Barbra Streisand - Barbra Streisand - Greatest Hits

Fun with a voice

Each song on this album is great fun! Mix her voice with these fun lyrics and compositions: FUN FUN FUN! Love the music Babs! May 7, 2008

great--as far as it goes, that is (three and 1/2 stars)

Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits gives us what is really just a sampling of her very best. This disappoints me because it is not a thorough "greatest hits" package; but what we do get here is excellent material. The sound quality is excellent and the artwork is very nicely done.

"People" starts off the CD with a smash hit for Streisand; she sounds like pure silk on this number and there couldn't be a better interpretation that the one Barbra does here! The strings are very beautiful and I like the harp, too. "Second Hand Rose" is an older number that gets a ragtime flavored musical arrangement--listen for that piano! Barbra aces this easily and I've always liked her rendition of "Second Hand Rose." It makes me smile whenever I hear it. Great!

"Why Did I Choose You" is a tender love song that Barbra makes glisten like gold when she delivers it so flawlessly; Barbra Streisand fans are sure to love this tune! Barbra sings her heart out on "Why Did I Choose You" and just one listen proves it. There's also "He Touched Me;" this ballad is a wonderful highlight of this album. Barbra is able to capture the joy a woman can feel when her one true love shows his affection for her; and that's grand.

"Free Again" is quite a stunner; this somewhat torchy song moves with its beauty. However, what really impresses me the most on this album would have to be "Don't Rain On My Parade" from Funny Girl. Barbra opens us and lifts this tune to new heights; I've never heard anything like it. Barbra's delivery of "Don't Rain On My Parade" is truly one of her best masterpieces ever.

"Sam, You Made The Pants Too Long" is another song that makes me smile; this nostalgic tune gets the royal treatment with what sounds like a washboard used as a type of percussion treatment. Barbra performs "Sam, You Made The Pants Too Long" a charming little tune that you can't resist playing over and over again. "My Man" is also a fine ballad on this CD; I think you'll like this very much if you haven't heard Barbra sing it yet.

The CD ends well with Barbra Streisand performing "Happy Days Are Here Again;" this live concert track features Barbra literally front and center--and that's quite all right with me! Streisand does a fine job on "Happy Days Are Here Again."

This is not a complete "greatest hits" album--and it wasn't even when it was originally released on record album! I must take off 1 and ½ stars for this flaw. However, what we do hear is wonderful words and music, so Streisand fans will want this for their collections.
April 21, 2008

Just brilliant

Barbra makes every other singer seem like a "second-hand rose." This album shows consistent brilliance. November 29, 2007

A wonderful hits album by Barbra Streisand!!!

This album is a profile of Barbra Streisand's hits from the 60s (either released in December, 1969 or January, 1970). You get a variety of hits of hers from that era~~the most well known "People" is on here, from the album of the same title from 1964, which is the opening song (this song was also in the movie Funny Girl, but this version on GH is different from the version on the Funny Girl soundtrack). Next, you get Second Hand Rose, taken from her My Name Is Barbra, Two album from 1965. After that comes Why Did I Choose You, taken from her My Name Is Barbra album from '65. He Touched Me, which comes from her second My Name Is Barbra album from '65 is also a good song. Free Again comes from her French titled 1966 album, Je m'appelle Barbra. This song is great. Then, revisiting the music of Funny Girl, you hear "Don't Rain On My Parade", which is another one of Barbra's most well-known songs. Then you get My Coloring Book, which I assume came from her The Second Barbra Streisand Album from 1963. Next, you get Sam, You Made the Pants Too Long, which makes its only appearance on this album. After that, you once again get another Funny Girl tune, My Man. This version came from her My Name is Barbra album from '65. Next is Gotta Move, which has an upbeat, "hurry up" sound to it. This song was from her Second Barbra Streisand Album from 1963. And, the final song on this album, Happy Days are Here Again, is a live song that was taken from her 1968 album, A Happening in Central Park. That Central Park concert was done in 1967 when she was still working on Funny Girl. The concert was done in front of thousands of people. On that concert album, Happy Days are Here Again is also the final song. Altogether, this Greatest Hits album is a must have for any person's Barbra Streisand music library. Not a bad song on here, and this title is worth getting. Definitely five stars for this album as well as the picture of Barbra on the front cover. She had a very sweet pose on this one and I like it, too. June 17, 2007

Why Do I Choose Babs?

This Barbra Streisand album is FABULOUS!!!!! "People", "Second Hand Rose","My Man"..etc.,,EXCELLENT!!! Good Babs starter kit!!!! Love ya, Barbra.. May 25, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...