Barbra Streisand's first number one album is still one of the most exciting and intensely satisfying vocal performances ever recorded. Like most of her glorious early recordings, this album contains some incredibly varied material yet the lush arrangements and the elegantly restrained vocals of Streisand give it an amazing consistency. Every song reresents a cornucopia of emotions, all of which Streisand handles with immense poise. From the beautiful "Absent Minded Me," in which she tries to conceal her obvious hurt as she sings of a lost love, to the immortal title song, which has lost none of its powerful sentiment, Streisand is in top form throughout this entire landmark album. Definitely one of Streisand's best efforts.

I am reviewing the album, not the remastered CD panned above. (Try to find a used one) To state it simply, I am a fan of female vocalists, and not a big Streisand fan, but this album is one of TEN I would save if I had to flee town. The songs are brilliant and Streisand's voice is youthful and spirited and not tired- out as she has seemed of late. The arrangements are classic. The songs are mostly Broadway musical songs. This is simply a great album and one I have listened to consistently since I was 14 when I bought the first edition. If one only owns one Streisand album this should be it.

This is a great album...the reason for the 1-star rating is the quality of the newly remastered 2002 disc. It is actually hard to listen to...Barbra's voice in most cuts is scratchy and not clear. If you already own the previous remaster with the white sticker, it sounds so much better than this one. I have to wonder how Sony (or Barbra) would allow this to be on the shelves...there should be a replacement (or credit) recall on this ... what a rip off of a classic early Streisand album.

Alright, I admit it. Like Rosie O'Donnell, I'm a big Barbara fan, but not a fan of just any Barbara. I'm addicted to classic Barbara--*Funny Girl* Barbara, *Hello Dolly* Barbara, and, of course, *People* Barbara. Who, in fact, can argue that *People* is a classic album--not just for Streisand, but for all time?

*People* is probably the best collection of wide-ranging songs by the one and only SuperDiva. She shows off her impressive pipes in powerful songs like the "My Lord and Master," the fun "When in Rome," and moody "Supper Time" in addition to her quieter talents in such songs as wistful "Autumn," light-hearted "Absent Minded Me," and, of course, universally appreciated "People."

My favorites cover over half the album, but the remaining three songs are probably just as wonderful. Barbara ranges from the loungy "Don't Like Goodbyes" to the almost operatic "Supper Time" to classic Broadway "My Lord and Master" to the fun-filled '60s playtime songs of "When in Rome" and "Love is a Bore."

Like these last two tracks, the album does more than just entertain. It takes you back to those days that you only just remember (or just wish you rememered) and makes you want to dust off your pillbox hat to step into the not-so-glamorous life of Fanny Brice or put on your Sunday clothes for an adventurous day in the life of Dolly Levi.

Don't pass *People* up as just some of that *American Beauty*-style "Lawrence Welk crap." Put it in your spinner and give it a chance--with or without Annette Benning. Revel in the airy musical treasures of Streisand (possibly at her all-time best).

This CD ranks as one of Barbra's very best, not just from the '60s but from her overall body of work---and we're talking almost 40 years here. Barbra recorded this at the same time she was appearing in "Funny Girl" on Broadway. You can tell the theatrics of Broadway also show up in most of the interpretations here---bold, campy, and definitely dramatic---all indelibly Babs at her best. Tracks that stand out are "How Does the Wine Taste" and "When in Rome", in which Babs tosses in some phrases in Italian, vintage Streisand style. One chuckles one minute and suddenly she takes you into a totally different realm of wistfulness in "Autumn". This CD is what contributes to the legacy Barbra now basks in, all the ingredients what makes her an unforgettable performer of our time are on display---power, control, timing, originality, and that Streisand dramatic flair.