Producers: Barbra Streisand and Phil Ramone
Track listing: Watch Closely Now / Queen Bee / Everything / Lost Inside of You / Hellacious Acres / Love Them from “A Star Is Born” (Evergreen) / The Woman in the Moon / I Believe in Love / Crippled Crow / Finale: With One More Look at You/Watch Closely Now / Reprise: Love Them from “A Star 15 Born” (Evergreen)
February 12, 1977
6 weeks
A Star Is Born was no stranger to the summit of the Billboard album chart. Prior to the rock era, in 1954, Judy Garland had a Number One album with the soundtrack to the first remake of the 1937 film classic. To remake the film yet again would be a risky move for most, but not for Barbra Streisand. By 1977, Streisand had starred on Broadway and in films, hosted her own TV specials, and scored two Number One albums.
Yet Streisand’s version of A Star Is Born would not be a mere remake. It would feature new music, including two songs co-written by Streisand herself. Despite her enormous talent, songwriting was unusual for Streisand. Prior to A Star Is Born, she’d had only one other composing credit.
One song, “Lost Inside of You” was written by Streisand and Leon Russell. The pair were introduced through the actor Gary Busey, who was a mutual friend. Streisand wrote “Love Theme from ‘A Star Is Born’ (Evergreen)” on the acoustic guitar after learning how to play the instrument for a scene in the film. Although the scene was cut from the film, the song survived and went on to become one of Streisand’s biggest hits.
The music wasn’t the only thing different from the film’s two earlier incarnations. “From the very beginning, Barbra and the film’s producer Jon Peters wanted to record live,” says Phil Ramone. “Every shot was edited to fit the vocal that was performed and it certainly added a dimension to the picture.”
Many of the live scenes and songs in the film were recorded at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, during a concert headlined by Peter Frampton. “We had originally gone into the studio to pre-record songs,” says Ramone. “But Barbra knew that me and my little team would be able to record the live material right. It would not just feel like Woodstock, it would feel bigger than that.”
A Star Is Born also marked a technological first. “Barbra allowed me to explore the usage of a Dolby four-track,” says Ramone. “The film company actually paid for the installation of the system in 25 or 30 theaters across America.”
Although Kris Kristofferson, who played an alcoholic rocker in the film, was featured on five of the album’s 12 songs, including three solo tracks, Streisand was clearly the star. In its 10th week on the Top LPs & Tapes chart, A Star Is Born shot to Number One. It was still holding there when “Love Theme from ‘A Star Is Born’ (Evergreen)” hit Number One on the Hot 100, giving Streisand simultaneous Number Ones.
THE TOP FIVE
Week of February 12, 1977
1. A Star Is Born, Barbra Streisand/ Kris Kristofferson
2. Hotel California, Eagles
3. Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie Wonder
4. Wings Over America, Wings
5. A Day at the Races, Queen