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The Essential Barbra Streisand (2002)

Catalog Number(s):

• C2K 86123 (US version)
• COL 5062572 (UK version)
• See also: Essential Barbra Streisand 3.0
• SICP-20190/1 (2009 Blue-Spec Japanese version)

On this page: Tracks > About the Album > Billboard Charts > Cover Outtakes >

Below: Detail from the ESSENTIAL CD insert. Besides some rare photos, the CD insert also contained thumbnails of all of Streisand's Columbia album covers ...

Below: The UK version of “The Essential Barbra Streisand” featured different cover art by Greg Gorman. (The US CD cover had a curly-haired photograph of Streisand by Steve Schapiro).

Tracks

DISC #1

1. A Sleepin' Bee
   Written by Harold Arlen & Truman Capote
   Produced by Mike Berniker
   Arranged & Conducted by Peter Matz
   Taken from The Barbra Streisand Album
   Released February 1963
2. Cry Me A River
   Written by Arthur Hamilton
   Produced by Mike Berniker
   Arranged & Conducted by Peter Matz
   Taken from The Barbra Streisand Album
   Released February 1963
3. I Stayed Too Long At The Fair
   Written by Billy Barnes
   Produced by Mike Berniker
   Arranged & Conducted by Peter Matz
   Taken from The Second Barbra Streisand Album
   Released August 1963
4. Lover, Come Back To Me
   Written by Sigmund Romberg & Oscar Hammerstein II
   Produced by Mike Berniker
   Arranged & Conducted by Peter Matz
   Taken from The Second Barbra Streisand Album
   Released August 1963
5. People
   Written by Jule Styne & Bob Merrill
   Produced by Mike Berniker
   Arranged & Conducted by Peter Matz
   Taken from People
   Released September 1964
6. My Man
   Written by Maurice Yvain, Channing Pollack, Albert Willemetz & Jacques Charles
   Produced by Robert Mersey
   Arranged & Conducted by Peter Matz
   Taken from My Name Is Barbra
   Released May 1965
7. Second Hand Rose
   Written by James F. Hanley & Grant Clarke
   Produced by Robert Mersey
   Arranged & Conducted by Peter Matz
   Taken from My Name Is Barbra, Two…
   Released October 1965
8. He Touched Me
   Written by Milton Schaeffer & Ira Levin
   Produced by Robert Mersey
   Arranged & Conducted by Don Costa
   Taken from My Name Is Barbra, Two…
   Released October 1965
9. Don't Rain On My Parade
   Written by Jule Styne & Bob Merrill
   Produced by Jack Gold
   Arranged & Conducted by Walter Scharf
   Taken from Funny Girl - Original Soundtrack Recording
   Released August 1968
10. Happy Days Are Here Again
    Written by Milton Ager & Jack Yellen
    Produced by Jack Gold
    Arranged & Conducted by Mort Lindsey
    Taken from A Happening In Central Park
    Released September 1968
11. On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)
    Written by Burton Lane & Alan Jay Lerner
    Produced by Wally Gold
    Arranged & Conducted by Nelson Riddle
    Taken from On A Clear Day You Can See Forever - Original Soundtrack Recording
    Released July 1970
12. Stoney End
    Written by Laura Nyro
    Produced by Richard Perry
    Arranged by Gene Page
    Taken from Stoney End
    Released February 1971
13. Since I Fell For You
    Written by Buddy Johnson
    Produced by Richard Perry
    Arranged by Gene Page
    Taken from Barbra Joan Streisand
    Released August 1971
14. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?
    Written by Alan & Marilyn Bergman and Michel Legrand
    Produced by Wally Gold
    Arranged & Conducted by Peter Matz
    Taken from The Way We Were
    Released, January 1974
15. The Way We Were
    Written by Alan & Marilyn Bergman & Marvin Hamlisch
    Produced & Arranged by Marty Paich
    Taken from The Way We Were
    Released, January 1974
16. All In Love Is Fair
    Written by Stevie Wonder
    Produced by Tommy LiPuma
    Arranged by Nick DeCaro
    Taken from The Way We Were
    Released, January 1974
17. Lazy Afternoon
    Written by John LaTouche & Jerome Moross
    Produced by Jeffrey Lesser & Rupert Holmes
    Arranged & Conducted by Rupert Holmes
    Taken from Lazy Afternoon
    Released October 1975
18. Evergreen (Love Theme from "A Star Is Born")
    Written by Barbra Streisand & Paul Williams
    Produced by Barbra Streisand & Phil Ramone
    Arranged by Ian Freebairn-Smith
    Taken from A Star Is Born - Original Soundtrack
    Released November 1976
19. My Heart Belongs To Me
    Written by Allen Gordon
    Produced by Gary Klein & Charlie Calello for The Entertainment Company
    Arranged by Charlie Calello
    Taken from Streisand Superman
    Released June 1977
20. You Don't Bring Me Flowers (Duet with Neil Diamond)
    Written by Alan & Marilyn Bergman and Neil Diamond
    Produced by Bob Gaudio
    Arranged & Conducted by Alan Lindgren
    Taken from Greatest Hits Volume 2
    Released November 1978
21. The Main Event/Fight
    Writtten by by Paul Jabara, Bruce Roberts & Bob Esty
    Produced, Arranged & Conducted by Bob Esty
    Taken from The Main Event - Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
    Released June 1979
22. No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (Duet with Donna Summer)
    Written by Paul Jabara & Bruce Roberts
    Produced by Gary Klein for The Entertainment Company in association with Giorgio Moroder Productions
    Arranged & Conducted by Greg Mathieson
    Vocals Arranged by Bruce Roberts, Paul Jabara & Luther Waters
    Executive Producer: Charles Koppelman
    Taken from Wet
    Released October 1979

DISC #2

1. Woman In Love
   Written by Barry Gibb & Robin Gibb
   Produced by Barry Gibb, Albhy Galuten & Karl Richardson for Barry Gibb Productions & Karlbhy Productions
   Executive Producer: Charles Koppelman For The Entertainment Company
   Taken from Guilty
   Released September 1980
2. Guilty (Duet with Barry Gibb)
   Written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb & Maurice Gibb
   Produced by Barry Gibb, Albhy Galuten & Karl Richardson for Barry Gibb Productions & Karlbhy Productions
   Executive Producer: Charles Koppelman For The Entertainment Company
   Taken from Guilty
   Released September 1980
3. Comin' In And Out Of Your Life
   Written by Richard Parker & Bobby Whiteside
   Produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber for The Entertainment Company
   Executive Producer: Charles Koppelman
   Taken from Memories
   Released November 1981
4. Memory
   Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, T.S. Eliot & Trevor Nunn
   Produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber for The Entertainment Company
   Executive Producer: Charles Koppelman
   Taken from Memories
   Released November 1981
5. Papa, Can You Hear Me?
   Written by Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman and Michel Legrand
   Produced by Barbra Streisand, Alan & Marilyn Bergman
   Associate Producer: Michel Legrand
   Arranged & Conducted by Michel Legrand
   Taken from Yentl - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
   Released November 1983
6. A Piece of Sky
   Written by Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman and Michel Legrand
   Produced by Barbra Streisand, Alan & Marilyn Bergman
   Associate Producer: Michel Legrand
   Arranged & Conducted by Michel Legrand
   Taken from Yentl - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
   Released November 1983
7. Putting It Together
   Written by Stephen Sondheim
   Produced & Arranged by Barbra Streisand & Peter Matz
   Orchestrated & Conducted by Peter Matz
   Executive Producers: Barbra Streisand & Peter Matz
   Taken from The Broadway Album
   Released November 1985
8. Not While I'm Around
   Written by Stephen Sondheim
   Produced by Richard Baskin
   Orchestrated and Conducted by Jeremy Lubbock
   Executive Producers: Barbra Streisand & Peter Matz
   Taken from The Broadway Album
   Released November 1985
9. Send In The Clowns
   Written by Stephen Sondheim
   Produced by Barbra Streisand
   Orchestrated & Conducted by Jeremy Lubbock
   Executive Producers: Barbra Streisand & Peter Matz
   Taken from The Broadway Album
   Released November 1985
10. Somewhere
    Written by Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim
    Produced & Arranged by David Foster
    Executive Producers: Barbra Streisand & Peter Matz
    Taken from The Broadway Album
    Released November 1985
11. All I Ask Of You
    Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart & Richard Stilgoe
    Produced by Phil Ramone
    Arranged & Conducted by Patrick Williams
    Taken from Till I Loved You
    Released October 1988
12. Children Will Listen
    Written by Stephen Sondheim
    Produced by Barbra Streisand
    Arranged & Conducted by Jona than Tunick
    Taken from Back To Broadway
    Released June 1993
13. As If We Never Said Goodbye
    Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black, Christopher Hampton & Amy Powers
    Produced by Barbra Streisand, Andrew Lloyd Webber & Nigel Wright
    Orchestrations by Andrew Lloyd Webber, John Cameron & David Cullen
    Conducted by David Caddick
    Taken from Back To Broadway
    Released June 1993
14. I Finally Found Someone (Duet with Bryan Adams)
    Written by Barbra Streisand, Marvin Hamlisch, R.J. Lange & Bryan Adams
    Produced by David Foster
    Arranged by David Foster, R.J. 'Mutt" Lange & Bryan Adams
    String Arrangements by Jack Hayes
    Executive Producer: Jay Landers
    Taken from The Mirror Has Two Faces - Music From The Motion Picture
    Released November 1996
15. Tell Him (Duet with Celine Dion)
    Written by David Foster, Linda Thompson & Walter Afanasieff
    Produced & Arranged by David Foster (For Chartmaker Inc.) and Walter Afanasieff (For WallyWorld Productions)
    Orchestra Arranged & Conducted by William Ross
    Executive Producers: Barbra Streisand & Jay Landers
    Taken from Higher Ground
    Released November 1997
16. I've Dreamed Of You *
    Written by Rolf Lovland & Ann Hampton Callaway
    Produced by Barbra Streisand
    Arranged & Conducted by William Ross
    Executive Producers: Barbra Streisand & Jay Landers
    Taken from A Love Like Ours
    Released September 1999
17. Someday My Prince Will Come
    Written by Larry Morey & Frank Churchill
    Produced by Barbra Streisand & William Ross
    Arranged & Conducted by William Ross
    Executive Producer: Jay Landers
    Bonus Track—Previously Unreleased
18. You'll Never Walk Alone
    Written by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II
    Produced by Barbra Streisand
    Orchestra Arranged by William Ross
    Executive Producers: Barbra Streisand & Jay Landers
    Bonus Track—Previously Unreleased

* “I've Dreamed of You” on this Essential collection, has an extended introduction and runs 4:53 minutes compared to its 4:46 running time on Barbra's 1999 album, A Love Like Ours.

About the Album

• Released January 29, 2002
• Executive Producers: Barbra Streisand and Jay Landers
• Product Manager: Peter Fletcher
• A&R Coordinator: Allan Stein
• Mastered by: Stephen Marcussen
• Digitally Edited by: Stewart Whitmore for Marcussen Mastering
• Art Direction: Gabrielle Raumberger
• Design: Clifford Singontiko

The Essential was a series of compilation albums released by Sony BMG and Legacy Recordings from its artists' back catalogs (The Essential Johnny Cash, The Essential Neil Diamond, etc.)

Streisand's Essential collection was certified Platinum by the RIAA in 2003 (i.e. 100,000 units sold).

Barbra Streisand recorded “You'll Never Walk Alone” before—back in August 1997 for the album Higher Ground. It was arranged and conducted by Jeremy Lubbock. In October 2001, Streisand recorded the song again with a new arrangement by William Ross—probably for her appearance on the Emmy Awards show (November 4, 2001). Barbra's live performance on the Emmy utilized this arrangement. The studio recording of “You'll Never Walk Alone” was included on Essential.

Streisand’s performance of “Someday My Prince Will Come” was recorded exclusively for the October 2001 Walt Disney DVD, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Platinum Edition. (Now out of print, but available from private sellers at Amazon.com.) Jay Landers (Streisand A&R man) supervised the recording session and executive produced, as he had recently joined Disney as a senior VP. Barbra and arranger-conductor William Ross co-produced the track. The song with animated film montage is included as a bonus feature on Disc 1. After a videotaped introduction from Disney chief Michael Eisner, Streisand's music video played.

In 2009, Sony Japan released a new version of Essential. It contained the same songs as the 2002 Essential.

Sony Japan developed a new format: Blu-Spec CD. The Blu-Spec CD uses a different polycarbonate plastic (which is the material used for Blu-Ray discs). A more technical description I found online says: “Blu-spec CDs are compatible with existing CD players but have been mastered with higher levels of accuracy by using the same technology used to author Blu-ray discs, with the intention of eliminating reading errors that occur as a result of being authored with traditional red laser technology.”

Here's a link to Amazon.com and the Blue-Spec CD, which ships on July 28, 2009.

Billboard Charts

The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine.

• Debut Chart Date: 2-16-02
• No. Weeks on Billboard 200 Albums Chart: 9 (non-consecutive)
• Peak Chart Position: #15 at 51,000 units
• Gold: 3/15/02
• Platinum: 10/17/03

Gold: 500,000 units shipped

Platinum: 1 million units shipped.

Note: The record company must submit an album to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) where it undergoes a certification process to become eligible for an award. The process entails an independent sales audit, which calculates the quantity of singles or albums shipped for sale, net after returns. The audit surveys shipments to the entire music marketplace, including retail, record clubs, television sales, Internet orders and other ancillary markets. Based on the certification of these shipments, a title is awarded Gold, Platinum, Multi-Platinum or Diamond status. The data here comes directly from official sources, mainly the RIAA online database.

Album Cover Outtakes

The UK cover featured a 1986 photograph of Streisand by Greg Gorman. During that session he photographed Streisand in her plaid shirt, sometimes wearing a beret.

Related Links: Barbra's 2002 interview about Essential in Costco Connection magazine.

End.

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