Is The Ultimate Collection a good place to start with Barbra Streisand?

Yes, The Ultimate Collection is recommended as a starting point for new Barbra Streisand listeners. A sweeping collection of emotional ballads and powerful anthems showcasing Streisand's unparalleled vocal prowess across decades. By 2010, Barbra Streisand was already a cultural icon, celebrated for her diverse contributions to music and film. 'The Ultimate Collection' serves as a retrospective of her career, following her previous release, 'Love Is the Answer' in 2009. This compilation highlights her evolution from traditional pop to disco while reaffirming her status as a timeless artist.

Who is The Ultimate Collection for?

The Ultimate Collection works well if you're into steady emotional crescendos throughout, for reflective moments and cathartic sing-along opportunities.

How many songs are on The Ultimate Collection?

The Ultimate Collection has 18 tracks, running approximately 73 minutes.

The Ultimate Collection

Barbra Streisand · 2010

73 min · 18 tracks · jazz

A sweeping collection of emotional ballads and powerful anthems showcasing Streisand's unparalleled vocal prowess across decades.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Woman in Love Start here — This track stands out with its lush orchestration and passionate delivery, encapsulating the romantic themes that define much of Streisand's work.
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The Way We Were — As one of her most recognizable songs, it showcases Streisand's emotive singing style and has become a cultural touchstone representative of nostalgia.
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Don't Rain on My Parade — An empowering anthem, this song highlights Streisand's dynamic vocal ability, making it a defining moment in her live performances and recordings.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

59 /100

Treeline

Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

The collection showcases Streisand's vocal strength with varied arrangements but lacks the depth of her work.

What we noticed

Several tracks are medleys or feature extended instrumental sections, allowing for dynamic shifts in mood and tempo throughout the collection.
The sequencing begins with upbeat anthems before transitioning into more introspective ballads, creating a narrative arc across its length.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 6/10

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

steady emotional crescendos throughout
for reflective moments
cathartic sing-along opportunities
timeless ballads for nostalgia
sweeping melodies that linger

Maybe skip if you

seeking upbeat party tracks
prefer short, standalone songs

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Starting Point — A comprehensive collection, ideal for new listeners to explore Streisand's career.
Themes: Hollywood nostalgia· emotional balladry· romantic devotion
Career context: By 2010, Barbra Streisand was already a cultural icon, celebrated for her diverse contributions to music and film. 'The Ultimate Collection' serves as a retrospective of her career, following her previous release, 'Love Is the Answer' in 2009. This compilation highlights her evolution from traditional pop to disco while reaffirming her status as a timeless artist.
Stylistic neighbors: Bette Midler· Liza Minnelli· Diana Ross