The Barbra Streisand Album (studio album) by Barbra Streisand

From EyeKanFly 02/09/2023 15:35

I think this is now my lowest-ranked logged album on BEA, so I suppose I should justify myself.

Streisand is clearly an incredibly talented musician. Fantastic voice, and she uses it this album. But the collection of songs she sings here are awful. The songs are either boring, annoying, or downright offensive. Who knows, I most likely would've rated this album higher were it not for the inclusion of "Come to the Supermarket in Old Peking" but jeez... even in 1963 that song was dated. And out of context from its original musical it's incredibly offensive and without any real redeeming qualities of the song. Even its original context in Cole Porter's Aladdin, the song is unnecessarily problematic. And then the complete 180 shift in mood and tone from that to "A Sleepin' Bee"?? I guess that's the album's saving grace, but it's a jarring shift.

Even without "...Peking", "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" and "Happy Days Are Here Again" are loud and irritating, and the rest of the songs (while fine) are boring and ballad-like. This album is so incongruent that it's an excellent example of not adding up to the sum of its parts.

So in summary: Barbra Streisand is talented, but these songs are terrible. Streisand shines later in her career when she has better material to work with. Listen to Funny Girl for some of her best work. Or check out The Broadway Album for a much more successfully executed version of a similar concept.

From Jboy56 10/25/2022 13:52

Beginning of an awesome career. Very original

Ah, remember the time when Ms. Streisand was hungry. She sings her tushy off on this record. A great collection of songs by one of the most beautiful and expressive voices of a generation. If you want to know what all the fuss was about give this album a listen.

From ffudnebbuh 09/15/2010 23:51

"Sleeping Bee" was the song that she (in her teens) sung in a talent contest in Brooklyn. She was talked into entering it by her friends...when she sang it for them on the eve of the contest, they were all in tears. This is her first album. It is so sad that I know this...