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If you haven’t picked up your copy of “Encore – Movie Partners Sing Broadway” the latest release from Barbra Streisand, then let me steer you in the right direction. Be sure to get the CD with the 4 Bonus Tracks! It was available at Target and some online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay.

The four bonus tracks include: 
I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TIME IT WAS – Barbra (Deluxe Exclusive) 
NOT A DAY GOES BY – Barbra (Deluxe Exclusive) 
FIFTY PERCENT – Barbra (Deluxe Exclusive)
LOSING MY MIND – Barbra (Deluxe Exclusive) 

These are some of the best tracks on the album, namely because they are the only non-duets. Now don’t get me wrong, I love all of the duets and the theme of the album having movie stars singing Broadway songs, but what is better than Barbra solo? Not much. 

I had never heard the Bergman song, Fifty Percent. James Brolin, Barbra’s real life husband does a dialog with Barbra at the beginning of the song to set it up and it’s wonderful. Well, it’s hardbreaking. Barbra is the other woman and Brolin calls her to say he’s not able to go away with her over the weekend. Barbra understands, then breaks into the song. You can feel her anquish and pain. It’s quite a performance.

The rasp in Barbra’s voice in Losing My Mind is natural and adds so much feeling. It’s a natural for a singer’s voice to have changes due to age, and in this case it adds to her performance, again so much feeling. After all we do know Barbra is “an actress who sings”!

If you don’t have Encore yet, get the version with the four bonus tracks. You won’t be sorry. If you do have Encore, the regular release, then you also should get the version with the four bonus tracks. And while you are at it, pick up a couple of copies for your friends. It’s a very good album with some unlikely duet partners: Melissa McCarthy, Alec Baldwin and Jamie Foxx to name a few.

I have not stopped listening to this album (with the four bonus tracks) since last August. I am hopeful that another Grammy for Barbra is possible. After all, Tony Bennett is not up for one, however, Bob Dylan is. No matter what happens, Encore is a suberb Streisand release and worth having in your collection. Just remember to get the one with the four bonus tracks!

What’s your favorite song from the album? Share a comment with me! I’d love to hear from you!