A Love Like Ours - Streisand, Barbra (CD 1999)

Until recently I had only owned one Barbra Streisand CD I always considered her quite the singer, and was amazed at the incredible ranges her voice could reach.
Over the years my musical taste have drifted over to country, which I never really enjoyed but after doing an assignment in a small country town in South Carolina where all the docs listened to country I learned to adapt, then realized I really enjoyed the sound.
It was actually on a country station where I heard Barbra singing a duet with Vince Gill, that renewed my interest in her. Along with listening to a copy of this CD owned by a friend, I was hooked. OK OK enough chatter, here's what you came to read the review of this CD.

1.I Dreamed Of You - Actually this song was an instrumental by Rolf Lovland, Barbra heard it and had Ann Hampton Callaway to write lyrics for it. This tune became her gift of song to her new husband (James Brolin) on their wedding day.

"I dreamed of you always feeling you within. And all my life I have searched for you everywhere. I caught your smile in the morning sun, I heard your whisper on the breeze at night. I prayed one day that your arms would hold me tight. And just when I thought love had passed me by we met. That first look in your eyes I can't forget, you melted me with your tender touch, I felt all fear and sorrow slip away."

2.Isn't It A Pity - ( by George and Ira Gershwin) This is the song the newlyweds danced to on their wedding day. Listening to this song reminds me one of the things we can never get back is time.

"It's a funny thing I look at you, I get a thrill, I never knew. Isn't it a pity we never met before? Here we are at last, it's like a dream, the two of us, a perfect team. Isn't it a pity we never met before? Imagine all the lonely years we've wasted?"

3.The Island - Lyrics by Marilyn and Alan Bergman, music by Ivan Lins and Vitor Martins. The sax that is heard in this song is none other than Kenny G.
A beautiful love song, couple see an island, do they arrive? Ah isn't imagination a wonderful thing? It's going to be hard not to give the entire song here, because it is so hot. However you really need to hear it for yourself, of course I'll supply a little teaser (smile)

"Make believe we've landed on a desert island. Bathe me in the waters warm me in the moonlight, taste me with your kisses, find my secret places, touch me till I tremble. Free my wings for flying and catch me while I'm falling. Keep your arms around me like there's no tomorrow, let me know you love me, on our little island not a soul can see us. Show me how to love you, teach me how to please you. Lay your dreams beside me."

4.Love Like Ours - Written by Marilyn and Alan Bergman, music by Dave Grusin. This song, is one of hope. Regardless of events life throws our way, love will see us through.

" I look at you, and there it is the ultimate and where it is. And realize how rare it is, this finding your love. You try so many arms, when you are lonely, to find the one and only. One day you turn and he's there. Amazing how so real it is, the shade of evergreen it is, exactly what we mean it is, and know it would be. When love like ours arrives we guard it with our lives, whatever goes astray, what rainy day comes around. A love like ours will keep us safe and sound."

5.If You Ever Leave Me - (duet with Vince Gill) - Written by Richard Marx. Barbra wanted to do something in the country venue, and this pairing with Vince Gill is just a stunning love song.

"If you run out of reasons to try, I'll love enough for both you and I. I'll be the one you can run to. I'd rather go through any pain love puts us through then to spend one day without you by my side. If you ever leave me will you take me with you? If you're ever lonely I want to be lonely too. My homes beside you no matter where you may go, my loves inside you even more than you even know."

6.We Must Be Loving Right - Written by Roger Brown and Clay Blaker for George Strait.

"Some folks got nothing but troubles, so little joy in their lives, but wherever we go, happiness follows. We must be loving right. It might be the way I adore you, or the way that you hold me tight, I don't know the reason but I'm believing we must be loving right."

7.If I Never Met You - Written by Tom Snow and Dean Pitchford.
Sure is great when that unexpected special someone turns up?

"If I never met you. If I never saw your face, this world, this world would be a colder place I bet, if we'd never met. If I never met you, if I never knew your love. My life, my life might feel sad, filled with regret if we never met."

8.It Must Be You - Written by Steve Dorff. Simple and vulnerable lyrics.

"It must be you, making me feel things I can't explain. For some reason I'm just laughing at the rain. I can't believe who I am has changed so suddenly. I'm doing things I never thought I'd do. This is not like me, it must be you. It must be love, nothing else could turn me upside down."

9.Just One Lifetime - Written by Melissa Manchester and Tom Snow. Yet another song performed at Barbara's wedding.

"At last my heart is ready, this time I can believe that love has truly found me. How sweetly love surrounds me, you're like a glimpse of heaven a blessing I received. I'll give you my tomorrow, but even now I can see. Just one lifetime won't be enough time, for us we need more for all this love."

10.If I Didn't Love You - Written by Bruce Roberts and Junior Miles. Lyrics altered especially for Barbra by Junior.
Love is not always a bed of roses, this song tells of joy as well as pain.

"If I didn't love you I'd be safe from harm. I would never find myself lost inside your arms. If I didn't love you I'd never feel the pain of sunny days without you, drowning in the rain. If I didn't love you, if I didn't love you."

11.Wait - Composed in 1969 for Barbra by Michael Legrand and the Bergmans. She never felt it was the right time for her to do this song until this album. It goes along with what I have always said life is too short, savor every minute, and appreciate the time you have.

"Wait before we take another breath, we've lived another moment of our lives. And now it's fast becoming then. Wait before you take your lips from mine, how quickly where we are is where we've have been."

12.The Music That Makes Me Dance - Written by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill. Kenny G once again supplies the beautiful sax music. This song was written for "Funny Girl" and Barbra says then she sang it "in character, but today I can sing it for real."

"I know he's around, when the sky and the ground started ringing. I know that he's near by the thunder I hear in advance. His words, his words alone are the words that can start my heart singing. And his is the only music that makes me dance."

Total playing time NOT LONG ENOUGH