LA, Sept 27: On Oct. 14, when Columbia puts out "The Movie Album," a lush collection of 12 film songs newly recorded by Barbra Streisand, it will mark the release of her 60th album. Even the legendary singer finds this startling.
"Can you believe it?" she exclaims. "I can't quite imagine it. includes soundtracks, but I never thought I'd be making 60 albums."

Perhaps even more impressive is that this diva remains draped in gold and platinum. Unless something goes amiss, "The Movie Album" will become her 49th recording to be certified gold for shipments of more than 500,000 by the Recording Industry Assn. of America. She has 26 platinum albums.

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As the premier female singer of the modern era, Streisand remains a sales force to be reckoned with: Her 40-year career includes trips to the top of the Billboard albums chart. The most recent to hit No. 1 was the 1997 release "Higher Ground." Her last studio album, 1999's "A Love Like Ours," peaked at No. 6.

"As an Oscar winner, she clearly loves the movies and, as a multiple Grammy winner, she's one of the greatest vocalists of all time," says Will Botwin, president of Columbia Records Group. "It all comes together on 'The Movie Album,' which promises to mirror the success of her No. 1 albums of Broadway show tunes."

"The Broadway Album," released in 1985, has been certified quadruple platinum; the 1993 sequel, "Back to Broadway," has reached double platinum.

For Streisand, the new project is a fulfillment of a longtime wish. She began collecting songs for the album years ago with co-executive producer Jay Landers.

"As I heard a song from a movie, I'd say to Jay, 'Where's the list I've been giving you?' I call him up and say, 'Just get me the sheet music and just put it away for when I say I'm going to make this album."'

"The Movie Album" does not contain any songs from her own films, because Streisand wanted to provide fans with something new. There are obvious choices, such as "Moon River" and "How Do You Keep the Music Playing." But Streisand also has provided some gorgeous surprises, such as the haunting "Calling You" from 1988's "Bagdad Cafe."

Streisand picked songs that touched her heart. Some are from her past; she includes the title track from 1957's "Wild Is the Wind" because she remembers developing a crush on the movie's star, Tony Franciosa, when she was 15.

Other choices relate to the present. Streisand and husband James Brolin walked down the aisle in 1998 to "More in Love With You" from 1962's "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse." For "The Movie Album," Alan and Marilyn Bergman added lyrics to the Andre Previn instrumental.
Bureau Report