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Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Volume 2
Close-up image of Barbra Streisand facing to the left in black and white.
Greatest hits album by
Barbra Streisand
ReleasedNovember 15, 1978
RecordedJuly 1970–February 1978
Genre
Length39:35
LabelColumbia
Producer
Barbra Streisand chronology
Songbird
(1978) 		Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Volume 2
(1978) 		The Main Event
(1979)
Singles from Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Volume 2
  1. "You Don't Bring Me Flowers"
    Released: October 7, 1978 (1978-10-07)
  2. "Superman"
    Released: March 1979 (1979-03)

Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Volume 2 is the second greatest hits album recorded by American vocalist Barbra Streisand. It was released on November 15, 1978 by Columbia Records. The album is a compilation consisting of ten commercially successful singles from the singer's releases in the 1970s, with a majority of them being cover songs. It also features a new version of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers", which was released as the collection's only single on October 7, 1978. Originating on Streisand's previous album, Songbird, the new rendition is a duet with Neil Diamond who had also recorded the song for his 1978 album of the same name. The idea for the duet originated from DJ Gary Guthrie who sold the idea to the record label for $5 million.

Critically appreciated, Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Volume 2 received a perfect five-star rating from both AllMusic and Rolling Stone. It was also a commercial success, topping the charts in Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, and peaking at number two in Australia. The album later received certifications in a total of six countries, including in Australia, Canada and the United States. In the latter country, it was certified 5× Platinum and sold over 5 million copies according to the Recording Industry Association of America.

Promotion and development

In May 1978, Streisand released her twentieth studio album Songbird that featured the song "You Don't Bring Me Flowers".[1] Despite not being released as a physical or commercial single from Songbird, it was distributed in a 7" record format on October 7, 1978.[2] However, the version that appears on Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Volume 2 is a duet with American singer Neil Diamond, who also contributed to the song's lyrics.[3] As Streisand released Songbird, Diamond had already recorded a version of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" on his "I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight" album. Because both versions of the song were recorded in the same key, American DJ Gary Guthrie combined the two songs together while playing records at a local radio station in Louisville, Kentucky. Guthrie pitched the idea to CBS Records International (the international arm of Columbia) for a $5 million contract, to which they eventually accepted, despite CBS breaching the contract initially.[4] Their collaboration was a global, commercial success, topping the charts in both the United States and Canada.[5][6] The version with Diamond has since sold more than 2 million copies in the United States.[7]

A sequel to her first greatest hits album, Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits (1970), the second volume contains ten singles released during Streisand's second decade in the recording industry, ranging from "Stoney End" (1970) to "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" (1978). The songs featured on the record were recorded between July 1970 and October 1978.[1][8] Overall, it features a total of three number-one hits ("The Way We Were", "Evergreen", and "You Don't Bring Me Flowers"), two top-ten singles ("Stoney End" and "My Heart Belongs to Me"), and three Top 40 songs ("Sweet Inspiration / Where You Lead", "Songbird", and "Prisoner").[9] "All in Love Is Fair" and "Superman" are the two other songs on the track listing.[10] Columbia Records released the compilation on November 15, 1978.[11] The label also issued an 8-track cartridge version of the album in 1978, with a differing track listing; single "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" was split into two separate parts increasing the number of tracks on the record from ten to eleven.[10] In 1987, the album was released in a compact disc format.[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Rolling Stone[13]

Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Volume 2 was critically acclaimed by music critics. It was given a perfect five out of five stars rating by AllMusic's William Ruhlmann, who called it a "genre-defining album [...] that drew upon the rock revolution to redefine classic pop for a new generation". He also gave praise towards the album for successfully capturing the best of her "contemporary soft-rock [and] highly successful" singles from her "largely inconsistent" albums. Additionally, Ruhlmann claimed that the success of the record stemmed from the fact that her singles in the 1970s were more "precious" and not always "show music material", contrasting to her songs in the 1960s.[9] As part of Rolling Stone's The New Rolling Stone Record Guide, released in 1983, they rated the collection a perfect five stars. Streisand's first volume from 1970 and Guilty from 1980 also achieved the same status.[13]

Commercial performance

The compilation album was a success, topping the charts in four countries. In the United States, Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Volume 2 debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 chart for the week ending December 2, 1978 (also serving as the week's highest new entry).[14] The following week it rose to number three and on January 6, 1979, it topped the chart.[15][16] The record spent a total of 46 weeks on the Billboard 200,[17] and by December 1984, the album and Streisand's Guilty (1980) had both sold over 4 million physical copies in the United States, becoming quadruple certified by the RIAA.[18] It would later be re-certified to 5× Platinum on October 28, 1994.[7] It was one of the United States' best-selling albums in 1979, coming in at number 28 on Billboard's annual year-end chart.[19] Billboard's Fred Bronson wrote in The Billboard Book of Number One Hits that the commercial and critical achievements of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" is what made Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Volume 2 a certified Platinum album in the US.[20]

On Canada's chart, compiled by RPM, it debuted at number 60 on the week ending December 9, 1978.[21] Four weeks later, it would top the chart on January 13, 1979.[22] Overall, it spent a total of 20 weeks charting in Canada[23] and later received a triple platinum certification from Music Canada on March 1, 1979.[24] It was also Streisand's first chart-topping album in the United Kingdom, where it spent four consecutive weeks at the highest ranking position and later was certified Platinum for sales upwards of 300,000 copies.[25][26]

In New Zealand, the album debuted at number five on January 28, 1979, becoming the chart's highest new entry.[27] The following week, it topped the chart and remained at that position for four consecutive weeks; overall, it spent a total of 19 weeks charting in that country.[28] It also charted in Australia, where it peaked at number two according to the Kent Music Report. The Australian Recording Industry Association certified Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Volume 2 double Platinum in 2000, signifying sales upwards of 140,000.[29] Although the compilation did not chart in Hong Kong, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry certified the album Platinum for sales of 20,000 copies in 1982.[30]

Track listing

Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Volume 2 – Standard edition[11]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Evergreen" (from A Star Is Born, 1976)
3:09
2."Prisoner" (from Eyes of Laura Mars, 1978)
3:57
3."My Heart Belongs to Me" (from Superman, 1977)Alan Gordon
3:24
4."Songbird" (from Songbird, 1978)
  • Dave Wolfert
  • Stephen Nelson
  • Koppelman
  • Klein
3:48
5."You Don't Bring Me Flowers" (with Neil Diamond)
Bob Gaudio3:26
6."The Way We Were" (from The Way We Were, 1974)
Marty Paich3:30
7."Sweet Inspiration / Where You Lead" (from Live Concert at the Forum, 1972)
Richard Perry6:20
8."All in Love Is Fair" (from The Way We Were)Stevie WonderTommy LiPuma3:52
9."Superman" (from Superman)Richie SnyderKlein2:50
10."Stoney End" (from Stoney End, 1971)Laura NyroPerry2:58
Total length:39:35
Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Volume 2 – 8-track cartridge edition[10]
No.TitleLength
1."Evergreen"3:09
2."My Heart Belongs to Me"3:24
3."Stoney End"2:58
4."Prisoner"3:57
5."All in Love Is Fair"3:52
6."You Don't Bring Me Flowers" (Beginning) (with Neil Diamond)2:02
7."You Don't Bring Me Flowers" (Conclusion) (with Neil Diamond)1:31
8."The Way We Were"3:30
9."Songbird"3:48
10."Sweet Inspiration" / "Where You Lead"6:20
11."Superman"2:50
Total length:39:42

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of the CD edition of Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Volume 2.[11]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[35] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[24] 3× Platinum 300,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[30] Platinum 20,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[36] Platinum 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[26] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[7] 5× Platinum 5,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Songbird (Liner notes). Barbra Streisand (Vinyl release ed.). Columbia. 1978. JC 35375.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ "charts.nz – Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond – You Don't Bring Me Flowers (Song)". Hung Medien. October 7, 1978. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  3. ^ "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" (Liner notes). Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond (Vinyl release ed.). Columbia. 1978. 3-10840.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ ""You Don't Bring Me Flowers" – Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond". The Super Seventies. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  5. ^ "The Hot 100 – The Week Of December 2, 1978". Billboard. December 2, 1978. Archived from the original on December 6, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  6. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0056a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  7. ^ a b c "American album certifications – Barbra Streisand – Greatest Hits Volume II". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  8. ^ Stoney End (Liner notes). Barbra Streisand (Vinyl release ed.). Columbia. 1971. KC 30378.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ a b c Ruhlmann, William. "Barbra Streisand – Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 17, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  10. ^ a b c Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Volume 2 (Liner notes). Barbra Streisand (8-track cartridge ed.). Columbia. 1978. FCA 35679.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ a b c Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Volume 2 (Liner notes). Barbra Streisand (CD release ed.). CBS, Sony Music Entertainment. 1984. 35DP 161.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ "Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2: Barbra Streisand". Amazon. July 6, 1987. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  13. ^ a b Marsh & Swenson 1983, p. 494
  14. ^ "Billboard 200: The Week Of December 2, 1978". Billboard. December 2, 1978. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  15. ^ "Billboard 200: The Week Of December 9, 1978". Billboard. December 9, 1978. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  16. ^ "Billboard 200: The Week Of January 6, 1979". Billboard. January 6, 1979. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  17. ^ a b "Barbra Streisand Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  18. ^ Billboard staff (December 15, 1984). "RIAA Multi-Platinum Awards". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 50. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 79. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  19. ^ a b Billboard staff (December 22, 1979). "1: Top Albums of the Year". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 51. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 12. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  20. ^ Bronson 1988, p. 291
  21. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0055a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  22. ^ a b "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0076a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  23. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4742b". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  24. ^ a b "Canadian album certifications – Barbra Streisand – Greatest Hits, Vol. II". Music Canada. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  25. ^ a b "Barbra Streisand | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  26. ^ a b "British album certifications – Barbra Streisand – Barbra Streisand's Hits Vol 2". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  27. ^ "charts.nz – Album Top 40 – 28/01/1979". Hung Medien. January 28, 1979. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  28. ^ a b "Charts.nz – Barbra Streisand – Greatest Hits Vol. 2". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  29. ^ a b c Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  30. ^ a b "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1982". IFPI Hong Kong.
  31. ^ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 32, No. 13, December 22 1979". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  32. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1979 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  33. ^ "Najlepiej sprzedające się albumy w W.Brytanii w 1979r" (in Polish). Archived from the original on August 31, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  34. ^ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1980". Archived from the original on August 24, 2012.. Cash Box magazine.
  35. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  36. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Barbra Streisand – Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Vol. 2". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 19, 2021.

Sources

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