*People* is probably the best collection of wide-ranging songs by the one and only SuperDiva. She shows off her impressive pipes in powerful songs like the "My Lord and Master," the fun "When in Rome," and moody "Supper Time" in addition to her quieter talents in such songs as wistful "Autumn," light-hearted "Absent Minded Me," and, of course, universally appreciated "People."

My favorites cover over half the album, but the remaining three songs are probably just as wonderful. Barbara ranges from the loungy "Don't Like Goodbyes" to the almost operatic "Supper Time" to classic Broadway "My Lord and Master" to the fun-filled '60s playtime songs of "When in Rome" and "Love is a Bore."

Like these last two tracks, the album does more than just entertain. It takes you back to those days that you only just remember (or just wish you rememered) and makes you want to dust off your pillbox hat to step into the not-so-glamorous life of Fanny Brice or put on your Sunday clothes for an adventurous day in the life of Dolly Levi.

Don't pass *People* up as just some of that *American Beauty*-style "Lawrence Welk crap." Put it in your spinner and give it a chance--with or without Annette Benning. Revel in the airy musical treasures of Streisand (possibly at her all-time best).

Questionnable mastering
This won't be a review of this wonderful 60's Streisand album (all of her 60's albums are simply her most passionnate, over the top and best work) but mostly a review regarding the mastering of this 2002 edition. I am not sure which edition I had already, the first one (on cd without the white sticker) most probably but even though some details are missing indeed (in comparasion with this one) It is MUCH softer on the ears. This newly remastered version is, to my ears at least, incredibly bright and irritable, espacially regarding her voice. Absent Minded Me, the first track, which is such an brilliant song and sung by Miss Streisand with such passion, drama and abandon, is simply scratching my ears! Waaayyyyy to bright espacially in the high/treble area.

I do own the 3 versions of the Funny Girl soundtrack and the improvments from one another are obvious. From the Bernie Grundman remaster to the Stephen Marcussen one's (same as this one) though, It is subtle but there nevertheless. I must say that I am quite happy with the Funny Girl 2002 edition. I never thought that People would be as bad since It must have been done around the same time from the same people (no pun intented!) ie, Stephen Marcussen and Stewart Whitmore.

It is perhaps a question of taste and preferences, but really, I am somewhat glad to read that I am not the only one who thought that this mastering wasn't state of the art. I will probably buy The Way We We're, A Star Is Born and The Brodway Album nonetheless to see what happenned with those. Already had those in previous edition.

Those of us who heard such differences are probably into hi-fi and good sounds and by no means It means that M.Marcussen is bad at what he does, again, I think It's a matter of preferences. That said, most Streisand cd's we're remastered in the early 90's by Bernie Grundman and he did a wonderful job at It. They all sound somewhat warm and VERY musical. The first 3 Streisand Albums are espacially great in this regard.

Truth or urban legends, It is somewhat irrelevant, but It is said that Miss Streisand is quite controlling over her art. I wonder If she did hear It, If she had her word to say before It was put on the shelves? Because this 2002 remastered People edition isn't really worth the price of admission. Again, the 2002 remastered Funny Girl soundtrack does sound great and was done by the same guys so maybe one step was missing when they send the final cut to the pressing facility... Or maybe they just missed this one completely altogheter!

Anyway, all this to say, People is a GREAT album, try to find a second-hand copy, It's cheaper and It does sound much better than this newly remastered one. 5 stars for the music, 2 stars for the not-so-good sound.

Barbra at her best.
This is simply the quintessential Barbra Streisand album. This is the best of all the early works. Every Streisand recording from this period is worth owning - but this one is special. Every song is a gem - "Absent Minded Me," Cy Coleman's "When in Rome," Bock and Harnick's "Will He Like Me?," "I'm All Smiles" (delightful), "Love is a Bore," "Don't Like Goodbye" (with lyrics by Truman Capote) and Jule Styne's classic title number. If someone were to ask me which of Streisand's albums they should buy first, this would be it - followed by "The Broadway Album" and "Barbra Streisand featuring The Way We Were and All In Love is Fair."

Best of Barbra
This, one of Streisand's first album releases, is one that real sold me on her. Before "People" made her a household name, and opened the floodgates for more Barbra, I found this album to be a hauntingly beautiful demonstration of a singer yet to be born into international glory. She was yet unstructured by the huge successes yet to come, and filled each song with genuine passion. Especially wonderful is her song "I'm all Smiles" from the ill-fated Broadway production of "The Yearling". I've played it many times over, and listened to a very different Barbra Streisand that later emerged as a picky, bitchy, hard-to-work-with "superstar". It is a wonderful album. Compare, if you wish, with later releases, and see what changes fabulous stardom have wrought on this amazing singer.

one of the best of the last millenium
I am reviewing the album, not the remastered CD panned above. (Try to find a used one) To state it simply, I am a fan of female vocalists, and not a big Streisand fan, but this album is one of TEN I would save if I had to flee town. The songs are brilliant and Streisand's voice is youthful and spirited and not tired- out as she has seemed of late. The arrangements are classic. The songs are mostly Broadway musical songs. This is simply a great album and one I have listened to consistently since I was 14 when I bought the first edition. If one only owns one Streisand album this should be it.