BARBRA STREISAND’S “RELEASE ME” HITS THE CHARTS AT #7, HER 32ND TOP TEN ALBUM BOLSTERING HER POSITION AS THE THIRD HIGHEST ACHIEVING ARTIST EVER IN THAT MAJOR STAT. LAST HALF DOZEN NEW STREISAND ALBUMS HAVE CHARTED IN TOP TEN.

Barbra Streisand’s new Columbia Records album, “Release Me,” debuted at #7 this week. It becomes her 32nd album and sixth in a row to rank in the top ten. The only artists with more in that category are The Rolling Stones and Frank Sinatra.

A year ago, when her album “What Matters Most” arrived on the charts at #4, Streisand eased past The Beatles with whom she had been tied for third place with 30. “Release Me” is comprised of eleven recordings, dating back as far as 1967, which were not included on the albums for which they had been intended. They’ve all been stored in her vault until now. Over the past year, the artist painstakingly selected recordings to create “Release Me”.

Highlights of “Release Me,” her latest top ten winner, include: “Didn’t We” written by Jimmy Webb – recorded in 1970 for an unreleased album project titled The Singer; the standard “Willow Weep For Me” – an unreleased track recorded in 1967 for Simply Streisand, arranged by Ray Ellis . noted for his legendary work with Billie Holiday; A striking version of Randy Newman’s “I Think It’s Going Rain Today,” with Barbra on vocals and Newman on piano – from the 1971 Stoney End sessions; an unreleased studio version of “With One More Look At You” from A Star Is Born; Two tracks from the unreleased sequel to the acclaimed The Broadway Album, titled Back To Broadway – “Home” (from The Wiz) and “How Are Things In Glocca Morra ? / Heather On The Hill” (from Finian’s Rainbow / Brigadoon).

The complete track listing for Release Me features: Being Good Isn’t Good Enough (from Hallelujah, Baby!), Didn’t We, Willow Weep For Me, Try To Win A Friend, I Think It’s Going To Rain Today, With One More Look At You (from A Star Is Born,) Lost In Wonderland, How Are Things In Glocca Morra? / Heather On The Hill (from Finian’s Rainbow / Brigadoon,) Mother And Child, If It’s Meant To Be, Home (from The Wiz).

Link to Billboard Article: http://www.billboard.com/news/macklemore-ryan-lewis-score-top-billboard-1007981952.story#/news/macklemore-ryan-lewis-score-top-billboard-1007981952.story