What Matters Most: Barbra Streisand Sings Lyrics Of Alan & Marilyn Bergman CD

What Matters Most: Barbra Streisand Sings Lyrics Of Alan & Marilyn Bergman songs Susan Boyle's grand unveiling on Britain's Got Talent was with a song from Les Miserables - the very song that lends this album its title -- and if she could become an international sensation based on a show tune standard, there's no reason for her to change her approach on her debut, since that's the sound that made her a star. Plus, a large part of Boyle's appeal is that she's a middle-aged woman recalling a bygone era when there were singers that appealed to an adult audience by offering soft, stately versions of pop hits and standards. That time was the late `60s and early `70s, and apart from a rather faithful version of Madonna's "You'll See," I Dreamed a Dream could very well have been released all those years ago, as it mixes up the show tunes, gospel, and Christmas carols with covers of Skeeter Davis' "The End of the World," the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses," and a version of "Daydream Believer" that is easily the slowest on record. Boyle sings beautifully throughout, delivering more of the same of what she did in her moment in the sun on television. Those won over by Boyle, either her voice or story, will surely be satisfied. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine Recording information: Air Studios, London; Rokstone Studios, London; Sphere ...

What Matters Most: Barbra Streisand Sings Lyrics Of Alan & Marilyn Bergman buy CD music Few modern singers understand the phrasing of singing the way Tony Bennett does. This second installment of his Duets pairs him with Aretha Franklin, Norah Jones, Willie Nelson, and the late Amy Winehouse, among many others. Audio Mixer: Dae Bennett. Recording information: Abbey Road Studios, London, England; Andrea Bocelli's Home Studio; Avatar Studios, New York, NY; Bennett Studios, Englewood, NJ; Ben's Studio, Nashville, TN; Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA; Henson Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; Manhattan Center Studios, New York, NY; Mariah Carey's Home Studio. Photographers: Josh Cheuse; Kelsey Bennett.

What Matters Most: Barbra Streisand Sings Lyrics Of Alan & Marilyn Bergman CD music This two-disc, 31-track set is a full capitulation of the set Barbra Streisand performed over the course of her 2006 tour. Billed as her final run of extensive live performances, the tour had the sense of A Big Event about it from the moment it was first announced. STREISAND: LIVE IN CONCERT does not stint on that feeling of importance, from the extensive, photo-heavy packaging to the pair of jam-packed discs. Covering the entirety of Barbra Streisand's musical career, from 1960s breakthroughs like "Funny Girl," "Down With Love" and "People" to later career highlights like "The Way We Were" and "Evergreen" to a trawl through the catalogue of standards. As always on her live albums, Streisand's extended stage raps are included: two riffs on the author William Saroyan and the art of songwriting are particularly enjoyable. Though perhaps not as spellbinding as Barbra Streisand was at the peak of her musical powers three or four decades before, STREISAND: LIVE IN CONCERT shows how remarkably little her vocal gifts and her skill as a live performer have diminished. Indeed, there's a magical, regal effortlessness to much of this set. Liner Note Author: Jay Landers . Recording information: Bank Atlantic Center, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (10/09/2006-10/30/2006); Madison Square Garden, New York, NY (10/09/2006-10/30/2006); Verizon Center, Washington D.C (10/09/2006-10/30/2006). Authors: Nekesa Mumbi Moody; Libby Copeland; Karen Heller; Richard Ouzounian; Elysa Gardner; Jim Farber; Jim Harrington; Dave Tianen; Joan Anderman; Ann Powers; Howard R. Cohen. Photographer: Kevin Mazur. Arrangers: Andrew Pryce Jackman; Don Costa; Don Sebesky; Herbert W. Spencer; Ian Freebairn-Smith; Peter Myers; Michael Starobin; Jeremy Lubbock; Marty Paich; Michel Legrand; Ralph Burns; Randy Waldman; Sammy Nestico; Torrie Zito; William Ross ; Randy Kerber; Peter Matz; Jonathan Tunick; Douglas Besterman. Personnel: Brian Koonin (guitar); Laura Sherman (harp); Sylvia Davanzo, Maura Giannini, Ann Labin, Victor Heifets, Victoria Paterson, Denise Stillwell, James Tsao, Louise Owen, Mary Whitaker, Ming Yeh, Antoine Silverman, Cenovia Cummins , Carol Pool, Belinda Whitney, Christian Hebel, Cecelia Hobbs Gardner, Jonathan Dinklage (violin); Kathie Sinsabaugh, Arthur Dibble, Joe Gottesman, Richard Brice, Martha Mooke (viola); Mark Orrin Shuman, Ellen Zoe Hassman, Beth Sturdevant, Marisol Espada, Anja Wood, Deborah Assael (cello); Aaron Heick, Ronald Janelli, Lawrence Feldman, Richard Heckman, Bob Malach (reeds); Robert Millikan, Barry Danielian, Danny Cahn, Bud Burridge (trumpet); Eva Conte, Katie Dennis , Chris Komer, Roger Wendt (French horn); Mark Patterson , Keith O'Quinn, Dale Kirkland (trombone); George Flynn (bass trombone, tuba); Randy Waldman (piano); Robbie Kondor (keyboards); Neil Stubenhaus (electric bass); John "4 Daddman" Robinson (drums); Norman Freeman (percussion). Audio Mixer: Dave Reitzas.

What Matters Most: Barbra Streisand Sings Lyrics Of Alan & Marilyn Bergman album for sale Even before their first session together, Barbra Streisand and collaborator Diana Krall designed LOVE IS THE ANSWER as a deeply emotional record: "each song an exploration concerning matters of the heart." And with the arrangements of maestro Johnny Mandel simply drawing occasional shading around Streisand's expressive voice--often leaving that voice as the only instrument--the album goes well beyond the usual saloon-song tropes to become a heart-wrenching experience on virtually every track. Additionally, although much was made of the two divas' collaboration, Krall's piano stays in the background, and Streisand's is the only voice heard here. Nearly every song is a classic of tender balladry, despite the fact that none had been put on album by Streisand before during her long career. Those facts alone should leave Streisand fans in ecstasy, as practically nothing stands in the way as she sings some of the best songs of the last century, aching and sincere with every melancholy or lovelorn ballad, tenderly strident with every (ultimately) uplifting anthem. "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" opens up like a flower akin to some of her best performances, and the same goes for "Make Someone Happy," composed by the classic team of Jule Styne, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green (Styne composed the music for Streisand's FUNNY GIRL). Elsewhere, more classics of the American songbook--"Here's That Rainy Day," "Where Do You Start?," "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," "Gentle Rain"--prove themselves susceptible to the Barbra Streisand treatment. The overall effect is that this is one of the Streisand albums most appealing to her fans and, more importantly, potential fans -- which should include anyone who appreciates a singer singing like she's lived every line of her songs. Deluxe Edition Liner Note Authors: Diana Krall; Jay Landers ; Barbra Streisand. Photographers: Mary Maurer; John Clayton; Barbra Streisand. Arranger: Johnny Mandel. Personnel: Anthony Wilson (guitar); Jeff Hamilton (drums). Audio Mixer: Al Schmitt.

What Matters Most: Barbra Streisand Sings Lyrics Of Alan & Marilyn Bergman CD music In the liner notes to this collection of previously unreleased material, co-producer Jay Landers paints a picture of the Barbra Streisand vault, where hundreds of boxes -- ranging from '60s acetates to '90s 48-track tapes to Pro Tools "cases" -- apparently sit waiting for their first issue. It's curious, then, that Release Me only includes 11 songs. Chalk it up perhaps to Streisand's heavy hand on the controls of her career, which never lets a song spring forth until its impact has been studied and predicted. (Of course, her career is hers alone, and it's difficult to argue with the high personal standard she's maintained during her 50-year career; it should also be noted that in 1991, she released a rarities-heavy box set titled Just for the Record....) Ranging from 1967 to 2011, Release Me shows that she and Landers certainly chose well. The results provide as pretty a picture of Streisand's talents and interests as the best compilation ever could. All of the varied pop scenes she touched over the years are represented here, from Broadway to the Bergmans to A Star Is Born to Jimmy Webb and Randy Newman, although of course, her long and varied career makes her able to do no more than dip a toe in the waters of those pools. The Webb cover, "Didn't We," is a highlight, as is the Newman song, "I Think It's Going to Rain Today," recorded in New York in 1970 with only Newman's piano for tender, expressive accompaniment. The standard "Willow Weep for Me" is given one of its best ever versions, including even Billie Holiday's (originally recording the song in 1967, Streisand nabbed arranger Ray Ellis, famed for his Lady in Satin charts). One of her career landmarks, A Star Is Born, is represented by "With One More Look at You," in a forgotten studio version -- since she insisted on singing the song live while filming, and that was the version used on the soundtrack. It's hard to complain when the results are this stunning, but including not even a dozen songs on this compilation (rumored to be only the first) is liable to break just a few fans' hearts; based on what can be heard here, some fans would rather hear more like this than eat. ~ John Bush Audio Mixers: Dave Reitzas; Don Meehan; Glen Kolotkin; John Arias; Armin Steiner. Audio Remixer: Brian Malouf. Liner Note Authors: Jay Landers ; Barbra Streisand. Recording information: 03/1967-05/2012. Photographers: Ed Thrasher; Firooz Zahedi; Sam Emerson; Francesco Scavullo; Jay Landers ; David James .

What Matters Most: Barbra Streisand Sings Lyrics Of Alan & Marilyn Bergman buy CD music Barbra Streisand's first time back performing in the Village in almost 50 years is a special occasion, a fact obviously recognized by the thrilled audience that was jam-packed into the tiny Village Vanguard (barely ten dozen seats) as well as by Streisand herself, who expertly conjures the intimacy and tenderness needed for such a special program. Her song selection includes a few career touchstones ("Evergreen," "The Way We Were," "Make Someone Happy"), but also includes references to a host of Village or nightclub favorites, led by "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning" and "Ne Me Quitte Pas" (the latter of which she uses to reminisce about seeing Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris). With backing from a quartet led by pianist Tamir Hendelman, Streisand sounds confident, energetic, and occasionally reflective about her career in music; she even reaches back to her '60s repertoire to perform a pair of Rodgers & Hart standards, "My Funny Valentine" and "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered." Granted, eight of the other numbers come from her 2009 studio outing, Love Is the Answer, although they're fairly unobtrusive being largely nightclub standards themselves. Surprisingly, the recording excises very little from the original program; Streisand frequently converses with members of the audience (many of whom hold special memories for her), introduces a string of celebrities, and even finds time to ask a young friend how old she is right in the middle of "In the Wee Small Hours" (which Frank Sinatra never would've tolerated). Streisand's vocal craft is peerless as well. Although her strength with the high notes is waning, she remains the same expressive and endearing vocalist she was decades earlier. ~ John Bush This limited edition DVD/CD set is the first and only live club performance ever released by Streisand (at the Village Vanguard with her quartet). This rare show, staged in September 2009 to commemorate the release of Barbra's historic #1 CD Love Is the Answer, brings Barbra back to her roots. This program couples the greatest voice of this century with the richest songs of American popular music and the Broadway stage. The CD (only available with this set) features the most memorable songs ever written performed as only Barbra can. Liner Note Author: Jay Landers . Recording information: The Village Vanguard, New York, NY (09/26/2009). Director: Scott Lochmus. Photographer: Kevin Mazur. Personnel: Brian Koonin (guitar); Tamir Hendelman (piano); Ray Marchica (drums). Audio Mixer: Dave Reitzas.