Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Simply Streisand

Top positive review

Wonderful album, horrible mastering.

Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2023

One of her best albums. For the most part vocals are restrained (similar to the Third album) which helps showcases her amazing control and phrasing. Unfortunately, this "remastering" is flat and muted compared to the initial CD release. It's not easy, but try to find a late 80s pressing with CMU 47 pressed into the plastic around the inner circle. The sound is like night and day.

2 people found this helpful

Top critical review

Critical reviews›

Byron Kolln

not her best album, but certainly not her worst either

Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2007

Barbra Streisand's album entitled 'Simply Streisand' sees the singer make the transition from nightclub belter to romantic balladeer, performing some of the great love songs. While it doesn't have the fire or exitement of earlier albums, it's still a very worthwhile title.

Barbra spins gold with "All the Things You Are" (one of the most beautiful songs EVER written, originally from the musical "Very Warm for May"); "When Sunny Gets Blue", and "Make the Man Love Me" (from "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn").

Despite the ever-looming shadow of Judy Garland, Streisand's take on "The Boy Next Door" features enough to make it distinguishable. "More Than You Know" (later recycled for the movieFunny Lady) is also charming.

Perhaps the reason why this album failed to make an impression during it's debut was because, on the surface, it seems so one-dimensional. Streisand's earlier albums had been a collection of many moods and styles. Still, 'Simply Streisand' is a fine record of the vintage Miss Barbra in full-flight.

[Columbia CK-9482]

8 people found this helpful

137 total ratings, 76 with reviews

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From the United States

Robert M.

Wonderful album, horrible mastering.

Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2023

Verified Purchase

2 people found this helpful

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CUS

Barbra Streisand fan

Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2023

Verified Purchase

It was nice to hear those early versions of her songs again and true CD quality. There’s a reason a career has lasted so long.

One person found this helpful

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Hankford

Nix to nay-sayers, this is a must-have

Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2009

Verified Purchase

Forget what you may have heard, this is a great album, and in the top ten Streisand recordings I reckon. For the record, the others might be' First', 'Second' and 'Third' albums, 'Funny Girl', 'Live At The Forum', 'Stoney End, 'Butterfly', 'Classical Barbra', 'People', 'Je m'appelle Barbra' and perhaps 'Yentl'. Ok, that's more than ten...

Just looking at that diverse list illustrates why this woman is such a star. She always pushes herself to try new things, new sounds, new approaches, and is mostly successful at them all.

This whole album is good but the standouts are, 'My Funny Valentine', a startling recording of a song that I never previously liked much, 'Lover Man', 'The Boy Next Door', and 'Stout Hearted Men'. But the biggest highlight is 'I'll Know', one of Streisand's best songs - beautifully handled and a must have for any fan.

And another great cover - stylish as always yet relaxed and more casual than usual. That attitude is reflected in the tracks.

This is a great album. Buy it today.

7 people found this helpful

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commorancy

Simply Streisand is aptly titled

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2009

Verified Purchase

Some historical perspective for this album. This release was Barbra Streisand's first studio album after her pregnancy. She had recorded her Christmas Album while she was still pregnant and her voice changes were readily apparent even then. Some Streisand purists believe this is the turning point of her voice and style. Clearly, her voice had deepened somewhat from the hormonal changes of pregnancy. Comparing her voice on Je m'appelle Barbra to Simply Streisand, both the timbre of her voice and her style had changed. But, not necessarily for the worse.

Note that in the early 60s, Barbra had wanted to get a nose job, but she apparently walked out of the doctor's office when the doctor couldn't guarantee her that her voice wouldn't be affected. She wasn't even thinking of how pregnancy might change it. One only needs to visit operamom dot com today to read of what changes to happen to singers both during and after pregnancy (some of the changes are permanent). Of course, that information probably didn't exist in the 60s. Clearly, Streisand's voice had changed.

Still, even though her voice had deepened somewhat and her upper range had been affected by the pregnancy, she still had all of the control she previously had. Her voice smoothed somewhat, but that may have been partly due to her singing style change. On her previous albums, she had put a lot of power behind her vocals (some people call it screaming). On Simply Streisand, she doesn't do much power vocals except in certain songs (I'll Know). The songs on this release show a marked shift into a softer and quieter singing style. This is the style she would adopt and use through much of the 70s, 80s and 90s. In fact, she would soften it even more by such songs as Evergreen .

Only Barbra can answer the question fully, but her pregnancy (and her cesarean section delivery of Jason) may have weakened her body enough that she couldn't put the power behind the vocals for this release. Thus, this may explain the more spoken voice vocals present throughout Simply Streisand.

None of this is to say that this is a bad release. In fact, it's much better than a lot of people realize. It's not 5 star worthy, however. She didn't 'sing her heart out' like she had on her previous studio releases. Her song choices could also have been better. Even still, she puts out an excellent performance with each song. With her previous albums, she combined singing and acting. This style emphasized her as a Broadway singer. With Simply Streisand, she chooses a straightforward singing style without the interpretive theatrics. What you hear on Simply Streisand is a much less Broadway and much more radio friendly vocal style (even though her choice of both her material and the arrangements still say lounge singer).

She would again return to her Broadway power vocals once more before her pop era fully takes hold with What About Today? . Even though, the 'What about Today' material and arrangements are late 60s pop friendly and far less lounge or Broadway style.

Overall, this release does have a place in any Barbra collection. It's definitely not her worst release. In fact, it's a pleasant change from her earlier power vocals. This release shows a marked shift away from her Broadway roots and would definitely usher in her pop/rock releases of the 70s.

7 people found this helpful

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W. Soule

A True Treasure

Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2010

Verified Purchase

Simply Streisand is my favorite Barbra album, and I do not say that lightly. There are many, many, MANY perfect albums out there by the queen of songs but this one is my all time top of the list favorite. The reason, it all just fits together, its just a perfect blend. Its the melding of singer, songs, and orchestrations.

Just listen to Barbras introduction into "The Nearness of You", goose bump city, oh my gosh. And it doesn't stop there. It just keeps on. There are too many favorite moments on this CD to list. Its at a bargin price, snatch it up and be amazed. All you new fans of Barbara will stand in utter amazement at the sheer power and artistry of this national treasure. If you think I like Barbara, yep you are right, I do. I don't always agree with her politics or some of her statements and choices but that is not what this is about. You have to admit, the woman can sing........

4 people found this helpful

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Connoisseur

Barbra's best album after her "Second Album" without a doubt!

Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2009

Verified Purchase

"My Funny Valentine" is pure heaven but by the time she gets to Jerome Kern's, "All The Things You Are" you are absolutely convinced you have purchased one of the greatest recordings ever made. Her "Second Album" is still the best. Sorry Barb, to my mind I liked you better before you took singing lessons and became a Jewish goddess. "Color Me Barbra" your second TV special, I forced my father to watch in the Grill Room at the Army Navy Club in Washington D.C. when it first aired. He called you Barbra Strident as a term of endearment after that.

2 people found this helpful

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Cecily Croston

One of my very favorites CD's

Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2020

Verified Purchase

Somewhere I lost my original CD. This is a recent 2nd purchase as it is probably my favorite. Why? It is, to me at least, an offering of romantic and seldom heard songs.

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Derek Preston

great condition

Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2021

Verified Purchase

great condition arrived safely

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Det. Abilene

All the things she is!

Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2003

Verified Purchase

I would actually give this album four-and-a-half stars. This record is generally thought of a disappointment since it was Streisand's first record to miss the Top Ten, although it still charted at a very respectable #12 and went Gold years later. Truth is, however, that the record is extremely entertaining, just a little more ordinary than the nine albums that proceeded it. Some of the material (such as "My Funny Valentine" and "The Boy Next Door") are a little over-obvious (and had been performed by countless other crooners by this time), but Streisand does all of the songs justice. She shines on Broadway tunes "I'll Know" and "Loverman" and brings a incomparable tenderness to "The Nearness of You" and "More Than You Know." The only real fault with this disc is that, even though it is all well performed and arranged, it really doesn't contain anything that Barbra hadn't done better before. But while it may not have broken any new ground, SIMPLY STREISAND is still an excellent addition to Streisand's sixties catalogue and a strong contender for her most underrated album.

7 people found this helpful

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Byron Kolln

not her best album, but certainly not her worst either

Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2007

Verified Purchase

Barbra Streisand's album entitled 'Simply Streisand' sees the singer make the transition from nightclub belter to romantic balladeer, performing some of the great love songs. While it doesn't have the fire or exitement of earlier albums, it's still a very worthwhile title.

Barbra spins gold with "All the Things You Are" (one of the most beautiful songs EVER written, originally from the musical "Very Warm for May"); "When Sunny Gets Blue", and "Make the Man Love Me" (from "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn").

Despite the ever-looming shadow of Judy Garland, Streisand's take on "The Boy Next Door" features enough to make it distinguishable. "More Than You Know" (later recycled for the movie Funny Lady ) is also charming.

Perhaps the reason why this album failed to make an impression during it's debut was because, on the surface, it seems so one-dimensional. Streisand's earlier albums had been a collection of many moods and styles. Still, 'Simply Streisand' is a fine record of the vintage Miss Barbra in full-flight.

[Columbia CK-9482]

8 people found this helpful

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