Product Description

Love is the Answer - One disc containing 13 songs (with orchestra) in a jewel box.

Track Listing

1. Here's To Life
2. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
3. Gentle Rain
4. If You Go Away (Ne Me Quitte Pas)
5. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
6. Make Someone Happy
7. Where Do You Start?
8. A Time For Love
9. Here's That Rainy Day
10. Love Dance
11. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
12. Some Other Time
13. You Must Believe In Spring

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #55 in Music
• Released on: 2009-09-29
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Customer Reviews

Barbra: Still A Contendah!
What has Barbra delivered this time around? Since 1993, we've been "Back To Broadway", to the church and synagogue ("Higher Ground"), to her wedding ("A Love Like Ours"), to the movies ("The Movie Album"), and to a reunion from the disco era ("Guilty Pleasures"). All of these were successful to a good degree, my least favorite being "A Love Like Ours". With "Love Is The Answer", Barbra returns to her performing roots to do mellow jazz, with Diana Krall as collaborator - not so different from the standards Barbra has always excelled at.

This is no earth-shaking release, but rather a collection of restrained, relaxed, very musical songs, like her "Third Album". The Voice has deepened, and weakened a bit, but it still has that round, smooth quality. The person behind The Voice still sounds warm and wise, but a shade darker, intriguing simply because she is revealing yet another facet of herself. The arrangements are pretty basic, appropriate for this music. The sound is well-engineered, with the piano in particular coming alive. I don't find that there is one standout track, but rather that the tracks are pretty evenly realized. But I do have my favorites. On "Gentle Rain" and "Love Dance", the soft Latin rhythm and tinkling piano complement Barbra's artistry very well. "A Time For Love" is filled with bright images, and in places the song reminds me of "All The Things You Are" from "Simply Streisand". In "Here's That Rainy Day" I like the expression of strength while recognizing and accepting the end of a romance. And then there's "If You Go Away", about which I will speak again.

I must say that some of the negative comments about this album puzzle me. First, there are those who expected it to sound like one of her 60's albums. Hello? Then, many expected the album to be more "jazzy". I wonder, are they confusing "jazz" with "swing"? I've always thought of the "jazz" genre as being very understated, subtle. You know, like Peggy Lee. In a similar vein, one commenter said there is "...not even one song with a beat." Buying Barbra for "beats"? I recommend Madonna's wonderful "Celebration" collection. Further, about Barbra's French in "If You Go Away (Ne Me Quitte Pas)", one said that it sounds absurd, while another said, "...her transition into French is so sudden it's unintentionally funny." Well, French was my college major, and it sounds OK to me, so, I don't know, you be the judge. Frankly, I think her French adds to the poignancy of the sad song. Even her album cover was criticized, for being air-brushed! I think these expectations are a little demanding, even nit-picking, especially for a singer in her mid-60's. Judging the album for what it is, just the next in a long string of beautiful presentations, not comparing it to past glories - on that basis, I think it works out fine.

Just one more thing. I listened to the entire CD for the first time tonight. "Funny Girl" happened to be on TCM. So, I was watching Barbra Past while listening to Barbra Present. Talk about a surrealistic experience!

Sometimes less is more . . .
Skip this version and go straight for the deluxe edition that offers these songs performed with just Diana Krall's quartet. Exquisite. I'm a die-hard Streisand fan but discerning enough to know that every album she's issued isn't golden. I approached this album with a great deal of cynicism (particularly since I've never seen her hype an album as much as this one) but concur that this one ranks among her best. Streisand herself at her Village Vanguard performance referred to coming full-circle with this album. Maybe, maybe not, but make a playlist of her very first album and this one, hit shuffle, and prepare to be blown away by the experience.

Exquisite Sophistication...Simply Streisand.
She hits notes on this album that I didn't thinks he could hit anymore. I am blown away, I tell you. From the first note of "Here's to Life" to the last line of "Some Other Time"...perfection. Barbra has not made an album of this particular quality, intimacy, and consistency since the sixties. No question. There are so many ultimate moments for the Streisand Hall of Fame here.

This album is easily her best whole package since "The Broadway Album." Easily. This woman's gift is ageless. Boundless.