Well, here it is. The life and times of Barbra Streisand. If you're a long time admirer like myself, you already have 38 of these 40 songs under other titles. Additionally, many have been released several times under "Greatest Hits Volume I, Volume II, Memory,...a Collection, and Just For The Record" titles. Literally, this is a compilation that spans 40 years of recordings from "A Sleepin' Bee, through movie soundtrack items such as "People", "On A Clear Day," "The Way We Were," through the disco era, namely "The Main Event," "No More Tears," and finally, Miss Streisand's return to her 'roots' with ballads like "Memory," "Somewhere," and "Send In The Clowns." While undoubtedly the talent of our lifetime, Miss Streisand is also a shrewd business woman. There are two previously unreleased songs on this 2 cd set ("Someday My Prince Will Come," and "You'll Never Walk Alone"), which make it a must-buy for the consummate Streisand fan (face it, she's had us hooked for years...). The digital re-mastering of many of the older recordings greatly enhances the over-all listening experience.

THE ESSENTIAL BARBRA STREISAND spans a 40 year career of one of the most talented voices in the industry. Finally there is a complete collection that spans her entire career without skimping on the songs. This 40 song collection includes some of her biggest hits. While listening to this, as a listener you can hear the many dimensions of Barbra Streisand. She did rock, she did adult contemporary, she did disco, she did broadway, the question remains, is there anything she didnt do? Streisand is one of the only artists to have a #1 album in each decade. Her voice brings songs alive with an emotion that is uncomparable, and a power that is chilling. The CD also features superstar duets, such as "I Finally Found Someone" with Bryan Adams, from the Mirror Has Two Faces, and "Tell Him", with Celine Dion. There is also extra tracks, "Someday My Price Will Come", and "You'll Never Walk Alone" (Live from the 2001 Emmy's). I think its safe to say there wasn't a dry eye in that place, or of the viewers watching that stirring performance. Overall, this is an excellent representation of a great career, and a must have for fans and people alike.

ESSENTIAL BARBRA STREISAND is a great product for the new Streisand fan. For the fan (like me) who already has all of her albums, the bonus tracks are the main reason I got this 2-disk CD. The CD package is very nice, and includes some rare photos that I've never seen before.

I'm sure everyone has ideas about what should or should not have been included. I'm happy with the choices, although at this point in my Streisand fandom I would appreciate more "live" or unreleased versions of songs rather than the same studio versions that have appeared on all of Barbra's "Greatest Hits" albums (I and II, Memories, A Collection, and Just For The Record).

It is truly amazing that Barbra has recorded in the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and into the 2000's. ESSENTIAL BARBRA STREISAND proves that she achieves greatness when her material is good. She started with pop and theater standards and seems to be ending her career by a return to these standards. One could argue that the new version of "Someday My Prince Will Come" succeeds artistically as compared to "I Finally Found Someone (Duet with Bryan Adams)".

Barbra Streisand is my favorite recording artist. My wish for this year-long celebration of her anniversary with Columbia Records is to have a new CD that features unreleased and live recordings. I'd love to hear "official", pristine recordings of the Daniel Ellsberg concert, the abandoned Back To Broadway sessions, the abandoned Broadway Album songs, the various songs she's recorded but never released (like "When The Lovin Goes Out of the Lovin"), and all of her original singles from the 60's that featured different arrangements from the album versions. There's some more officially released singles, not on any albums, that we should hear too! As well as the French EP songs like "Les Enfants Qui Pleurent" and "Et La Mer".

Thanks for the new album, Barbra!

Wow! This is a masterpiece 2 cd set spanning Barbra's 40 years with SONY/COLUMBIA!! All of the biggest,and most be-loved hits are included and they never sounded better!!! They have been digitally re-mastered. The inclusion of 2 un-released songs are worth the price alone! The newly recorded "YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE" that Barbra performed with a full orchestra and choir at the recent EMMY AWARDS is chilling and one of her most brilliant recordings ever! You will LOVE this 2 set cd! A PIECE OF SKY never sounded more dramatic as it does re-mastered! It will bring fond memories hearing those poignant duet hits like YOU DON'T BRING ME FLOWERS with Neil Diamond, TELL HIM with Celine Dion and the disco smash ENOUGH IS ENOUGH with Donna Summer!! forty years of career hits on a 2 cd set is EXCEPTIONAL indeed! May Streisand look forward to many more successful years with SONY/COLUMBIA who have always done the best promoting this legend!! A++++++++++++++

It must be difficult for someone of Streisand's longevity to be able to put out an album that would appeal to everyone. Their will always be fans who want a somewhat different style Barbra. Some will want showtunes, some will want contemporary pop and others will want any one of a number of other musical styles that Barbra has done over the years... from rock to disco. Each listener will also have their favorite period of Barbra's voice, her reeed like quality of the 60's, her more controlled voice of the 70's, the even stronger and more commanding voice of the 80's or the slightly lower but incredibly beautiful and even more controlled voice that is Barbra in the 90's and now. One recent reviewer stated that he thought Streisand in the 60's was good but after that she "stinks". Well, that is one opinion. Clearly most people do not agree. No vocalist is going to sing every song better than anyone else but Streisand does have the unique talent of making many of her performances uniquely her own. Comparing artists to me always seems childish. If someone prefers another artist to Streisand, that's their perogative, but using this forum to vent insults against her is immature. Perhaps on some level it is a compliment though, I've read reviews of no other female recording artist who invites so much comparison to other artists. Perhaps Barbra Streisand is for them, the standard on which other artists must be judged against. Truly a great compliment.

Anyway, this "Essential Barbra Streisand" (recently certified Gold) is a treasure. Here we have many of her best songs spanning a 40 year period. From song to song you can see her voice evolve. You may find yourself liking it better at certain periods or you might, like I do, find that the voice has been great throughout. I love the fact that Barbra's voice did not remain the same over the years, how boring that would be. Instead I can appreciate and enjoy the differences between "He Touched Me" in the 60's, "Stoney End" in the 70's, "Somewhere" in the 80's and "You'll Never Walk Alone" in 2001.

For me, and I believe many of Streisand's admirers, her voice is as enchanting as ever. I have lost none of my excitement of hearing that a new album is on its way and in many ways her albums have become a kind of soundtrack to my own life. I can look back at almost any album from "Guilty" forward (when I 1st started listening to Barbra) and remember exactly where I was and what was going on in my life at the time. Her wonderful voice always being a positive and uplifting part of those times.

As Barbra recently said in an interview: "I've always considered myself a work in progress, so I'd like to think there are still a few more golden moments left.". I believe there will be MANY more golden moments to come! - Chris