As a Streisand fan from when I first caught her wonderful performance on the classic "The Judy Garland Show", Barbra showed incredible artistic growth upon the release of the great but strangely overlooked "What About Today" and this growth continued with the classic "Stoney End" release and then hit new heights with the release of "Barbra Joan" which is an incredible mix of everything that Streisand does best!!! John Lennon's "LOVE" is haunting and mesmerizing while "MOTHER" is a truly extraordinary vocal sung with heartstopping passion. Laura Nyro's gorgeous "I NEVER MEANT TO HURT YOU" is a very fine vocal which is deeply moving and Laura Nyro herself must have enjoyed this heartfelt performance. "ONE LESS BELL TO ANSWER/A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME" is a dazzling tour-de-force medley where Barbra's gorgeous voice soars to amazing heights and the effect is so stunning that this becomes one of her greatest ever recorded performances...produced by Richard Perry, Barbra was at her creative and vocal peak throughout this wondrous collection so if you love great singing do not miss this...both "THE SUMMER KNOWS" and "SINCE I FELL FOR YOU" contain hauntingly beautiful Streisand vocals plus Barbra knows how to rock out with a brilliant take on Elton John's "SPACE CAPTAIN" which has to be the definitive version of this classic...marvel at a talent who can take a wide variety of works to their ultimate peak and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime legend at her peak!!! THANK YOU BARBRA!!!!!!

Like STONEY END, the album before it, many Streisand fans seem to ignore 1971's BARBRA JOAN STREISAND. Though it peaked at number 11 and spawned a top 40 single with "Where You Lead," the album has had little self life and stopped selling at Gold.

If you are true Streisand fan, or simply want to see how diverse she was in the seventies, you should pick up STONEY END and BARBRA JOAN STREISAND. While SE had a heavy folk feel to it, BJS heads off straight into rock.

Barbra provides the definite versions of Carole King's "Beautiful," "Where You Lead," and "You've Got A Friend" as well as delivering covers of John Lennon's "Mother" and "Love" that surpass the originals.

For those of you who also love the old torch-style Streisand, there are old-fashioned piano-based ballads like "I Never Meant To Hurt You" and "Since I Fell For You." However, the majority of the material here is rock based, such as her stunning version of "Space Captain."

This glorious album deserves a second look and, with the digital remastering, it's never sounded better!

While criticized at the time of it's release for attempting to mix too many different styles of musical genres into one album, BARBRA JOAN STREISAND has nevertheless endured as one of the brightest gems in Streisand's massive catalog. Sequencing soft ballads next to mild rockers may have seemed disorientating in 1971, however time (and repeated listenings) has uncovered and enhanced the disc's unique sense of dizzying cohesiveness.

The hit was "Where You Lead" (#40 Pop, #3 Adult Contemporary) but virtually every track is a treasure, and they play out in a highly satisfying manner. Her powerful renditions of John Lennon's "Love" and Laura Nyro's "I Never Meant To Hurt You" are stunning and her bone-chilling take on Lennon's "Mother" brings down the house. In between the contemporary cuts, Streisand even manages to deliver the definitive renditions of the often-covered standards "The Summer Knows" and "Since I Fell For You."

However, the absolute show-stopper is the Hal David-Burt Bacharach medley "One Less Bell To Answer/A House Is Not A Home," which Barbra brings thrillingly to life with a dramatic intensity that deserves comparisons with even the very best performances of her long career. This album was successful when it was initially released (it hit #11 on the Hot 200 and went Gold), however I do not believe it has received the respect it deserves from Streisand's fans and remains among her most underrated recordings.

From the piano-pounding "Beautiful" to the head-spinning, gospel-tinged rocker "Space Captain", it's apparent Barbra was intent on conquering the rock music corner, and she's entirely capable, esp. with Richard Perry's smart production behind her and help from all-girl rockers Fanny. It also features one of those lost Streisand performances that must rank as a classic and a career high-point: her vocal on Laura Nyro's "I Never Meant To Hurt You" may be unequaled, it is so incredibly beautiful. Other highpoints: a gritty little gem called "I Mean To Shine" and a wild version of John Lennon's "Mother"(with Barbra fully in-character, stunningly so). Probably Barbra Streisand's best CD out there.

This and Stoney End are my favourite Barbra works. i have worn out the vinyl I bought in the 70s (and the turntable has broken anyway!) Favourite that is in 'straight' recordings - not linked to musicals. Funny Girl and The Broadway album add to a pretty good basic collection. An early one would round it out. I love the rock feel, even though Babs' voice isn't exactly a rock one.