Release Me 2
compilation
ArtistBarbra Streisand
CoverStreisand Release-Me-2 cover.jpg
ReleasedAugust 6, 2021
Recorded1962–2014
GenreVocal pop
Length33:56
Label
Producer
  • Barbra Streisand
  • Burt Bacharach
  • Jochem van der Saag
  • Walter Afanasieff
  • Babyface
  • Don Costa
  • Mike Berniker
  • Barry Gibb
  • John Merchant
  • Michel Legrand
  • John Arias
Prev year2018
Next year2022

Release Me 2 is a compilation album of ten rare and previously unreleased recordings by American singer Barbra Streisand. Released on CD, vinyl and digital formats on August 6, 2021, it is a follow-up to her 2012 compilation Release Me.[1]

Sales of Release Me 2 extended Streisand's successful chart history in the U.S., making her the only woman with a top-20 album in each decade since the 1960s.[2]

Promotion

Release Me 2 was initially announced June 2, 2021,[3] followed two days later by the lead single "I'd Want It to Be You", a duet with Willie Nelson.[4][5] An official lyric video directed by Matt Amato[6] accompanied the single's release.

In an interview, Barbra talked about the unique 1994 track "Sweet Forgiveness", released on July 1, "When I was planning my return to the concert stage in 1994 I asked Walter (Afanasieff) to produce a song called 'Ordinary Miracles' by Marvin Hamlisch and Alan and Marilyn Bergman and Walter said "If there's time to record a second song would you be interested in hearing something I wrote for you?' Then he sat down at the piano and played me this exquisite piece of music called 'Sweet Forgiveness.' 'Ordinary Miracles' took longer to record than we planned so we only had time to do one completed pass of 'Sweet Forgiveness' - meaning I recorded my one-take vocal, singing live with the orchestra. And now, I'm really happy to share it with you."[7]

Then there was a second duet, which came out on June 25: "Rainbow Connection" with Kermit the Frog. On July 1, "Sweet Forgiveness" premiered in the U.K. on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, then subsequently released to digital platforms.

Zane Lowe joined Streisand at her home to discuss the album; their interview appeared August 4 on YouTube.[8]

Critical reception

BroadwayWorld said, "Streisand displays courage and openness in exploring deep feelings and truly taking them in. Her unforgettable voice tells a story with each lyric and leaves the listener with much to think about long after each song ends."[9]

The Independent wrote, "Release Me 2 contains all the smarts and schmaltz of Babs at her best.... Streisand's voice is one of the most ridiculously luxurious instruments on the planet. A five-star penthouse suite of a voice: plush and spacious, with a solid-gold commitment to the lyrics and a sunken marble bathtub of soft-soapy soul in which to wallow."[10]

Metro Weekly said, "Release Me 2 is a thoughtfully compiled album with a good spread of songs from various points in Streisand's career, hitting most of the beats that a longtime fan would expect to hear.... Apart from a couple of memorable novelties, Release Me 2 is classic Streisand from beginning to end."[11]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at #10 on the Rolling Stone Top 200 Albums Chart, selling 23,700 units (19.7k pure) in the United States and became the 3rd highest debut of the week.[12] It also debuted at #15 on the Billboard 200 with 22,000 units sold[2] and became the third top-selling album of the week[13] (second by a female artist).[14][15] Streisand also re-entered Billboard's Artist 100 at #15.[16] On Billboard's Top Current Albums Sales, the album debuted at #2,[17] while on Billboard's Vinyl Album Chart, the album debuted at #5.[18]

Streisand now extends her record for the most top 40-charting albums among women in the history of the chart (54 albums). On top of that, she becomes the only woman with new top 20 – or even top 40 – albums in every decade from the 1960s through the 2020s.[2]

In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at #5, becoming her 15th Top 10 album in the country.[19][20] In its second week, the album fell to number fifteen and number ninety-five in its third week.[21] The album performed moderately elsewhere, peaking inside the Top 20 including Germany, Australia and Switzerland.

Charts

Chart performance for Release Me 2
Chart (2021)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[22]15
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[23]28

Release history

Release dates and formats
RegionDateFormat(s)Edition(s)LabelRef.
VariousAugust 6, 2021Digital download · streaming · CD · LP · cassetteStandard · Target exclusiveColumbia[24][25][26][27]

References

  1. ^ Marchese, Joe (June 2, 2021). "Be Aware: Barbra Streisand Reopens the Vaults for "Release Me 2"". The Second Disc. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  2. ^ "Barbra Streisand Makes Chart History With 'Release Me 2' Billboard 200 Debut". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  3. ^ Wild, Stephi (June 2, 2021). "Barbra Streisand Announces 'Release Me 2' Album of Previously Unreleased Tracks". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  4. ^ Blistein, Jon (June 4, 2021). "Barbra Streisand Teases Rarities Album with Willie Nelson Duet 'I'd Want It to Be You'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  5. ^ Mier, Tomás (June 4, 2021). "Barbra Streisand Duets with Willie Nelson on 'I'd Want It to Be You' as She Announces New Album". People. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  6. ^ Kapur, Desh (7 October 2022). "Barbra Streisand releases music video for 'Cry Me A River' taken from eagerly-awaited 'Live at the Bon Soir' album". All Music Magazine. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  7. ^ Wild, Stephi (July 1, 2021). "LISTEN: Barbra Streisand Releases 'Sweet Forgiveness' From Forthcoming Album 'Release Me 2'". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  8. ^ Cristi, A. A. (July 6, 2021). "VIDEO: Barbra Streisand Talks 'Release Me 2' and More with Apple Music's Zane Lowe". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  9. ^ Savoia, Courtney (August 6, 2021). "BWW Album Review: Barbra Streisand's Release Me 2 Opens Up Emotionally and Offers Clarity, Peace, and Healing for Life's Journey". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  10. ^ Brown, Helen (August 4, 2021). "Barbra Streisand Review, Release Me 2: Her Voice Is One of the Most Ridiculously Luxurious Instruments on the Planet". The Independent. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  11. ^ Maunier, Sean (August 6, 2021). "Album Review: Release Me 2 by Barbra Streisand". Metro Weekly. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  12. ^ "Top 200 Popular Albums, Rolling Stone Music Charts". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  13. ^ "Top Album Sales Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  14. ^ "billboardcharts". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  15. ^ "BTS's "Butter" Holds On To Top 10 Spot On The Hot 100 + Japanese Album "BTS, The Best" Debuts On Billboard 200". Soompi. August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  16. ^ "Artist 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  17. ^ "Top Current Album Sales Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  18. ^ "Vinyl Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  19. ^ "Ed Sheeran's 'Bad Habits' Holds at No. 1 on U.K. Chart". www.billboard.com. 2021-08-16. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  20. ^ "Dave reclaims Official Albums Chart top spot". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  21. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  22. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  23. ^ "Top 100 Albums: Week 32 (2021)" (in Spanish). El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  24. ^ "Release Me 2 by Barbra Streisand on Apple Music". August 6, 2021. Archived August 7, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  25. ^ "Press Release". barbrastreisand.com. August 6, 2021. Archived August 7, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  26. ^ "Barbra Streisand Official Store". August 6, 2021. Archived August 7, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  27. ^ "Barbra Streisand – Release Me 2 (Target Exclusive, CD)". Target. August 6, 2021. Archived August 7, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 7, 2021.