Just for the Record... is a box set by American singer Barbra Streisand. It was released by Columbia Records on September 24, 1991. Just for the Record... includes a variety of performances throughout Streisand's career, including a song taken from her first studio recording session in 1955: a cover of "You'll Never Know". Other tracks were compiled from various live performances, TV specials, and previous albums from her back catalog.

Just for the Record...
A golden rose appears over a pink background that displays the album's title and respective artist.
Compilation album by
ReleasedSeptember 24, 1991 (1991-09-24)
Recorded1955–1988
GenrePop[1]
Length247:14
LabelColumbia
Barbra Streisand chronology
A Collection: Greatest Hits...and More
(1989)
Just for the Record...
(1991)
Back to Broadway
(1993)

Just for the Record... received positive reviews regarding its comprehensiveness of Streisand's overall career. Commercially, the album was equally successful, becoming the second best-selling box set in the United States by 1994, when it had sold over 404,000 units. It entered the Billboard 200 in the United States and peaked at number 38; it has also been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In the Netherlands, Highlights from Just for the Record, a condensed version of the album, peaked at number 72.

Background and release

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Just for the Record... was released on September 24, 1991, by Columbia Records.[2] It includes four discs, with each disc focusing on a different decade ("The 60s Part I", "The 60s Part II", "The 70s", and "The 80s"). It was initially priced at $79.98 USD and by 1994 was the second best-selling box set collection in the United States (behind only Led Zeppelin's 1990 self-titled box set) with approximately 404,000 copies sold.[3] Serving as a retrospective of Streisand's three decade-spanning career, it features several songs from her catalogue in addition to previously unreleased tracks. Her first studio-recorded track ever, a cover of Mack Gordon and Harry Warren's "You'll Never Know" (1943), was featured as the album's opener track and was recorded in 1955.[4] Howard Reich from PopMatters claimed that Streisand's cover proved that she already had had plenty of talent to become a recording artist, despite her young age.[5] In addition to the four discs of material, Just for the Record... includes a 92-page color booklet featuring a variety of photos and artwork created throughout her career.[1]

Among the previously unreleased material of Just for the Record... are live performances on The Jack Paar Show, P.M. East, The Garry Moore Show, The Tonight Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, and The Judy Garland Show. Duets with Judy Garland, Harold Arlen, Don Rickles, and Ryan O'Neal are also featured. As a whole, the performances featured on the collection range in year recorded from 1955 to 1988.[6] A condensed version of the box set titled Highlights from Just for the Record was released sometime in 1992. It includes 24 of the songs from Just for the Record... and was priced significantly lower than the original collection.[7]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [2]
AllMusic
Highlights from Just for the Record
     [8]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[1]

Just for the Record... received high ratings and praise from music critics. William Ruhlmann from AllMusic enjoyed the unique nature of the record and commented that because "she had complete creative control over th[e] retrospective", she was able to release a box set consisting of nearly only "rare [and] previously unreleased material". He also labelled the duets with Garland and "Las Vegas Medley" as some of the album's best tracks.[2] In the publication's review of Highlights from Just for the Record, Ruhlmann was equally appreciative and noted that it serves as a "fine overview of Bab's career" and provides for a "great listening".[8] Describing the large size of the collection, Entertainment Weekly's David Browne compared it to the two installments of Use Your Illusion (volumes I and II) by Guns N' Roses and claimed that it "is impossible to digest in one sitting". Browne ultimately awarded the collection a grade of A− and called it a good representation of the singer's ability to "chang[e the] definition of pop" and "make mainstream adult pop that was strong, elegant, [and] even passionate".[1] Joe Brown from The Washington Post was more mixed towards the effort: "All four discs are dotted with oddities that even the most devoted Barbraphiles will program their CD players to skip after the first listen or two"; however, Brown appreciated some of the rarities on the album, including her duets with Garland and her melody of "My Man" and "Auld Lang Syne".[9]

The box set entered and peaked on the Billboard 200 at number 38 on October 12, 1991, and was the week's fifth highest-peaking debut.[10] It dropped to number 63 the following week and spent a combined total of 16 weeks on the chart.[11] On November 19, 1991, it was certified Gold as a multi-disk package by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for physical shipments of 125,000 copies; its certification was then upgraded to Platinum, signifying shipments of 250,000 copies, on July 8, 1992.[12] As of June 2007, Just for the Record... had sold 454,000 box sets in the United States.[13] The Highlights from Just for the Record version entered the album charts in the Netherlands, where it spent three weeks in total and peaked at number 72.[14]

Track listings

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Just for the Record...

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Disc one: "The 60's Part I"[6]
No.TitleWriter(s)Taken fromLength
1."You'll Never Know"Studio recording, 19552:58
2."A Sleepin' Bee" (live)The Jack Paar Show, 19624:50
3."Moon River" (live)P.M. East, 19623:35
4."Miss Marmelstein"Harold RomeI Can Get It for You Wholesale, 19623:21
5."Happy Days Are Here Again" (live)The Garry Moore Show, 19623:50
6."Keepin' Out of Mischief Now" (live)Bon Soir, 19621:48
7."I Hate Music" (live)Leonard BernsteinBon Soir1:11
8."Nobody's Heart (Belongs to Me)" (live)Bon Soir2:11
9."Value" (live)Jeffrey D. HarrisBon Soir2:18
10."Cry Me a River" (live)Arthur HamiltonBon Soir3:53
11."Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" (live)Bon Soir2:10
12."I Had Myself a True Love" (live)
  • Arlen
  • Mercer
Bon Soir4:27
13."Lover, Come Back to Me" (live)Bon Soir1:48
14."Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" (live)The Tonight Show, 19633:48
15."My Honey's Lovin' Arms"The Barbra Streisand Album, 19632:13
16."Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home"
  • Arlen
  • Mercer
The Second Barbra Streisand Album, 19632:44
17."When the Sun Comes Out" (live)The Ed Sullivan Show, 19633:36
18."Be My Guest / Dialogue" (with Judy Garland and Ethel Merman; live)Mel TorméThe Judy Garland Show, 19632:28
19."Judy Garland Medley, No. 1" (with Judy Garland; live)The Judy Garland Show4:34
20."Judy Garland Medley, No. 2" (with Judy Garland; live)
  • Arlen
  • Koehler
  • Ager
  • Yellen
The Judy Garland Show2:28
Total length:60:11
Disc two: "The 60's Part II"[6]
No.TitleWriter(s)Taken fromLength
1."I'm the Greatest Star"Funny Girl, 19644:08
2."My Man / Auld Lang Syne"Funny Girl4:08
3."People"
  • Merrill
  • Styne
People, 19643:40
4."Act II Medley" (featuring Diana Kind)My Name Is Barbra, Two..., 19654:27
5."1965 Emmy Awards" (live) 17th Primetime Emmy Awards, 19651:45
6."He Touched Me"My Name Is Barbra, Two...3:09
7."You Wanna Bet""Where Am I Going?" (single)[15]2:27
8."House of Flowers" (with Harold Arlen)Harold Sings Arlen (with Friend), 19662:44
9."Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" (with Harold Arlen)Harold Sings Arlen (with Friend), 19661:55
10."Circus Medley"Color Me Barbra, 19663:23
11."Starting Here, Starting Now"Color Me Barbra2:54
12."A Good Man Is Hard to Find / Some of These Days" (live)Belle of 14th Street, 19673:33
13."I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" (live)Belle of 14th Street2:34
14."Sleep in Heavenly Peace (Silent Night)" (live)A Happening in Central Park, 19682:58
15."Don't Rain on My Parade"
  • Merrill
  • Styne
Funny Girl, 19682:44
16."Funny Girl"
  • Merrill
  • Styne
Funny Girl2:43
17."1969 Academy Awards" (live) 41st Academy Awards, 19691:58
18."Come Rain or Come Shine" (featuring Harold Arlen; live)
  • Arlen
  • Mercer
the Friars Club, 19692:48
19."Time After Time" (featuring Jule Styne; live)the Friars Club2:36
20."Untitled" (featuring Don Rickles; live) the Friars Club1:13
21."The Sweetest Sounds" (featuring Richard Rodgers; live)Richard Rodgersthe Friars Club2:01
22."Hello, Dolly!" (featuring Louis Armstrong)Jerry HermanHello, Dolly!, 19693:47
23."On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)"On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, 19702:10
24."Las Vegas Medley" (live)the International Hotel, 19694:05
Total length:69:50
Disc three: "The 70's"[6]
No.TitleWriter(s)Taken fromLength
1."The Singer"Walter MarksPreviously unreleased2:43
2."I Can Do It"Johnny WorthPreviously unreleased2:38
3."Stoney End"Laura NyroStoney End, 19712:58
4."(They Long to Be) Close to You" (featuring Burt Bacharach; live)The Burt Bacharach Special, 1971[16][17]3:35
5."We've Only Just Begun"Previously unreleased2:25
6."Since I Fell for You"Buddy JohnsonBarbra Joan Streisand, 19713:25
7."You're the Top" (featuring Ryan O'Neal)Cole PorterWhat's Up, Doc?, 19724:08
8."What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" (featuring Michel Legrand; demo)Previously unreleased3:36
9."If I Close My Eyes" (featuring Michel Legrand)
Up the Sandbox, 19722:24
10."Between Yesterday and Tomorrow"
  • A. Bergman
  • M. Bergman
  • M. Legrand
Previously unreleased3:32
11."Can You Tell the Moment?"
  • A. Bergman
  • M. Bergman
  • M. Legrand
Previously unreleased2:27
12."The Way We Were" (soundtrack version)
The Way We Were, 19733:52
13."Cryin' Time" (featuring Ray Charles)Buck OwensBarbra Streisand...and Other Musical Instruments, 19732:18
14."God Bless the Child"Previously unreleased3:32
15."A Quiet Thing / There Won't Be Trumpets"Previously unreleased5:20
16."Lost Inside of You"A Star Is Born, 19764:53
17."Evergreen" (soundtrack version; demo)
  • Streisand
  • Paul Williams
A Star Is Born3:13
18."1977 Academy Awards" (live) 49th Academy Awards, 19771:22
19."Hatikvah" (featuring Golda Meir; live)Naftali Herz ImberThe Stars Salute Israel at 30, 19784:59
Total length:63:20
Disc four: "The 80's"[6]
No.TitleWriter(s)Taken fromLength
1."You Don't Bring Me Flowers" (with Neil Diamond; live)22nd Annual Grammy Awards, 19803:37
2."The Way We Weren't / The Way We Were" (live)
ACLU Tribute to Alan and Marilyn Bergman, 1980[18]4:52
3."Guilty" (with Barry Gibb)Guilty, 19804:27
4."Papa, Can You Hear Me?" (demo)
Yentl, 19833:34
5."The Moon and I" (demo)
  • A. Bergman
  • M. Bergman
  • M. Legrand
Yentl3:19
6."A Piece of Sky" (demo)
  • A. Bergman
  • M. Bergman
  • M. Legrand
Yentl4:13
7."I Know Him So Well" (featuring Richard Page)Previously unreleased4:13
8."If I Loved You"The Broadway Album, 19852:38
9."Putting It Together"Stephen SondheimThe Broadway Album4:19
10."Over the Rainbow" (live)One Voice, 19874:43
11."Theme"Barbra StreisandNuts, 19873:43
12."Here We Are at Last"Emotion3:20
13."Warm All Over"Frank LoesserPreviously unreleased2:48
14."You'll Never Know" (duet version)Previously unreleased4:07
Total length:53:53

Notes

Highlights from Just for the Record

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Standard edition[7]
No.TitleLength
1."You'll Never Know"2:58
2."A Sleepin' Bee" (live)4:50
3."Miss Marmelstein"3:21
4."I Hate Music" (live)1:11
5."Nobody's Heart (Belongs to Me)" (live)2:11
6."Cry Me a River" (live)3:53
7."Judy Garland Medley, No. 2" (with Judy Garland; live)2:28
8."People"3:40
9."Act II Medley" (featuring Diana Kind; live)4:27
10."You Wanna Bet"2:27
11."Come Rain or Come Shine" (featuring Harold Arlen; live)2:48
12."Untitled" (featuring Don Rickles; live)1:13
13."The Sweetest Sounds" (featuring Richard Rodgers; live)2:01
14."You're the Top" (featuring Ryan O'Neal)4:08
15."What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" (featuring Michel Legrand; demo)3:36
16."Cryin' Time" (featuring Ray Charles)2:18
17."A Quiet Thing / There Won't Be Trumpets"5:20
18."Evergreen" (soundtrack version; demo)3:13
19."Between Yesterday and Tomorrow"3:32
20."You Don't Bring Me Flowers" (with Neil Diamond; live)3:37
21."Papa, Can You Hear Me?" (demo)3:34
22."I Know Him So Well" (featuring Richard Page)4:13
23."Warm All Over"2:48
24."You'll Never Know" (duet version)4:07
Total length:77:54

Notes

Personnel

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Information is based on AllMusic[2] and the album's liner notes[6]

Charts

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Chart performance for Just for the Record...
Chart (1991–1992) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[28] 126
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[14]
Highlights from Just for the Record
72
US Billboard 200[29] 38

Certifications

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Certifications for Just for the Record...
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[12] Platinum 454,000[13]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d Browne, David (October 18, 1991). "Article: Just for the Record..." Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 29, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d Ruhlmann, William. "Barbra Streisand – Just for the Record...". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 29, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  3. ^ Bronson, Fred (April 23, 1994). "Box Score: Top 50 Boxed-Set Reissues". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 17. p. 58. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  4. ^ Waldman 2001, p. 74
  5. ^ Reich, Howard (November 14, 2006). "Barbra Streisand takes time out from a rare tour to give a rarer interview". PopMatters. Archived from the original on August 29, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Just for the Record... (Liner notes). Barbra Streisand (CD ed.). Columbia. 1991. CK 48648.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ a b Highlights from Just for the Record (Liner notes). Barbra Streisand (CD ed.). Columbia. 1992. CK 52849.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ a b "Barbra Streisand – Highlights from Just for the Record". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 29, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  9. ^ Brown, Joe (October 6, 1991). "Pop Recordings; Barbra Streisand's Big Box of Gems and Ego". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 29, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  10. ^ "Billboard 200: The Week Of October 12, 1991". Billboard. October 12, 1991. Archived from the original on July 25, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  11. ^ "Billboard 200: The Week Of October 19, 1991". Billboard. October 19, 1991. Archived from the original on July 25, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  12. ^ a b "American album certifications – Barbra Streisand – Just for the Record". Recording Industry Association of America.
  13. ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (June 22, 2007). "Ask Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 13, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  14. ^ a b "Dutchcharts.nl – Barbra Streisand – Highlights from...Just for the Record" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  15. ^ Streisand, Barbra (2003). "You Wanna Bet". Second Hand Songs.
  16. ^ "The Burt Bacharach Special (1971)". TCM. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  17. ^ Howe, Matt (2017). "Singer Presents Burt Bacharach". Barbra-Streisand Archives. Archived from the original on 2020-02-21. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  18. ^ Howe, Matt (2017). "A Tribute to Alan and Marilyn Bergman..." Barbra-Streisand Archives. Archived from the original on 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  19. ^ a b Howe, Matthew. "Barbra Streisand - Just for the Record (1991, Box Set)". Barbra Archives. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  20. ^ Howe, Matthew. "'The Singer' (1970 Unfinished Album)". Barbra Archives. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  21. ^ Howe, Matthew. "Barbra Joan Streisand (1971): About the Album". Barbra Archives. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  22. ^ a b Howe, Matthew. "'Life Cycle of a Woman' (1973 Unfinished Album)". Barbra Archives. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  23. ^ a b Howe, Matthew. "Butterfly (1974): About the Album". Barbra Archives. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  24. ^ Howe, Matthew. "The Broadway Album (1985): Recorded But Not Released". Barbra Archives. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  25. ^ Howe, Matthew. "Back to Broadway (1988 Unreleased Sessions)". Barbra Archives. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  26. ^ "Freddie Salem". Los Angeles Music Awards. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  27. ^ "Mitzie Welch". Television Academy: Emmys. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  28. ^ "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing February 3, 1992". Bubbling Down Under. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  29. ^ "Barbra Streisand Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2017.

Bibliography

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