Barbra Streisand's 2014 duets album,
Partners, features the legendary vocalist performing songs associated with her storied career alongside a handful of handpicked guests. Produced by
Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and
Walter Afanasieff,
Partners is a duets album in the modern tradition of such similarly inclined releases as
Frank Sinatra's
Duets,
Tony Bennett's
Duets: An American Classic, and
Paul Anka's
Duets. The album also follows up
Streisand's 2013 live concert recording
Back to Brooklyn. As with that album,
Partners works as a retrospective, with
Streisand revisiting songs she's recorded on past albums, such as her classic "Evergreen" from the soundtrack to her 1976 remake of
A Star Is Born, performed here with
Babyface. Also joining
Streisand are such luminaries as
Michael Buble for "It Had to Be You,"
Stevie Wonder for "People,"
Billy Joel for "New York State of Mind,"
Andrea Bocelli for "I Still Can See Your Face," and others.
John Mayer even brings along his guitar for a bluesy,
Count Basie-inspired rendition of "Come Rain or Come Shine." With
Edmonds and
Afanasieff on board, the tracks on
Partners showcase a pleasing balance between
Streisand's various stylistic wheelhouses from Broadway standards, to adult contemporary pop, to classical crossover, and even a hint of country (as her duet with
Blake Shelton reveals). While certainly a novelty, the digitally created, fan-service duet with the late
Elvis Presley (
Streisand's original choice of co-star for
A Star Is Born) is tastefully and lovingly crafted. Ultimately,
Partners works as guided tour down
Streisand's memory lane, and with her resonant voice still in supple shape, any excuse to hear her sing is a welcome invitation. ~ Matt Collar
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