The medley that closes this album somehow became one of my favorite tracks from Barbra. How can a singer so young make me feel happy like that inside. The ending of "The Best Things In Life", played out of tempo, makes me feel nervous but joyful inside (knowing how young she was at the time she recorded this).

This lp is Barbra's sixth and the follow-up to "My Name Is Barbra" as was the lp's television special namesake. The opening song is a searing, soaring ballad that again, becomes a trademark song for Barbra, the arrangement is reminiscent of the huge Italian ballads fashionable for the 1960's, Dusty Springfield would record "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" following the same formula. Bossa Nova was also trendy in the 60's and Barbra delivered "The Shadow Of Your Smile" in that arrangement, she tears into "I Got Plenty Of Nothin'" and revisits that song as part of the medley that closes this set, "Second Hand Rose" is a vaudville style number that becomes a staple and finds a home along with "He Touched Me" on her "Greatest Hits" lp, Melissa Manchester recorded a tribute album of her favorite women of song in 1989 and she did a wonderful cover of "The Kind Of Man A Woman Needs" crediting the inspiration to Barbra, it's easy to hear why. The closing medley consists of additional verses of "Second Hand Rose," excerpts of "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out," "Brother Can You Spare A Dime?" and "The Best Things In Life Are Free." Barbra's in full voice during the medley performance and it's amazing. Ethel Merman was right when she called Barbra "The New Belter." The remastering of this cd is a bit quieter than it's predecessor but it's still very good.

Amazing arrangements, that young sweet voice (how did she do it at so early an age?). I could listen to this album over and over and over...