Barbra Streisand - unreleased "Home" from The Wiz

Streisand initially recorded "Home" for The Broadway Album in 1985, which marked a best-selling and hugely-acclaimed return to her theatrical roots after years devoted to singing contemporary pop songs. For undisclosed reasons the track wasn't included.

Word is, while listening to her powerful 25-year-old vocals on the track, Streisand decided to re-record the bass, drums, and piano in order to fully realize the potential of the more uptempo arrangement of the popular standard, which serves as a sort of answer to "(Somewhere) Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz, the source material for the 1974 musical.

Streisand, a noted perfectionist, even enlisted the same three musicians who had played on the original session for the song to maintain continuity.

The new CD Release Me will be available on September 25. Click here to order on Amazon.

Via The Advocate

From Barbra's upcoming CD - "I Think It's Going to Rain Today"

From Barbra Streisand's upcoming CD RELEASE ME

Release date: Sep 25, 2012 - click here for more info.

New Barbra Streisand CD of unreleased tracks on it's way

Barbra Streisand has found more never-released master tapes with which to create a new package of tracks, some of which go back to 1963. Via press release:

Highlights include: "Didn't We" written by Jimmy Webb - recorded in 1970 for an unreleased album project titled The Singer; the standard "Willow Weep For Me" - an unreleased track recorded in 1967 for Simply Streisand, arranged by Ray Ellis noted for his legendary work with Billie Holiday; A striking version of Randy Newman's "I Think It's Going Rain Today," with Barbra on vocals and Newman on piano - from the 1971 Stoney End sessions; an unreleased studio version of "With One More Look At You" from A Star Is Born; Two tracks from the unreleased sequel to the acclaimed The Broadway Album, titled Back To Broadway - "Home" (from The Wiz) and "How Are Things In Glocca Morra ? / Heather On The Hill" (from Finian's Rainbow / Brigadoon). Reflecting on the album, Streisand noted, "The thing I'm happiest about is that I still have great affection for all these songs. They appealed to me at the time…and still do. Listening now, I actually think to myself, 'The girl wasn't half bad.'"

The CD goes on sale October 9th. You can pre-order on Amazon.com

The complete track listing for Release Me features:

1. Being Good Isn’t Good Enough (from Hallelujah, Baby!)
2. Didn’t We
3. Willow Weep For Me
4. Try To Win A Friend
5. I Think It’s Going To Rain Today
6. With One More Look At You (from A Star Is Born)
7. Lost In Wonderland
8. How Are Things In Glocca Morra? / Heather On The Hill (from Finian’s Rainbow/Brigadoon)
9. Mother And Child
10. If It’s Meant To Be
11. Home (from The Wiz)

Seth Rudetsky deconstructs Barbra Streisand

Seth Rudetsky is a fabulous musician, music director, actor, radio show host and comedian.

I've known Seth for many years going back to 1991 when I worked on an off-Broadway show called PAGEANT with him.

Fast forward to today, and among many other things, Seth is famous for "deconstructing" performances from classic Broadway music recordings.

I've loved them for so long and decided The Randy Report readers might enjoy them too. So today I'm going to start with Seth - at the 2004 Gypsy of the Year fundraising event - deconstructing some of his favorite Barbra Streisand recorded moments.

Enjoy.

Happy birthday Barbra Streisand!

Forever fabulous.

Barbra Streisand "Gypsy" movie may happen - Downton Abbey writer hired for script duties

Julian Fellowes, an Emmy and Golden Globe winner for TV's Downton Abbey, will write the screenplay for the much-discussed remake of Gypsy starring Barbra Streisand as Mama Rose.

Fellowes, also an Oscar winner for the screenplay for 2001's Gosford Park, has been hired by Streisand and fellow producer Joel Silver, who are developing the project for Universal, according to a press release.

Gypsy, a Tony Award-winning musical by Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents about , is a perennial favorite for musical fans. It was previously filmed in 1962 with Rosalind Russell and Natalie Wood and remade for television in 1993 starring Bette Midler. The role of Mama Rose, who sings such legendary songs as "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and "Rose's Turn," is considered by many the most challenging role in musical theater.
(source)

Barbra Streisand: Gotta Move from Color Me Barbra

My friend David just posted a clip of Barbra singing this on another TV special, but I'm partial to this one from her very successful TV special "Color Me Barbra."

I'm telling myself it's appropriate because her dress is as colorful as Christmas decorations.

She's so over the top here, and when she scoots down the bench and then slowly plies to get off the bench I screamed.

You can find the DVD of this fab special on Amazon.

Hope you enjoy.

Barbra Streisand - "Make Our Garden Grow"

First of all - what great artistry.

Second - make sure you hang out for the 19 second final note. It goes on forever it seems.
(thanks Joe Savant for the tip)

Barbra talks about the gift of her voice

Barbra Streisand spoke with Bill Whitaker on her natural gift for singing.

Read more at CBS News

Streisand - "Windmills of Your Mind" - August 2011

This song is from Barbra Streisand's new CD coming out in August 2011.

For everyone who has forgotten - with auto-tune being so prevalent - what a real singer sounds like...

THIS is a real singer.

Streisand confirms "Gypsy" rumors

Happy day in musical theater land and every gay man's universe - Barbara Streisand has confirmed to the L.A. Times that she will be starring in a remake of the Broadway musical "Gypsy."

The news leaked "a little early, because the deal wasn't finished," Streisand said. "I am not sure about directing it. It may just be too much. I know I will be playing the part. It's like a bookend starting with 'Funny Girl.'"

Streisand is getting ready to appear at this year's MusiCares event where she'll be honored as Person of the Year. Tony Bennett, Jeff Beck, LeAnn Rimes, Seal, BeBe Winans, Stevie Wonder, Diana Krull, Barry Manilow and the cast of "Glee" are among the performers who will be offering their interpretations of Streisand's classic recordings at the benefit Friday evening at the L.A.

And Barbra will be performing herself at the end of the evening.

The 8 time Grammy winner is nominated again this year in the Traditional Pop category for her CD "Love Is The Answer". AND she's currently recording a new CD of songs by Alan & Marilyn Bergman. This is on top of her best-selling coffee-table book "My Passion For Design". A portion of the book's proceeds go to the Barbra Streisand Women's Cardiovascular Research and Education program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

You've got to love a diva who keeps delivering. Go Barbra!