Released 50 years ago
A Star Is Born
Barbra Streisand · 1976
41 min · 11 tracks · jazz
A lush blend of orchestral pop and emotional balladry that showcases Streisand's powerful vocals and heartfelt storytelling.
Top tracks — play these first
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Love Theme From “A Star Is Born” (Evergreen) — This track encapsulates the emotional core of the film, showcasing Streisand's vocal prowess while becoming one of her signature songs.
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Watch Closely Now Start here — The opening track sets the tone for the album’s narrative arc, blending introspective lyrics with a compelling melody that draws listeners into the story.
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I Believe in Love — This upbeat number contrasts with more somber tracks, reflecting themes of hope and love while highlighting Streisand's versatility as an artist.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends orchestral pop with emotional balladry, showcasing strong vocals and cohesive themes.
What we noticed
- Several tracks include extended instrumental sections that allow the orchestration to take center stage before returning to vocals.
- The final track is a reprise of 'Evergreen', creating a thematic closure that ties back to earlier motifs in the album.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- emotive vocal performances
- theatrical storytelling elements
- introspective late-night listening
- rich, lush arrangements
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album significantly elevated Streisand's fame and cultural impact.
- Themes
- Hollywood dreams· disco-era romance· emotional balladry
- Career context
- By the time 'A Star Is Born' was released in 1976, Barbra Streisand was already a major star, having established her career with albums like 'People' (1964) and her Oscar-winning performance in 'Funny Girl' (1968). This album served as both a soundtrack to the film of the same name and a significant moment in her evolution as an artist, merging her cinematic and musical talents.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Bette Midler· Liza Minnelli· Diana Ross
Tracklist
- 1 Watch Closely Now Start here 3:50
- 2 Queen Bee 3:56
- 3 Everything 3:50
- 4 Lost Inside of You 2:54
- 5 Hellacious Acres 2:58
- 6 Love Theme From “A Star Is Born” (Evergreen) 3:04
- 7 The Woman in the Moon 4:49
- 8 I Believe in Love 3:13
- 9 Crippled Crow 3:30
- 10 Finale: With One More Look at You / Watch Closely Now 7:43
- 11 Love Theme From “A Star Is Born” (Evergreen) (reprise) 1:47
What to play next
Classical Barbra
1976
Continues the orchestral sound with a focus on classical interpretations.
Funny Lady – Original Soundtrack Recording
1975
Sets the stage with similar emotional balladry and vocal showcases.
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Long Hard Climb
Helen Reddy
Shares emotional balladry and themes of perseverance in the context of personal and Hollywood dreams.
Tapestry
Carole King
Combines lush orchestration with heartfelt storytelling, echoing the emotional depth found in Streisand's work.
I Feel for You
Chaka Khan
Blends disco rhythms with powerful vocals and emotional themes, resonating with the energy of the 70s pop scene.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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