Barbra Streisand The music, the albums, the singles

Matt Howe

Book - 2023

"On February 25, 1963, Columbia Records released The Barbra Streisand Album. The first song was "Cry Me a River," and with that a star was born. Barbra Joan Streisand had a zany personality backed by a talent that Stephen Sondheim once described as "one of the two or three best voices in the world of singing songs," adding "It's not just her voice but her intensity, her passion and control." Harold Arlen, another of her favorite composers, commented, "This young lady . . . has a stunning future." With all-male rock groups like the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Four Seasons ruling the charts, no one expected a twenty-year-old female singer from Brooklyn to not just hit No. 1, but repeat th...at accomplishment every decade that followed all the way to the next millennium and become the best-selling female recording artist of all time. Now, for the first time ever, comes the definitive book on the extensive recording career of this towering cultural icon, the Funny Girl considered by many to be the most talented singer of her generation. Barbra Streisand: The Music, The Albums, The Singles takes readers on a journey through every album, soundtrack, and single Streisand has released"--Amazon.com.

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Subjects
Genres
Discographies
Illustrated works
Published
Columbus, Ohio : Fayetteville Mafia Press [2023]
Language
English
Main Author
Matt Howe (author)
Physical Description
viii, 279 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 29 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and discographies.
ISBN
9781949024449
Contents unavailable.
Review by Library Journal Review

Howe, a Streisand superfan and host of the site Barbra-Archives.com since 2003, masterfully reviews the entire catalogue of one of the most famous singers on the planet. Howe dissects her albums, soundtracks, boxed sets, and collaborations decade by decade, which provides background on the recording processes, the development of the songs, quotes from those involved, and his personal takes on each recording. Beginning with the first recording of then 13-year-old Barbra in 1955, to her first Broadway musical appearance, to singing "Happy Days are Here Again" for three presidents, and the 2022 release of her Live at the Bon Soir album, Howe eloquently captures Streisand's journey and growth as an artist. He details her lifelong maintenance of her voice, her perfect technique, storytelling ability, and innovative experimentations to keep songs fresh. Howe is honest in his reviews, citing David Foster's negative influence on Back to Broadway and calling out the few songs that sound dated or expose her propensity to fall behind the beat. VERDICT Even ardent Streisand fans will find undiscovered gems and will likely appreciate Howe's meticulous research.--Lisa Henry

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