contemporary > Contemporary
  #16 in	Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Musicals

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Barbra Streisand's bravado made her one of the 1960s' overnight sensations. This 40-cut compendium traces her recording career from early tracks that frequently relay her subtlety to often impressive accommodations with soft rock and still later vibrato-fests that find her taxing the limits of performer's ego and listeners' ears. The narrative is one of direct, sometimes showy, emotion giving way to empty displays of technique. By 1983's icky anthem "A Piece of Sky," Streisand has plowed under the light touches of "Lover, Come Back to Me" and the triumphal Central Park version of "Happy Days Are Here Again." Where she produced schlock masterworks when teamed with Neil Diamond ("You Don't Bring Me Flowers") and Donna Summer ("Enough Is Enough") in the '70s, a diva summit with Celine Dion led to the car wreck of 1997's "Tell Him." Essential wraps up with previously unreleased takes of "Someday My Prince Will Come" and "You'll Never Walk Alone." --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Barbra does it again..., February 7, 2002

By	Jean "drjaybee" (Massachusetts USA) - See all my reviews

Well, here it is. The life and times of Barbra Streisand. If you're a long time admirer like myself, you already have 38 of these 40 songs under other titles. Additionally, many have been released several times under "Greatest Hits Volume I, Volume II, Memory,...a Collection, and Just For The Record" titles. Literally, this is a compilation that spans 40 years of recordings from "A Sleepin' Bee, through movie soundtrack items such as "People", "On A Clear Day," "The Way We Were," through the disco era, namely "The Main Event," "No More Tears," and finally, Miss Streisand's return to her 'roots' with ballads like "Memory," "Somewhere," and "Send In The Clowns." While undoubtedly the talent of our lifetime, Miss Streisand is also a shrewd business woman. There are two previously unreleased songs on this 2 cd set ("Someday My Prince Will Come," and "You'll Never Walk Alone"), which make it a must-buy for the consummate Streisand fan (face it, she's had us hooked for years...). The digital re-mastering of many of the older recordings greatly enhances the over-all listening experience.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 40 Years, February 6, 2002

By	J. M. Zuurbier (Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

THE ESSENTIAL BARBRA STREISAND spans a 40 year career of one of the most talented voices in the industry. Finally there is a complete collection that spans her entire career without skimping on the songs. This 40 song collection includes some of her biggest hits. While listening to this, as a listener you can hear the many dimensions of Barbra Streisand. She did rock, she did adult contemporary, she did disco, she did broadway, the question remains, is there anything she didnt do? Streisand is one of the only artists to have a #1 album in each decade. Her voice brings songs alive with an emotion that is uncomparable, and a power that is chilling. The CD also features superstar duets, such as "I Finally Found Someone" with Bryan Adams, from the Mirror Has Two Faces, and "Tell Him", with Celine Dion. There is also extra tracks, "Someday My Price Will Come", and "You'll Never Walk Alone" (Live from the 2001 Emmy's). I think its safe to say there wasn't a dry eye in that place, or of the viewers watching that stirring performance. Overall, this is an excellent representation of a great career, and a must have for fans and people alike.

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essentially Marvelous, February 2, 2002

By	Matt Howe "outloud98" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

ESSENTIAL BARBRA STREISAND is a great product for the new Streisand fan. For the fan (like me) who already has all of her albums, the bonus tracks are the main reason I got this 2-disk CD. The CD package is very nice, and includes some rare photos that I've never seen before.

I'm sure everyone has ideas about what should or should not have been included. I'm happy with the choices, although at this point in my Streisand fandom I would appreciate more "live" or unreleased versions of songs rather than the same studio versions that have appeared on all of Barbra's "Greatest Hits" albums (I and II, Memories, A Collection, and Just For The Record).

It is truly amazing that Barbra has recorded in the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and into the 2000's. ESSENTIAL BARBRA STREISAND proves that she achieves greatness when her material is good. She started with pop and theater standards and seems to be ending her career by a return to these standards. One could argue that the new version of "Someday My Prince Will Come" succeeds artistically as compared to "I Finally Found Someone (Duet with Bryan Adams)".

Barbra Streisand is my favorite recording artist. My wish for this year-long celebration of her anniversary with Columbia Records is to have a new CD that features unreleased and live recordings. I'd love to hear "official", pristine recordings of the Daniel Ellsberg concert, the abandoned Back To Broadway sessions, the abandoned Broadway Album songs, the various songs she's recorded but never released (like "When The Lovin Goes Out of the Lovin"), and all of her original singles from the 60's that featured different arrangements from the album versions. There's some more officially released singles, not on any albums, that we should hear too! As well as the French EP songs like "Les Enfants Qui Pleurent" and "Et La Mer".

Thanks for the new album, Barbra!