STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION
STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION
STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#1
Posted: 9/26/09 at 5:35pm
Is this the best album of Streisand's career, particularly Disc 2 of the Deluxe Edition?
Rarely, if ever, have I truly felt while listening to an album that a performer was in my living room with a jazz combo singing to me, and me alone.
Disc 2, the same tracks but stripped of Disc 1's Mandel orchestrations (which are lovely and sumptuous), does just that.
And the performer is Streisand.
I really think this album represents one of many pinnacles in an astonishingly accomplished and varied career. Easily her best album since THE BROADWAY ALBUM and perhaps had she included a Sondheim song I'd venture to say it was her best album of all time. Needless to say, this is a masterful achievement by an unparalleled artist.
It's a real winner and I feel privileged to be listening to it on this rainy Saturday afternoon with a glass of Coppola vin. Doesn't get much better than that. I've listened through both discs twice already today.
Brava, Babs, Brava!
P
P.S. I'm not generally a huge fan of hers save her theatre appearances and tv specials, so this isn't coming from one of the devout in The Church (Synagogue?) of Streisand. I remain blown away, nonetheless.
Updated On: 9/26/09 at 05:35 PM
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#2
Posted: 9/26/09 at 7:15pm
Been listening to them both here too and agree that the stripped down Disc 2 is truly brilliant. Have had it on repeat here during the week and it was even fairly calming during today's server move. 
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/03
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#2
Posted: 9/26/09 at 11:15pmDitto. Bought it yesterday, played both and have to say Disc 2 (jazz combo) is winning in the most played stakes.
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#3
Posted: 9/26/09 at 11:32pm
Apparently, her Village Vanguard concert tonight was filmed and will be streamed on her website next week and her official website confirms such information!
And a lovely, lengthy interview from tomorrow's NY Times below...
P
Babs is Back
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#4
Posted: 9/27/09 at 12:34amI'm so excited! Where are you folks buying it? Isn't it released on Tuesday?
Stand-by Joined: 9/15/06
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#5
Posted: 9/27/09 at 12:34am
It's so boring. No rubato, no tempo changes, just
straight ahead-straight ahead-straight ahead.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/1/04
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#6
Posted: 9/27/09 at 9:21am
I'm so excited! Where are you folks buying it? Isn't it released on Tuesday?
People still buy music?!!!! 
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#7
Posted: 9/27/09 at 9:33am
Hahaha I don't think so. Anyway...
I think the arrangements on Disc 1 are amazing, beautiful and her voice on this album makes it so intimate. Although the stripped one, the quartet version, sounds closer, as if she were there, I prefer the orchestral versions of some of them like Here's to Life.
If you're looking for those high, vibrant long notes of hers, this is not your album. If you like ellegant, chill out songs, with a blend of Ms Streisand's quality, give it a go!
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/1/04
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#8
Posted: 9/27/09 at 10:09amI like it. Especially Disc 2. Very "loungey" and intimate.
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#9
Posted: 9/27/09 at 11:29am
Incredibly boring. It is not jazz, it is elevator music.
I am glad she performed at the VV last night but let's face it, this is 2009 not 1979.
No one gives a damn. If BS were not such a stiff, aloof person more people and more press would care. Now she is back to LA to design her latest house that 7 people will see.
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#10
Posted: 9/27/09 at 1:52pmCan't wait to buy it!
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#11
Posted: 9/27/09 at 2:26pmI thought I would hate it, but I'm listening to it for the second time and I'm enchanted and moved and floating on air.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/1/04
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#12
Posted: 9/27/09 at 2:40pmI'm on my 3rd go round. I love it. Perfect for a sunday afternoon.
re: STREISAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#13
Posted: 9/27/09 at 4:37pm
I know that if even PalJoey is "floating on air" that this truly is as masterful an achievement as I felt and stated in my review!
How wonderful to come back see so much love for the album!
Since I've already voiced my preference for Disc 2, my favorite tracks:
I think "Gentle Rain" may be it...
No, it's "Ne Me Quitte Pas"...
... or, perhaps, "Where Do You Start?"...
No, it MUST be "Love Dance"....
... or "Some Other Time".
"You Must Believe In Spring"*. Legrand and Streisand are a match made in heaven...
(*This version is with only the jazz combo, btw, so it technically could act as a bonus track for Disc 2 as well while keeping the stripped down theme.)
I guess I'll have to listen through again!
P
Updated On: 10/3/09 at 04:37 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/13/04
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#14
Posted: 9/27/09 at 6:42pm
Arrrgh!
I haven't gotten my pre-ordered g@#%+%#*#@ned double-CD from UPS yet!!!
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#15
Posted: 9/27/09 at 7:17pm
Fflagg, you always seem to know everything about Barbra and what's best for her.
Again, you're so right - nobody cares about Barbra, especially the press. Let's see - last week she was on "Oprah." And, this week she's on "CBS This Morning" and "The Today Show," as well as "The Jonathan Ross Show" on The BBC. You're right...the press doesn't care.
It's too bad you weren't at The Village Vanguard last night, that way you could have talked to her about her career and tell her how to run her life.
When is your cd coming out? When it does, we'll all be the first in line to buy it.
Updated On: 9/27/09 at 07:17 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#16
Posted: 9/27/09 at 8:02pm
It's the perfect album!
For insomniacs...
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#17
Posted: 9/27/09 at 8:06pm
Maybe she will re-release it with a cover of "Single Ladies" JUST to wake you up, TheatreDiva! Would THAT make you happy?
::HUGE EYE ROLL::
P
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/13/04
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#18
Posted: 9/28/09 at 10:41am
This will hold me till I get the CD!!
Five video clips from the Village Vanguard
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#19
Posted: 9/28/09 at 12:57pm
I think Single Ladies is totally overplayed and could live the rest of my life without ever hearing it again.
Much like Babs album.
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#20
Posted: 9/28/09 at 1:07pm
Someone told me only bitter queens dislike this album.
I said, "Why, no! That CAN'T be true! TheatreDiva hates it too!"
See, sweetheart? I always stand up for you....even when the shoe fits.
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#21
Posted: 9/28/09 at 1:17pm
I am not sure which version I like better, but I agree this CD stands with the best of her career. It is thoughtful, relaxed, totally musicianly, and brilliant.
Bravo, Barbra.
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#22
Posted: 9/28/09 at 2:28pm
Wow, the hatred for this woman on this board by some bitter queens is really disturbing. It is as if Streisand has done something personal to them. She has contributed more to the entertainment industry in more areas of entertainment than any other performer that I am aware of and has been working consistently for 40 years. Give this 67 years old woman a break!
For 67, she looks great, still sounds fantastic(albeit not as great as she did in her younger days, but who does?), seems more relaxed than ever in front of a group. The footage of her singing live in the village is fantastic - hopefully they will release it on DVD and CD??
I hope her album is a big stinking hit so that all the naysayers can eat crow.
I am hoping this is the start of a new Streisand era.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#23
Posted: 9/28/09 at 3:23pm
A: Bitter Queen, just because I don't care for the album?
Puh-leez. The queens are her ass kissers.
B: "It is as if Streisand has done something personal to them."
She did.
re: STRESIAND - LOVE IS THE ANSWER - DELUXE EDITION#24
Posted: 9/28/09 at 4:14pm
If Judy Garland or Billie Holiday had lived to 67 and released an album like this, I would have been just as happy.
It makes me wish that Liza would retire what her mother called "the barnstormers" and sing ballads in small settings, the way Rosemary Clooney did as she got older.
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