Written by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II

“Some Enchanted Evening,” from the 1949 Rodgers & Hammerstein musical “South Pacific,” was a Broadway tune that became an evergreen thanks to dozens of interpretations by various recording stars. “Some Enchanted Evening” was considered one of the most successful tunes ever to come from a musical.

The year of its Broadway debut, “Some Enchanted Evening” was immediately covered by several stars including Perry Como (1912-2001), Frank Sinatra (1915-1998) and Bing Crosby (1903-1977). To point out the huge appeal of this composition, all these versions and several others by lesser-known singers went high on the 1949 charts.

Through the years, “Some Enchanted Evening” was also sung by many contemporary names including Art Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and the incomparable Barbra Streisand. With David Foster at the helm, Ms. Steisand’s added “Some Enchanted Evening” to her 1993 album, Back To Broadway, as the opening track. The Back To Broadway version of “Some Enchanted Evening” sported a magnificent arrangement by Foster and Johnny Mandel (1925-2020) who also crafted a truly outstanding orchestration for the piece. Ms. Streisand’s performance was nothing short of sublime with her silky voice caressing the listeners’ ears while Foster’s production was the usual state-of-the-art affair. In 1994, Foster, who produced the bulk of Back To Broadway, was nominated with Mandel for their instrumental arrangement of “Some Enchanted Evening.” They lost to another Foster arrangement of Celine Dion’s, “When I Fall In Love.” The Hitman even got a third nod that year for “Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals” for his work on Whitney Houston’s (1963-2012) “I Have Nothing.” Both of these gems were co-arranged by Foster with Jeremy Lubbock (1931-2021). Back To Broadway skyrocketed to the top of the worldwide charts including the Billboard Top 200 and was soon certified double platinum. Back To Broadway was nominated at the 1994 Grammys as “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.” That year, Foster swept the Grammys, winning four awards out of seven nominations including “Producer Of The Year.”

Listen

• Lead Vocals: Barbra Streisand
• Synthesizer: Mark Portmann & Ian Underwood
• Synthesizer Overdubs: Simon Franglen

• Arranged by Johnny Mandel & David Foster
• Orchestrated by Johnny Mandel
• Conducted by Eddie Karam
• Produced by David Foster

Lyrics

Some enchanted evening
You may see a stranger

You may see a stranger across a crowded room
And somehow you know
You know even then
That somewhere you’ll see him
Again and again

Some enchanted evening
Someone may be laughing
You may hear him laughing across a crowded room
And night after night
As strange as it seems
The sound of his laughter
Will sing in your dreams

Who can explain it?
Who can tell you why?
Fools give you reasons
Wise men never try

Some enchanted evening
When you find your true love
Across a crowded room
Then fly to his side
And make him your own
For all through your life you
May dream all alone

Once you have found him
Never let him go
Once you have found him
Never let him go!

Barbra Streisand’s 36th studio album, Walls, saw the light of day in November 2018. It was another hit for the legendary songbird, peaking at #2 on Billboard’s Top 200 and #6 on the UK albums charts. Walls presented mostly original tunes co-written by killer tunesmiths like Carole Bayer Sager, John Shanks, Walter Afanasieff, Desmond Child and Steve Dorff. The production was mainly handled by Afanasieff with selected tracks crafted by Child, Shanks and David Foster, who came out of his hiatus to work on the new song “Better Angels.” 

Written by Bayer Sager with Streisand collaborator Jay Landers and Jonas Myrin, an up’n’coming music-maker from Sweden, “Better Angels” was one of those orchestral gems that seemed tailor-made for the superstar’s sublime vocals. Foster arranged the tune with co-writer Myrin and the great William Ross. Their collective brilliant work was coupled with the usual top-notch production from Foster that resulted in the perfect tool for Streisand’s breathtaking voice. 

Walls offers many other points of interest; from the thought-provoking title-track to the modern sounds of the single, “Don’t Lie To Me.” The smooth rendition of the Burt Bacharach’s classic, “What The World Needs Now,” with creamy guest vocals by Michael McDonald and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds must be experienced.

 Asked about this new collaboration with Streisand, The Hitman had these words:

“I’ve loved working with Barbra since playing piano sessions for her in the 70s. She is totally unique and one of the greatest singers ever to grace this planet. My turning point with Barbra was when I was asked to produce her song “Somewhere.” She wanted it to sound like it wasn’t created on earth so I used all synthesizers to achieve that special atmosphere that eventually won me a Grammy. Since then we have done many songs together and I loved getting to work with her again on Walls. “Better Angels” is a beautiful song and she still sounds amazing plus she totally trusts me so it is a complete joy to be in the studio with her these days.”

Listen

• Lead Vocals: Barbra Streisand
• Acoustic Guitar: Tariqh Akoni
• Chorus Master: Tim Davis
• Arranged by David Foster & William Ross
• Produced by David Foster
• Associate Producer/Co-Arranger: Jonas Myrin

Lyrics

Angry words and bitterness
‘Cause love to fade away
What happened to the dreams
And hopes that we shared yesterday?
Mystic chords of memory that stir within in our soul
Lead us to forgiveness so that we can be made whole

We are not enemies, there is no good in that
There are better angels that surround us all
And we will find a way through all our differences
Hear the better angels, listen to their call

Hatred only breeds more hate and darkness in our heart
May we find compassion in a world so torn apart
A symphony of what could be
Says this where we start

We are not enemies, there is no good in that
There are better angels that surround us all
And we will find a way through all our differences
Hear the better angels, listen to their call

Let the better angels be our guide
Yes there are better angels walk beside
Can you catch us all?
’Cause we just about to fall
Rise up and find better angels in us all
Yes rise up it’s time, oh it’s time

We are not enemies, there is no good in that
There are better angels that surround us all
And we will find a way through all our differences
Hear the better angels, listen to their call

A Love Like Ours was Barbra Streisand’s 28th studio album. It saw the light of day on September 21st, 1999. The string of effective love ballads included on that project celebrated her recent marriage with veteran TV and movie actor James Brolin. A Love Like Ours was the classic triumph of traditional pop with a bulk of perfectly-dosed tender love songs that, from time to time, ventured into light jazz, Latin-tinged pop and radio-friendly, adult contemporary stuff. David Foster was one of several heavyweight music-makers on board and produced two tracks.

Foster co-produced, together with talented singer/songwriter Richard Marx, who was also the song’s composer, the ear-candy pop ballad, “If You Ever Leave Me,” a beautiful duet with country superstar Vince Gill. “If You Ever Leave Me” was the most successful single release off the album reaching #62 on the Billboard’s Hot Country song chart and #26 on the UK singles chart. A past review of “If You Ever Leave Me” can be found in the archives.

This week, the focus was on another gorgeous ballad titled “If I Didn’t Love You.” This was the second Foster production appearing on A Love Like Ours. Co-written by celebrated singer/songwriter and frequent Streisand collaborator Bruce Roberts with lyricist Junior Miles, “If I Didn’t Love You” leans more towards the superstar’s traditional pop side. This song sports rich orchestral work courtesy of arranger-supreme William Ross with exquisite instrumental performances by Foster on keyboards, Nathan East on bass and John Robinson on drums. On top of this refined music scenario was Ms. Streisand’s inspired vocals perfectly directed by the Hitman. It is interesting to note that Junior Miles was the pseudonym of former music mogul and retired CEO of Seagram, Edgar Bronfman, Jr., who wrote the moving lyrics for “If I Didn’t Love You.” Mr. Bronfman declared that those touching words were inspired by the beginning of the love affair with the woman who became his second wife.  A Love Like Ours  was the umpteenth platinum-certified record for the multi-talented megastar. A Love Like Ours  was also a Top Ten entry on Billboard’s Top 200 at #6.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Barbra-Streisand-If-I-Didnt-Love-You.mp3|titles=If I Didn’t Love You|artists=Barbra Streisand]

Lead Vocals: Barbra Streisand
Keyboards: David Foster
Bass: Nathan East
Drums: John J.R. Robinson

Orchestral Arranged & Conducted by William Ross
Arranged by David Foster & Bruce Roberts

Produced by David Foster

Lyrics

If i didn’t love you
I’d be safe from harm.
I would never find myself
Lost inside your arms.
If i didn’t love you
I’d never feel the pain
Of sunny days without you
Drowning in the rain.
If i didn’t love you

If i didn’t love you
Peace would rule the day
All the dark and out would surely go away.
If i didn’t love you
I wouldn’t pay the cost
Of living every endless day
If our love is lost.
If i didn’t love you
If i didn’t love you

And yet you make me breathless
At the way you move
I never knew that i
Could ever love the way we do.
I don’t know how you reach me
In that place in my heart
Belonging to only you.

If i didn’t love you
I wouldn’t lose control
The danger loving brings a word
Never touch my soul.
If i didn’t love you
Perhaps i wouldn’t die.
If you should ever say to me
“i’m sorry, goodbye.”
If i didn’t love you
How can there be music
In the way you touch?
I can’t believe that somehow
I believe in you so much.
Now you’ve come and taught me
How to give you my heart.
And make me feel at last
That the end will never start.
You’re the only reason
I’m not afraid to fall.
For if i didn’t love you
If i didn’t love you
I wouldn’t love at all.

The Broadway Album is one of the milestones of Barbra Streisand’s illustrious career. Released in November 1985, this stunning collection of classic show tunes reached #1 on Billboard’s Top 200 and went on to sell over four million copies in the US and about eight million worldwide.

David Foster’s state-of-the-art production of “Somewhere” from the legendary musical “West Side Story” is the hit single off the album and quickly became one of Ms. Streisand’s concert staples as well as a Grammy winner for The Hitman as Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s). ForThe Broadway Album, Foster also produced a magnificent rendition of “I Know Him So Well” from “Chess” that’s this week’s review.

Despite the superior value of “I Know Him So Well,” the recording didn’t make the final cut of the album. It seems Ms. Streisand considered the arrangement too pop and radio-friendly, not in line with the musical atmospheres of the album. She was also afraid that such a catchy ballad could be considered a too obvious attempt for a hit single. Another solid reason was that “Chess” didn’t premiere on Broadway until 1988 so its inclusion on The Broadway Album could have seemed forced in 1985. Luckily, “I Know Him So Well” resurfaced in 1991 on Ms. Streisand’s Just For The Record, a retrospective box set of her unprecedented singing career. Foster’s arrangement took that classic melody, co-written by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Bjorn Alvaeus with lyrics by the renowned Tim Rice, and took it into his familiar adult contemporary territories. Fosterized as it was, “I Know Him So Well” was certainly more attuned with Ms. Streisand’s pop albums and could have been a big North American hit in the eighties. The gifted diva delivered a fantastic vocal performance joined by special guest Richard Page of Pages and Mr. Mister fame. Those two amazing singers beautifully harmonize together with the tasteful backing of Foster’s keyboards and the result was a true showstopper. “I Know Him So Well” can be found as a bonus track in subsequent cd releases of The Broadway Album.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Barbra-Streisand-I-KNOW-HIM-SO-WELL-From-Broadway-CHESS.mp3|titles=I Know Him So Well|artists=Barbra Streisand]

Lead Vocals: Barbra Streisand
Guest Vocals: Richard Page
Keyboards: David Foster
Guitar: Michael Landau

Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

Nothing is so good it lasts eternally
Perfect situations must go wrong
But this has never yet prevented me
From wanting far too much for far too long
Looking back, I could have done it differently
Won a few more moments, who can tell?
But it took time to understand the man
Now at least I know, I know him well

Wasn’t it good, Wasn’t it fine
Isn’t it madness he can’t be mine
But in the end, he needs a little more than before
Security, he needs his fantasy and freedom
I know him so well

No one in your life is with you constantly
No one is completely on your side
And though I move my world to be with him
Still the gap between us is too wide
Looking back, I could have played it differently
Learned about the man before I fell
But I was ever so much younger then

Wasn’t it good (oh so good), Wasn’t it fine (so fine)
Isn’t it madness he can’t be mine

Didn’t I know how it would go
If I knew from the start
Why am I falling apart

Wasn’t it fine
Isn’t it madness he can’t be mine
But in the end, he needs a little more than before
Security, he needs his fantasy and freedom
I know him so well
It took some to understand him
Hoo ooh I know him so well

The summer of 1993 witnessed the release of “Back To Broadway,” Barbra Streisand’s 50thalbum for Columbia Records. As the title suggests, “Back To Broadway” was the superstar’s sequel to her 1985 multi-platinum milestone “The Broadway Album.” David Foster, who collected a Grammy for his stratospheric production of “Somewhere” on “The Broadway Album,” returned to the control room for “Back To Broadway.”

The Canadian super-producer crafted eight songs for the album that skyrocketed to the top of the charts and certified “Back To Broadway” as double platinum. Streisand was vocally at the top of her game, but so was Foster who also produced other giant sellers like “The Bodyguard” soundtrack for Whitney Houston and “The Colour Of My Love” for Celine Dion around the same time. Foster’s incredible, high-tech production and his terrific work with gifted arrangers like Jeremy Lubbock and Johnny Mandel created a true work of art and brought new life to a series of unforgettable Broadway classics. “Back To Broadway” also got two Grammy nominations as Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Duo or Group for the song “The Music Of The Night.”

Although many songs were notable on “Back To Broadway,” a couple of beautiful tunes stand out. “Some Enchanted Evening,” arranged by Foster and Mandel, and “Luck Be A Lady,” arranged by Lubbock, got a 1994 Grammy nod as Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocals. Foster and Lubbock were on a creative roll and basically stole the category that year. They were nominated for Houston’s “I Have Nothing” and took the award for Celine Dion’s “When I Fall In Love.”

It’s impossible to pick just one song from this fantastic release. The jazzy, horn-driven and festive take on Frank Loesser’s “Luck Be A Lady” won our attention. Everything on this number is noteworthy; from Streisand’s top-notch vocal performance to Lubbock’s extraordinary work and Foster’s absolutely perfect production. This song shows Foster’s unique ability to modernize a classic tune without losing its original power and value.

1994 saw a triumph for Foster as Producer Of The Year for the third time in his career thanks to “The Bodyguard” wild success and his fantastic work on both “The Colour Of My Love” and “Back To Broadway.” Kudos Mr. Foster, kudos.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/luck_be_a_lady.mp3|titles=Luck Be A Lady|artists=Barbra Streisand]

Lead Vocals: Barbra Streisand
Keyboards: David Foster
Drums: Jeff Hamilton
Percussion: Paulinho da Costa
Synthesizer: Mark Portmann

Arranged & Conducted by Jeremy Lubbock
Produced by David Foster
Co-Produced by Barbra Streisand

Lyrics

They call you lady luck
But there is room for doubt
At times you have a very un-lady-like way
Of running out

Your on a date with me
The pickings have been lush
And yet before this evening is over you might give me the brush
You might forget your manners
You might refuse to stay
And so the best that I can do is pray

Luck be a lady tonight, luck be a lady tonight
Luck if you’ve ever been a lady to begin with
Luck be a lady tonight

Luck how I’m longing to see
How good a friend you can be
Stick with me sister, I’m the one that you came in with
Luck be a lady with me

A lady doesn’t leave her escort
It isn’t fair, it isn’t nice
A lady doesn’t wander all over the joint
And blow on some other guy’s dice

So, let’s keep the party polite
Hmm
Never get out of my sight
Stick with me sister
I’m the gal that I came in with
Luck be a lady tonight

A lady wouldn’t flirt with strangers
She’d have heart, she would have a soul
A lady wouldn’t make little sneak eyes at you
When I’ve bet my life on this roll

So, let’s keep the party polite
Never get out of my sight
Stick with me pal
‘Cause I’m the gal that you came in with
Luck be a lady
Luck be a lady
Luck be lady tonight