Third Album 1964 Album

Streisand / Discography

The Third Album (1964)

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BELOW: Click the arrows to view photos of various releases of this album on vinyl and CD ...
  • ABOUT THE ALBUM
    • Released February 1964
    • Produced by Mike Berniker
    • Liner Notes: Sammy Cahn
    • Creative director: Robert Cato 
    • Designer: John Berg 
    • Cover Photo: Roddy McDowell
  • CATALOG NUMBERS
    • CL 2154 (mono LP, 1964)
    • CS 8954 (stereo LP, 1964)
    • CQ 624 (Reel-To-Reel, 7 ½ ips, 4-Track Stereo)
    • CS 7-8954 (7-inch “Stereo Seven” Jukebox EP)
    • CT 57379 (cassette tape)
    • CK 57379 (1993 Remastered CD)

  • CHARTS
    • DEBUT CHART DATE: 2-29-64
    • NO. WEEKS ON BILLBOARD 200 ALBUMS CHART: 74
    • PEAK CHART POSITION: #5
    • GOLD: 2/11/65

    Gold: 500,000 units shipped


    The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine.

Tracks

  • My Melancholy Baby [3:02]

    Written by: M. Watson / G.A. Norton / E. Burnett


    Arranged and Conducted by Ray Ellis

  • Just In Time [2:16]

    Written by: B. Comden / A. Green / J. Styne


    Orchestrated and Conducted by Sid Ramin

  • Taking A Chance On Love [2:34]

    Written by: J. Latouche / T. Fetter / V. Duke


    Arranged and Conducted by Ray Ellis

  • Bewitched (Bothered And Bewildered) [2:54]

    Written by: L. Hart / R. Rodgers


    Arranged by Peter Daniels

  • Never Will I Marry [2:27]

    Written by: F. Loesser


    Arranged and Conducted by Peter Matz


  • As Time Goes By [3:46]

    Written by: H. Hupfeld


    Arranged and Conducted by Ray Ellis

  • Draw Me A Circle [2:15]

    Written by: C. Young


    Arranged and Conducted by Sid Ramin

  • It Had To Be You [3:46]

    Written by: G. Kahn / I. Jones


    Arranged and Conducted by Ray Ellis

  • Make Believe [2:41]

    Written by: O. Hammerstein II / J. Kern


    Arranged and Conducted by Peter Matz

  • I Had Myself A True Love [4:23]

    Written by: J. Mercer / H. Arlen


    Arranged and Conducted by Sid Ramin

About the Album

The Third Album was the third album that Mike Berniker produced for Barbra Streisand at Columbia Records. He explained to the press how, in just a few short years, Streisand had grown as a vocalist: “There used to be an edge on the top of her voice,” he said, “but now that edge is gone. She's still pushing just as hard, but it's not as evident as it used to be. In her third album, her new one, there's a real serenity—at least, for Streisand it's serenity.”

After marrying Elliott Gould and finishing up a series of West Coast concerts, Barbra Streisand returned to New York City in the Fall of 1963 where she began to record songs for her third album. Barbra attended two recording sessions, working on songs with arrangements by Peter Matz and Ray Ellis. (Streisand loved Billie Holiday’s album Lady in Satin which Ellis arranged. “Ray Ellis’ arrangements made such an impression on me,” Streisand recalled in 2003.)

Streisand could have chosen a title for the album that publicized one of the songs included on it. Instead, she told the Columbia Records art department, “It’s my third album, so let’s just call it what it is: The Third Album. I guess I like straight-forward titles even though the songs are less than straight-forward songs.”
Columbia Records ad for Streisand's first three albums
Photo of Streisand on Judy Garland show by Roddy McDowall
Actor Roddy McDowall captured the cover image on Barbra's Third Album. He photographed her in 1963 when she was a guest on The Judy Garland Show. Against black, Barbra was singing “Bewitched.”
1963 Third Album Recording Sessions: 

October 30, 1963 — Studio A (799 7th Avenue, New York)
11:30pm—2:30am
  • Never Will I Marry (from the musical Greenwillow)
  • Make Believe (from the musical Show Boat)
  • Gotta Move (Peter Daniels Arrangement) (unreleased)
  • Bewitched (Peter Daniels Arrangement) (from the musical Pal Joey)
Produced by: Mike Berniker
Arranged & Conducted by: Peter Matz

November 20, 1963 — Studio C (207 East 30th Street, New York)
  • My Melancholy Baby
  • As Time Goes By
  • It Had To Be You
  • Taking A Chance On Love (from the musical Cabin in the Sky)
Produced by: Mike Berniker
Arranged & Conducted by: Ray Ellis

Barbra Streisand started rehearsals for Funny Girl in December 1963. On a Sunday evening in January 1964, one week before she previewed Funny Girl for the first time in Boston, Streisand recorded three more songs for the album.

1964 Third Album Recording Sessions: 

January 6, 1964 — Studio C (207 East 30th Street, New York)
8:00 pm—11:00 pm
  • Just In Time (from the musical Bells Are Ringing)
  • Draw Me A Circle (from the musical That Hat! with book, music & lyrics by Cy Young)
  • I Had Myself A True Love (from the musical St. Louis Woman)
Produced by: Mike Berniker
Arranged & Conducted by: Sid Ramin

“Barbra Streisand The Third Album quite simply is her best. This fairly new recording artist walks inside and takes over a lyric.


[…] Much has been written about Miss Streisand and many thousands of words will follow barring something unforeseen. Only one is sufficient: Great!”



Vance Johnston, Tampa Tribune, March 22, 1964 

Released in February 1964, The Third Album had a different tone than the first two Streisand albums. “Here Barbra forgoes her larger-than-life-size approach and turns more introspective, allowing her innate musicality to help her make her points,” Larry Verdugo wrote.


Because of Barbra’s enormous output during this period of her career, The Third Album was under-publicized. Instead, the saga of Funny Girl seemed to occupy the entertainment columns. Streisand’s name appeared almost daily with rumors and reports on the stage version of Funny Girl and its out-of-town tryouts, behind the scenes struggles, and journey to Broadway.  


Another way Funny Girl overshadowed The Third Album was Columbia’s 7-inch release of “People.” The Funny Girl ballad was released as a single in January 1964. Barbra’s Third Album was a collection of standards and show tunes, without any Funny Girl songs on it.


Ultimately, The Third Album was eclipsed in 1964 by Capitol’s Original Broadway Cast Album of Funny Girl . The Third Album rose as high as #5 on Billboard’s Top LP’s chart and managed to stay in the top ten during the summer of 1964, with Funny Girl always besting it. The truth is that Barbra’s number one, Grammy-winning album, People, captured the public’s attention. It was released a mere seven months afterThe Third Album, in 1964.


Columbia Records mailed a press release to publicize the album:


“A Star of Stars”


Youthful dreams and fancies usually never come true. For Barbra Streisand it is necessary to think up new dreams and new fancies to keep up with the speed with which her old ones come to pass. The latest is this album, which was preceded by Cue Magazine's champagne party honoring this daring young lass as their Entertainer of the Year.


Next on Barbra's agenda is a starring role on Broadway. From there? Well, your guess is as good as any. One thing is certain ... wherever electricity is being manufactured in this elusive pursuit called show business ... you will find Barbra Streisand in the forefront.


Here is her third album. The first two are red-hot best sellers, but this one captures both the rising talent and the supreme confidence Barbra is exuding these days. Combining her talents with this new warm glow presents you with yet a new accomplishment. This is undoubtedly her best album to date. Why not listen now? You'll agree.


Sincerely,

Bob Thompson

Columbia Records Sales Corp.

Columbia Records' ad for The Third Album

Jabara's Homage

In 1979, singer and songwriter Paul Jabara released his third album on Casablanca Records and paid homage to Streisand's Third Album cover. Jabara's album included the tracks “Disco Wedding” and a duet with Donna Summer called “Never Lose Your Sense Of Humor.” 

Streisand fans will recognize Jabara's name as one of the writers of the Streisand and Donna Summer duet “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough).”

SOURCES USED FOR THIS PAGE:
  • Barbra Magazine. Spring 1979, Vol. 1, No. 2. “Spinning Gold: Barbra on Record” by Larry Verdugo.
  • “Pop and Jazz” by Vance Johnston. Tampa Tribune, March 22, 1964.
  • SiriusXM Barbra Streisand Channel Interstitials. 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  • LP scans by Kevin Schlenker

END / THIRD ALBUM / NEXT ALBUM ....

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