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Editorial Reviews
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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
Product Description
STREISAND BARBRA THE ESSENTIAL (2CD)
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Wow! This is a masterpiece 2 cd set spanning Barbra's 40 years with SONY/COLUMBIA!! All of the biggest,and most be-loved hits are included and they never sounded better!!! They have been digitally re-mastered. The inclusion of 2 un-released songs are worth the price alone! The newly recorded "YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE" that Barbra performed with a full orchestra and choir at the recent EMMY AWARDS is chilling and one of her most brilliant recordings ever! You will LOVE this 2 set cd! A PIECE OF SKY never sounded more dramatic as it does re-mastered! It will bring fond memories hearing those poignant duet hits like YOU DON'T BRING ME FLOWERS with Neil Diamond, TELL HIM with Celine Dion and the disco smash ENOUGH IS ENOUGH with Donna Summer!! forty years of career hits on a 2 cd set is EXCEPTIONAL indeed! May Streisand look forward to many more successful years with SONY/COLUMBIA who have always done the best promoting this legend!! A++++++++++++++
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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.
29 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Essential Barbra Streisand was Just What I Wanted
The album is a little old a little new. I thoroghly enjoy it and it is just right for singing down the highway. Read more
Published 28 days ago by lighthouse girl
Ultimate Streisand
This CD includes the old and new Streisand. It is just amazing to hear the maturity of her vocals from her early days to today. This is a great CD.
Published 15 months ago by Tootsie
SUPERB PRAISE FOR HER VOICE, LITTLE PRAISE FOR HER MUSIC
I have utmost respect for Barbra Streisand's voice; I believe that she has one of the four most outstanding voices in popular music. Read more
Published 16 months ago by John
Barbara strisand
It arrived on time. The cd was just like new. The music excellent
Published 22 months ago by Willie Elliott Jr.
BARBRA THE GREAT
A comprehensive collection of must Streisand songs.Pay close attention to "Since I Fell For You.
Published on May 21, 2010 by Wayman L. Garnett
What a voice!
Love this product and the seller is super to work with. We'll do more business in the future!
Published on May 20, 2010 by n2drama
A beautiful selection.
This compilation spans throughout her career.I love disc two, the Yentl songs hold a special place in my heart... Read more
Published on January 25, 2010 by Roses Bed
A good place to start
I got this as an introduction to Barbra figuring it would be a great place to start and it was as I got hooked! Read more
Published on October 30, 2009 by i. t. j.
No Comparison
When people start making comparisons between Streisand and other pop Divas like C. Dion, M. Carey, W. Houston, etc., all you need to do is point them to this one CD. Read more
Published on October 29, 2009 by ladylove
Two CD's, and yet, some of her charted hits are still missing
I'll jump right to 1971 with her charted single "Where You Lead" which just charted at #40 on the pop chart, but, it's nowhere to be found on this double CD collection, and yet,... Read more
Published on April 5, 2009 by Rykre
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