Luckiest Music Generation: Barbra Streisand - Stony End

[Genki Hikari]

I mentioned yesterday that a diverse array of artists covered songs written by Laura Nyro. A couple of those renditions are quite famous, but Barbara Streisand's version of "Stony End" has sorta slipped through the cracks of time. Maybe because the idea of Streisand and a more rock-oriented sound was too weird or jarring in 1971, given that her fame came from Broadway and American Songbook roots.

It is on the strange side to hear her in a more "rock" song, but I don't think she does a bad job at all with it. I do think she was a little too stylized and restrained, when she needed to trust her voice and really cut loose. She would get the idea later in the 70s, but maybe she was still too young here to be as sure of herself in a new genre as she would be then.

On a shallow note about the video itself, am I the only one that thinks Babs had an uncanny gift for choosing hairdos that were both forward-thinking and flattering to her? Save for that 70s frizzy abomination, her hair choices have been fantastic.

[luvs2sing]

1. I loved this song..

and pretty much everything else she did.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

2. I liked Streisand's version of Stoney End a lot!

And I wasn't exactly a Streisand fan.

[Genki Hikari]

4. I like her more now than when I was younger

My tastes evolved enough to appreciate her.

And while I do like this version of "Stony End," I imagine 35 y/o Barbara singing it, and realize how much better she would have sounded. She had so much more confidence by then that she would have called this one in. And in her sleep.

I think what bugs me about her vocal choices in "Stony End" is that she sounds so stiff and unsure sometimes that she falls back on her "Broadway musical" belter roots to muddle through the more difficult passages. That stylistic choice won't work in a rocker arrangement like this, because she doesn't need to reach the rafters here. Rockers have mikes, and amps, too, when live. They can be more dynamic in their vocal performances for that reason.

As an example of how mikes help, I think of Carly Simon in "You're So Vain," when she uses outright whispers in the recording to give the song both more vocal texture and to convey its gossipy and dark theme. That's great use of the instrumental voice that's possible in pop & rock, and recording in general. I think if Barbara had understood the possibilities open to her better, she would have turned in a more memorable recording.

All in all, though, Streisand at 80-85% of her capability is still better than a whole lot of artists can claim.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

5. I put Barbra in my "very talented but doesn't do the kind of music I like" category.

She's got lots of company in there, LOL.

Your analysis was very interesting!

[aka-chmeee]

3. I've been in love with her

ever since "My name is Barbra". Gorgeous lady.

[thucythucy]

6. Somehow the single found its way into my house

when I was a kid.

Played it endlessly.

"Never mind the forecast cause the sky has lost control..."

[Genki Hikari]

7. It made its way into our house, too

Because my mother adores Streisand. I think she has everything Babs ever recorded, from the beginning of her career.