Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Barbra Streisand - Superman (1977)

“Superman” by Barbra Streisand (1977)

Release Date: June 1977
Produced by Gary Klein, Charles Calello (produced “My Heart Belongs To Me)
Genre: Pop, Easy Listening, Adult Contemporary
Label: Columbia

Chart Positions: #1 (Canada), #3 (US), #11 (Australia), #23 (Netherlands), #32 (UK), #33 (New Zealand), #44 (Japan), #46 (Sweden)
Certifications: 2xPlatinum (US, Canada), Gold (Australia)
Awards: N/A

Singles and Chart Positions:
“My Heart Belongs To Me” #4 (US), #3 (Canada) #1 (US Adult Contemporary, Canada Adult Contemporary)
“Superman” #29 (US Adult Contemporary) #18 (Canada Adult Contemporary)
 Singles Certifications: N/A
Other Charting Tracks: N/A
Best Tracks: "My Heart Belongs To Me," "Superman," "Cabin Fever," "New York State Of Mind"



Trivia: “Superman” is Barbra Streisand’s 19th studio album (if you include the soundtracks it is her 27th album). At this point in time “Streisand Superman” was her second most successful album worldwide topped only by 1976’s “A Star Is Born” soundtrack. As the years progressed other such as 1980’s “Guilty,” 1985’s “The Broadway Album” and 1997’s “Higher Ground” have outperformed “Streisand Superman.”

Having been released only 7 months after the “A Star Is Born” soundtrack, “Superman” follows with a similar pop-rock feel. Two of the song that showed up on the album (“Answer Me” and “Lullaby For Myself”) were written for “A Star Is Born” but did not make it into the movie. Streisand co-wrote “Answer Me” with Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher. Streisand also co-wrote the rock inspired “Don’t Believe What You Said.”

Many have stated Streisand’s cover of “New York State of Mind” fit her so well that it has become the definitive recording. Billy Joel, who wrote the song claimed, “I thought, ‘This is one of the greatest woman singers ever, doing … me? Me?’ I really loved it, though, because it kind of finally made me legitimate in this business to my mother.”

The first single release was the classic ballad “My Heart Belongs To Me” which was a huge success reaching the Top 5 in both the US and Canada. Columbia Records and Barbra put together a “publicity film” for “My Heart Belongs To Me.” It was shown at Columbia’s 1977 convention to industry insiders. Barbra lip-synched to the track. During the musical interlude, she “conducted” the orchestra, then started coughing from the smoke machines, all very comedic. At the end of the video, she spun toward the camera and made a funny face.

My Heart Belongs To Me (1977)

The second single, the title track “Superman,” was released about a year and a half after the album and did not fare to well, but was a moderate hit on Adult Contemporary radio.








BARBRA STREISAND

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