Partners (Barbra Streisand album)

Partners is the thirty-fourth studio album by American singer and songwriter Barbra Streisand, released on September 16, 2014 by Columbia Records. The album features Streisand singing duets with an all-male lineup including Stevie Wonder, Michael Bublé, Billy Joel, John Legend, John Mayer, Andrea Bocelli, Lionel Richie, and, from an earlier recording, Elvis Presley. The collection also features Streisand's first studio-recorded duet with her now 47-year-old son, Jason Gould.[7] The album release was promoted on The Tonight Show, where Streisand was the evening's sole guest and sang a medley with host Jimmy Fallon.[8]

Partners
Studio album by Barbra Streisand
Released	September 16, 2014
Recorded	2013-14
Genre	Traditional pop vocal pop
Length	50:27
Label	Columbia
Producer	Walter Afanasieff Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds Bernie Herms Jay Landers (exec.) Barbra Streisand (also exec.)
Barbra Streisand chronology
Back to Brooklyn (2013) Partners (2014) Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway (2016)

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	55/100[1]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
New York Daily News	[3]
Los Angeles Times	[4]
The New York Times	Negative[5]
The Telegraph (UK)	[6]

While the recordings are new, most of the songs have a previous history as Streisand releases. Two classic Streisand duets are updated with new partners: "What Kind of Fool", newly performed with John Legend (originally with Barry Gibb) and "Lost Inside of You", newly performed with Babyface (originally with Kris Kristofferson). The deluxe edition features an additional duet with Babyface along with previously released material featuring Frank Sinatra (who died in 1998), Bryan Adams, Barry Manilow, and Barry Gibb (from The Bee Gees).

Partners is one of 2014's best-selling albums in the US, having sold 856,000 copies.[9] Partners topped the Billboard 200 with sales of 196,000 copies in the first week, making Streisand the only recording artist to have a number-one album in six different decades (1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s.)[10] It was also certified gold in November 2014 and platinum in January 2015, thus becoming Streisand's 52nd gold and 31st Platinum album (she also has 7 Gold-certified singles to her credit), more than any other female artist in history.[11] The album was nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal album at the 57th Grammy Awards.

Commercial performance

In its debut week, the album topped US Billboard 200 sales charts, selling over 196,000 copies.[12] It fell to number three the following week, selling 127,000 copies, the lowest second-week decline for a number one-debuting non-compilation album in nearly four years.[13] After just six weeks on sale, the album crossed half a million in US sales, having sold 526,000 copies total in the country.[14] Partners was 2014's seventh best-selling album in the US, having sold 856,000 copies.[9] As of September 2015, the album has sold 955,000 copies in the US.[15] It tops 1 million in traditional album sales in the week of August 14, 2017.[16]

In Canada and Australia the album also reached number one, selling 13,000 copies in each country.[17][18] In the Netherlands, New Zealand, and UK the album reached the number two spot on national sales charts, becoming Streisand's highest charting album in the Netherlands since One Voice peaked at the same position in 1987.[19] In Ireland the album reached the number six position, becoming Streisand's highest charting album since Guilty Pleasures in 2005.[20] The album debuted in the Top 10 in Austria, Germany, Spain and Poland, and reached Top 40 positions in Belgium (both regions), Denmark, Italy and Switzerland.

Track listing

• All tracks produced by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Walter Afanasieff; except "I Still Can See Your Face" produced by Bernie Herms, and "How Deep Is the Ocean" produced by Barbra Streisand.[21]

Standard edition [21]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Duet partner	Length
1.	"It Had to Be You"	Gus Kahn, Isham Jones	Michael Bublé	4:23
2.	"People"	Bob Merrill, Jule Styne	Stevie Wonder	4:14
3.	"Come Rain or Come Shine"	Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen	John Mayer	4:11
4.	"Evergreen"	Paul Williams, Barbra Streisand	Babyface	3:14
5.	"New York State of Mind"	Billy Joel	Billy Joel	4:47
6.	"I'd Want It to Be You"	Steve Dorff, Jay Landers, Bobby Tomberlin	Blake Shelton	4:05
7.	"The Way We Were"	Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Marvin Hamlisch	Lionel Richie	4:29
8.	"I Still Can See Your Face"	Bernie Herms, Charlie Midnight, Jay Landers	Andrea Bocelli	4:13
9.	"How Deep Is the Ocean"	Irving Berlin	Jason Gould	4:18
10.	"What Kind of Fool"	Barry Gibb, Albhy Galuten	John Legend	4:43
11.	"Somewhere"	Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein	Josh Groban	4:05
12.	"Love Me Tender"	Ken Darby, W. W. Fosdick, George R. Poulton Elvis Presley	Elvis Presley (vocal sample of original 1956 recording)[22][23]	3:31

Deluxe edition bonus tracks[24]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Duet partner	Length
13.	"Lost Inside of You" (2014, previously unreleased)	Barbra Streisand, Leon Russell	Babyface	4:18
14.	"I've Got a Crush on You" (1993, Duets)	Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin	Frank Sinatra	3:22
15.	"I Finally Found Someone" (1996, The Mirror Has Two Faces soundtrack)	Barbra Streisand, Marvin Hamlisch, Bryan Adams, Robert John "Mutt" Lange	Bryan Adams	3:41
16.	"I Won't Be the One to Let Go" (2002, Duets)	Barry Manilow, Richard Marx	Barry Manilow	4:40
17.	"Guilty" (1980, Guilty)	Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb	Barry Gibb	4:28
Total length:				70:37

Note

• "I Still Can See Your Face" features Italian lyrics translated by Marco Marinangeli. [21]

Personnel

Information is based on the Album’s Liner Notes[21]

• Walter Afanasieff - piano (2-7, 10-11), guitar, mandolin played by, concertina programmed by (12), bass played by (4-7, 10), synths played by, rhythm programmed by (2, 4-7, 10-11), orchestra arranged by (1-7, 9-12)
• Babyface - background vocals (4, 7, 10), lead vocals (4)
• Chuck Berghofer - bass played by (1, 3)
• Teddy Campbell - drums (2)
• Peter Erskine - drums (1, 3)
• Bernie Herms - piano, synth played by, rhythm programmed by, orchestra arranged by (8)
• John Mayer - guitar solo, vocals (3)
• Rickey Minor - bass played by (2)
• Dean Parks - guitar (1, additional on 3), pedal steel guitar (6)
• Michael Ripoll - guitars (2, 4-5, 7, 10, additional on 6, 12)
• William A. Ross - orchestra arranged by (1-7, 9-12), orchestra conducted by (All tracks)
• Randy Waldman - piano (1)
• Stevie Wonder - harmonica, vocals (2)

Chart positions

Weekly charts Chart (2014) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[25] 1 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[26] 10 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[27] 17 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[28] 26 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[29] 1 Croatian Albums[30] 16 Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[31] 14 Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[32] 29 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[19] 2 French Albums (SNEP)[33] 45 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[34] 9 Greek Albums (IFPI)[35] 34 Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[36] 10 Irish Albums (IRMA)[37] 6 Italian Albums (FIMI)[38] 18 Japanese Albums (Oricon)[39] 104 Mexican Albums (AMPROFON[40] 59 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[41] 2 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[42] 25 Polish Albums (ZPAV)[43] 6 South African Albums (RISA)[44] 15 Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[45] 4 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[46] 16 South Korean Albums (Gaon Chart) 11 UK Albums (OCC)[47] 2 US Billboard 200[48] 1 US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[49] 2

Year-end charts Chart (2014) Position Australian Albums (ARIA)[50] 17 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[51] 155 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[52] 29 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[53] 29 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[54] 25 Polish Albums (ZPAV)[55] 28 UK Albums (OCC)[56] 14 US Billboard 200[57] 20 Decade-end charts Chart (2010–2019) Position US Billboard 200[58] 183

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[59]	Platinum	70,000^^
Canada (Music Canada)[60]	Gold	40,000^^
Hungary (MAHASZ)[61]	Gold	1,000^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[62]	Gold	7,500^^
Poland (ZPAV)[63]	Platinum	20,000^*
United Kingdom (BPI)[64]	Platinum	371,252[65]
United States (RIAA)[66]	Platinum	1,000,000[16]
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

1. "Reviews for 'Partners'by Barbra Streisand". Metacritic. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
2. Allmusic review
3. Jim Farber (September 16, 2014). "'Partners': Album review". Daily News. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
4. Mikael Wood (September 18, 2014). "Review: Barbra Streisand stays mostly the way she was on 'Partners'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
5. Stephen Holden (September 15, 2014). "Two for One in Each Tune". The New York Times. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
6. Helen Brown (September 14, 2014). "Barbra Streisand, Partners, review: 'desperate'". The Telegraph. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
7. "Barbra Streisand, a Voice to Be Reckoned With" by Jacob Bernstein, New York Times September 12, 2014.
8. "Barbra Streisand returns to late night with Jimmy Fallon" by Lisa Respers France, CNN September 16, 2014.
9. Caulfield, Keith (December 31, 2014). "Taylor Swift's '1989' Beats 'Frozen' As Top Selling Album of 2014". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
10. Caulfield, Keith (September 23, 2014). "Barbra Streisand Makes History at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
11. "Gay icon Barbra Streisand makes more history with latest album". Gay Star News. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
12. Caulfield, Keith (September 24, 2014). "Barbra Streisand Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200, Chris Brown at No. 2". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
13. Caulfield, Keith (October 1, 2014). "Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga's 'Cheek To Cheek' Debuts at No. 1". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
14. Caulfield, Keith (October 29, 2014). "Slipknot Scores Second No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
15. Caulfield, Keith (September 10, 2015). "Billboard 200 Chart Moves: Jimi Hendrix Earns 46th Charting Album With New Live Set". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
16. Grein, Paul (August 14, 2017). "Chart Watch: 'Despacito' ties 'Macarena' record, but gets no VMAs love". Yahoo!. Verizon Communications. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
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20. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Retrieved November 8, 2014.
21. Partners (booklet). Barbra Streisand. Columbia Records. 2014. 88843091142.CS1 maint: others (link)
22. Press Trust of India Staff (August 12, 2014). "Barbra Streisand to Release Posthumous Duet with Presley". Business Standard. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
23. AP Staff (September 18, 2014). "Barbra Streisand, the Feminist, Sings On". CBS News. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
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26. "Austriancharts.at – Barbra Streisand – Partners" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
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30. Ideoskop doo. "Top of the Shops - slubena tjedna lista prodanih albuma u Hrvatskoj". Retrieved November 8, 2014.
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35. "IFPI Charts". Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
36. "Top 40 album DVD és válogatáslemez-lista – 2014. 38. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
37. "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 38, 2014". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
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39. "o[uEXgCTh̃AoドLO". ORICON STYLE. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
40. "Amprofon on Twitter: "Partners de Barbra Streisand puesto #59 del #Top100MX del 15 al 21 de Septiembre #DiscoNuevo http://t.co/0uIwUfsotS"". Retrieved November 8, 2014. External link in |title= (help)
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43. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
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46. "Swisscharts.com – Barbra Streisand – Partners". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
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51. "Jaaroverzichten 2014". Ultratop. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
52. "Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
53. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2014". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
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55. "Jakie płyty Polacy kupowali najchętniej w 2014 roku – roczne podsumowanie listy OLiS" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
56. http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-40-biggest-selling-artist-albums-of-2014-3387/
57. Top Billboard 200 albums. 2014 Year End. billboard.com
58. "Decade-End Charts: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
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60. "Canadian album certifications – Barbra Streisand – Partners". Music Canada. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
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63. "Polish album certifications – Barbra Steisand – Partners" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
64. "British album certifications – Barbra Steisand – Partners". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 5, 2016. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Partners in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
65. Jones, Alan (September 2, 2016). "Official Charts Analysis: Barbra Streisand topples Frank Ocean to take No.1 spot". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
66. "American album certifications – Barbra Steisand – Partners". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 5, 2016. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 

External links

• Partners, Barbra Archives discography