My Name Is Barbra by Barbra Streisand - An Autobiography Summary "My Name Is Barbra" is a significant album in the career of Barbra Streisand, released in 1965 as a tie-in for her debut television special of the same name, which aired on CBS-TV on April 28, 1965. The album and the broadcast were closely connected, with the success of the TV special boosting the album's performance. The album achieved gold certification and peaked at #2 on the US charts, selling over one million copies worldwide by 1966. The album cover features a photograph of Streisand at age five, taken by her brother Sheldon, and a remastered CD version was released in 1990. The album's opening track, "My Name Is Barbara," comes from Leonard Bernstein's song cycle "I Hate Music," which explains the spelling difference from Streisand's own name. Notably, the CD release includes an extended arrangement of "Why Did I Choose You?," a minute longer than the original vinyl release. The song "Where Is the Wonder" was contributed by Dion McGregor and Michael Barr, marking a breakthrough in their songwriting career with Streisand's rendition. At the 8th Annual Grammy Awards, the album earned Streisand her third win for Best Female Vocal Performance and her fifth Grammy overall. Additionally, the National Association of Recording Merchandisers named Streisand the best-selling female vocalist of 1965. The track listing is divided into two sides, with the first side featuring songs like "My Name Is Barbara," "A Kid Again/I'm Five," "Jenny Rebecca," "My Pa," "Sweet Zoo," and "Where Is The Wonder." The second side includes "I Can See It," "Someone to Watch Over Me," "I've Got No Strings," "If You Were the Only Boy in the World," "Why Did I Choose You?," and "My Man." The album's production involved a collaboration between Streisand and various professionals. In early 1965, Streisand and her manager Marty Erlichman assembled a team for her TV special, including producer Richard Lewine, director Dwight Hemion, and musical director Peter Matz. Streisand recorded three songs from Mickey Leonard and Herbert Martin’s musical "The Yearling" for the album. Notably, “Why Did I Choose You” was adapted from a duet to a solo rendition for Streisand. Additionally, “My Pa” was recorded in two versions, with new lyrics by Martin for "My Love." Here is a Preview of What You Will Get: ⁃ A Detailed Introduction ⁃ A Comprehensive Chapter by Chapter Summary ⁃ Etc Get a copy of this summary and learn about the book.
