Honestly, if you grew up with a certain kind of parent—the kind who owned a record player and a really nice set of coasters—you probably remember the cover. It’s Barbra. Just her face, side profile, bathed in this soft, golden-sepia light. She looks like a statue but breathes like a legend. That 1970 release of Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits wasn't just a way for Columbia Records to make a quick buck off their biggest star; it was a line in the sand. It told the world that while everyone else was busy burning bras and listening to Led Zeppelin, Streisand was busy being the best vocalist on the planet.
Most people today think of "greatest hits" as a lazy Spotify playlist. Back then? It was a curated legacy. This specific album caught Barbra at a weird, beautiful crossroads. She was just finishing her "early" Broadway-and-cabaret phase and starting to eye the pop charts. You've got "People" sitting right next to "Don’t Rain on My Parade." It’s basically a masterclass in how to own a room without ever raising a microphone.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 1970 Tracklist
Here’s the thing. When people talk about Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits, they often mix it up with Volume 2 or that massive Essential collection from 2002. But the 1970 original is a different beast entirely. It’s lean. It’s only 11 tracks.
Wait. 11 tracks?
In 2026, where "deluxe editions" have 35 songs, 11 feels tiny. But every single one of those songs earned its spot. You have to remember, by 1970, Barbra had already won two Grammys for Album of the Year. She was 28. Most people haven't figured out how to file their taxes by 28, and she was already being anthologized.
The album starts with "People." Obviously. It’s her signature. But then it pivots to stuff like "Second Hand Rose," which shows off that Brooklyn-kitsch humor she almost completely dropped later in her career. If you haven't listened to "My Coloring Book" in a while, do yourself a favor. It’s heartbreaking. It’s that 1960s "sad girl" pop that predates everything Lana Del Rey is doing now.
The Secret Weapon: The Peter Matz Arrangements
Why does this record still sound so expensive?
It’s the arrangements. Peter Matz was the guy behind the curtain for most of these early hits. He didn’t just write music; he built cathedrals for her voice to live in. When you hear the brass kick in on "Gotta Move," it doesn't sound like a dinky studio band. It sounds like an earthquake.
Streisand has always been a perfectionist. Everyone knows the stories about her obsessing over a single note for three hours. On Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits, that obsession pays off. There’s a clarity to the vocals—recorded on analog tape, mind you—that puts modern digital recordings to shame. You can hear her breathe. You can hear the slight rasp when she pushes her chest voice. It’s human.
The Tracklist That Defined an Era
If you’re looking for the 1970 "Standard Edition" lineup, here is what you're getting:
- People (The ultimate anthem)
- Second Hand Rose (The Broadway crossover)
- Why Did I Choose You? (A deep-cut ballad that honestly should have been a bigger hit)
- He Touched Me * Free Again (Very 60s, very chic)
- Don’t Rain On My Parade (The "main character" energy song)
- My Coloring Book * Sam, You Made The Pants Too Long (The comedy track)
- My Man (The soul-crusher)
- Gotta Move * Happy Days Are Here Again (The ironic ballad version)
Why Volume 2 Changed Everything
If the first hits album was about the theater, Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Volume 2 (released in 1978) was about the charts. This is where things get really interesting. This is the era of "The Way We Were" and "Evergreen."
Basically, Barbra became a pop star.
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Think about the vocal shift. In the 60s, she was belts and Broadway. In the 70s, she got softer. She discovered that "whisper" voice that makes you feel like she’s standing two inches from your ear. "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" with Neil Diamond? That’s on Volume 2. It was originally two separate recordings that a radio DJ spliced together because he thought they sounded good. It became so popular they had to actually record a real duet. That’s the kind of power she had.
The Cultural Clout of a Greatest Hits Package
Some critics used to call these albums "stop-gap" releases. They thought Barbra was just filling time between movies like A Star Is Born or Yentl. They were wrong. These compilations actually helped her bridge the gap between generations.
My grandmother loved the 1970 hits.
My mother loved the 1978 hits.
I probably know every word to "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" because of a remix I heard in a club in 2015.
She is the only artist to have a #1 album in six different decades. That is a fact. Not even the Beatles or Elvis did that. Part of that longevity comes from the fact that her Greatest Hits packages are actually good. They aren't just a pile of singles; they are a narrative of a woman refusing to be pigeonholed.
How to Listen to These Hits Today
If you’re a purist, find the vinyl. The 1970 pressing has a warmth that the 80s CDs totally lost. Columbia used a lot of reverb back then, and on a digital file, it can sometimes sound a bit "tinny." On wax? It’s lush.
But if you’re a streamer, look for the "2023 Remaster" versions often found in the Evergreens collection. They’ve cleaned up the floor noise without stripping away the character of the original recordings.
Actionable Steps for the Aspiring Streisand Fan
If you want to actually appreciate Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits beyond just background noise, try this:
- Start with the 1970 album. Don't skip "Happy Days Are Here Again." Most people know it as a fast, upbeat political song. Barbra sings it like a funeral dirge for a lost love. It will change how you think about her.
- Compare "My Man" (1970) to "The Way We Were" (1978). It’s the same woman, but the technique is totally different. The first is a Broadway explosion; the second is a masterclass in film-acting-through-song.
- Check the credits. Look for names like Michel Legrand and Quincy Jones. These aren't just "pop songs." These are collaborations between the greatest musical minds of the 20th century.
- Watch the performance. If a song on the hits album grabs you, go to YouTube and find her singing it live on one of her 1960s specials like My Name Is Barbra. Seeing her face while she sings "Don’t Rain on My Parade" explains more than any article ever could.
Streisand isn't just a singer. She’s an architect of the American songbook. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just someone who knows her from a "Funny Girl" meme, those greatest hits albums are the blueprint for everything we call "diva" today.