• Artist: Barbra Streisand
• Flags: Lyrics are included with the album
• Rating:
• Styles: Traditional Pop, Adult Contemporary, Pop
• Track Picks: "If You Ever Leave Me," "Isn't It a Pity?," "We Must Be Loving Right"
• Similar Albums: This Time I'm Swingin'!/Pretty Baby, The Very Best of Jose Feliciano [Classic World], I Am Woman: The Essential Helen Reddy Collection, Coleccion, Vol. 3: Romantica, Merry Christmas America, Light My Fire [RCA], The Best of Steve & Eydie, Greatest Hits [Capitol], All-Time Greatest Hits

Review

Barbra Streisand makes sure there's no doubt to what love she's referring to in the title of A Love Like Ours. On both the front and back covers, and throughout the liner notes, she's seen with her new husband, James Brolin. As a matter of fact, the album is no less than a celebration of her love of Brolin and their storybook wedding. To some, this may be a little too sentimental, but the emotions are genuine, as she makes abundantly clear in her gushing, track-by-track liner notes. Streisand tackles both standards and newly written tunes, including the Richard Marx-penned "If You Ever Leave Me," which she sings with Vince Gill. She claims in the liner notes that "If You Ever Leave Me" was intended to be a country song -- that's why Gill sings on the track -- but, like the Gershwin tune "Isn't It a Pity," the show tunes, and "We Must Be Loving Right," the other country song on the album, everything is given a measured, polished adult contemporary production. That's a little ironic, since Streisand claims nearly everything was recorded live with an orchestra. Nevertheless, it sounds as if it was assembled in a studio piece by piece, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, the absence of longtime collaborator Marvin Hamlisch is notable, since the arrangers on A Love Like Ours don't have much flair. Consequently, the album is a little subdued, which is appropriate for a romantic album. And, judged as a romance album, it works pretty well. Essentially, A Love Like Ours is a simple love album, a soundtrack to Streisand and Brolin's wedding that will work for other weddings. It's mood music that doesn't set the mood, but will compliment the mood quite nicely. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	iTunes	Composers	Performers	Time
I've Dreamed of You	...	Ann Hampton Callaway, Rolf Løvland	Barbra Streisand	(4:46)
Isn't It a Pity?	...	George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin	Barbra Streisand	(5:22)
The Island	...	Ivan Lins, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Vitor Martins	Barbra Streisand	(4:37)
Love Like Ours	...	Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman	Barbra Streisand	(3:59)
If You Ever Leave Me	...	Richard Marx	Barbra Streisand, Vince Gill	(4:38)
We Must Be Loving Right	...	Roger Brown, Clay Blaker	Barbra Streisand	(3:37)
If I Never Met You	...	Tom Snow, Dean Pitchford	Barbra Streisand	(3:38)
It Must Be You	...	Steve Dorff, Stephony Smith	Barbra Streisand	(3:29)
Just One Lifetime	...	Melissa Manchester, Tom Snow	Barbra Streisand	(4:18)
If I Don't Love You	...	Bruce Roberts, Junior Miles	Barbra Streisand	(4:18)
Wait	...	Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman	Barbra Streisand	(4:10)
The Music That Makes Me Dance		Jule Styne, Bob Merrill	Barbra Streisand	(7:04)

Credits

Barbra Streisand (Main Performer), Barbra Streisand (Liner Notes), Kenny G (Sax (Tenor)), John Jorgenson (Guitar (Electric)), David Foster (Keyboards), Bruce Dukov (Violin), Robbie Buchanan (Synthesizer), Jon Clarke (Recorder), Paulinho Da Costa (Percussion), Jim Cox (Piano), George Doering (Guitar), Stuart Duncan (Fiddle), Felipe Elgueta (Programming), Paul Franklin (Pedal Steel), Vince Gill (Guitar (Acoustic)), Vince Gill (Guitar (Electric)), Vince Gill (Performer), Reggie Hamilton (Bass), Ralph Humphrey (Drums), Michael Landau (Guitar (Electric)), Arif Mardin (Producer), Richard Marx (Keyboards), Tommy Morgan (Harmonica), Dean Parks (Guitar), John "J.R." Robinson (Drums), Randy Waldman (Keyboards), Walter Afanasieff (Drums), Walter Afanasieff (Keyboards), Walter Afanasieff (Programming), Leland Sklar (Bass), Kamil Rustam (Guitar (Acoustic)), Mike Lang (Piano), Greg Bieck (Programming), Nathan Est (Bass), Donald Kirkpatrick (Guitar (Acoustic)), Donald Kirkpatrick (Guitar (Electric))