Eighteen months ago, Barbra Streisand released My Name Is Barbra, an anecdote-rich memoir about her 60-plus years of blazing trails in music, film, Broadway, activism and beyond. But the story isn't over. On Wednesday (April 30), the eight-time Grammy winner and five-time Billboard Hot 100 topper announced a new studio album, The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume Two, is coming out on her longtime label Columbia Records on June 27.
A sequel to 2014's Billboard 200-topping album Partners (which made her the only artist to have a No. 1 album in six different decades), this new project also features a cross-genre, cross-generational list of duet partners. And some of the names on this tracklist are likely to leave more than a few jaws on the floor.
There are duets with classic rock royalty, including Sir Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, James Taylor and Sting (separately); Irish rocker Hozier; Icelandic jazz singer-songwriter Laufey; English crooner Sam Smith; country hitmaker Tim McGraw; Josh Groban, fresh off his celebrated Broadway stint in Sweeney Todd (he also appeared on her 2014 Partners album); and British soul mainstay Seal. Plus, there's a collab with not just one but two vocally dynamic divas - Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande - that is sure to set the Internet aflame when it lands.
"Barbra Streisand is one of the most enduring and iconic vocalists of our time, and somebody who defined an era with the sheer force of her voice, her talent, charisma and vision. To be asked to join her on a duet was a huge honor and came as a wonderful and welcome surprise," Hozier said in a statement. "Ewan MacColl's 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face', made famous by the stunning Roberta Flack recording, has always mystified me. It is, to me, one of the most beautiful love songs ever written. Like so many, I was deeply saddened to hear of her recent passing. Along with the honor I have to sing on this record with Barbra, I hope this duet offers something of a gesture to Roberta Flack's incredible legacy."
"I've always loved singing duets with gifted artists. They inspire me in unique and different ways and make our time in the studio a joy," Streisand said in a statement. "My new album, The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume Two, gave me the chance to work and play with some of my old friends, label mates, and new artists too. I admire all of them and I hope that you'll enjoy listening to our collaborations as much as I enjoyed recording with all of my wonderful partners."
The album is produced by Walter Afanasieff and Peter Asher, with orchestrations provided by William Ross and David Campbell. Streisand and Jay Landers, her longtime A&R executive, are the album's executive producers.
(Billboard)
01. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face with Hozier
02. My Valentine with Paul Mccartney
03. To Lose You Again with Sam Smith
04. The Very Thought Of You with Bob Dylan
05. Letter To My 13 Year Old Self with Laufey
06. One Heart, One Voice with Mariah Carey & Ariana Grande
07. I Love Us with Tim Mcgraw
08. Secret O' Life with James Taylor
09. Fragile with Sting
10. Where Do I Go From You? with Josh Groban
11. Love Will Survive with Seal
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