Barbra Streisand’s fear of the world situation was greater than her fear of performing live. To benefit the Hollywood Women’s Political Committee and raise money for six Democratic senatorial candidates, Barbra opened her Malibu ranch to a bevy of guests, press, movie stars, and politicians.
Billed as her “first full-length concert in twenty years,” Streisand performed on a stage situated in a meadow on her large estate. She was backed by eight musicians, and performed some of her best known hits, as well as some songs she'd never sang before. And she invited Barry Gibb to join her on stage for two duets from their hit album,
Guilty, released just six years before this concert.
The concert was taped for television and eventually aired on HBO. Columbia Records released this live album, which managed to cut down most of Barbra's patter, leaving us with her wonderful music.
The live album was released on both LP and CD; “Send in the Clowns” did not appear on the LP due to length and timing. However, it did appear on the CD.
Rhino Entertainment released the DVD of
One Voice in 2006. John Arrias is credited on the DVD as “Remix Engineer and Mastering Supervision.” The sound on Columbia's 1987 CD pales in comparison to Arrias’ 2006 DVD remix. If you can find a copy of the DVD (which replicates the album's artwork) — get it!
Trivia:
Yes, that's Richard Marx credited on this album for background vocals (he wrote and sang the hit “Right Here Waiting For You.”) But Marx wasn't actually on stage that night. As he told The Jimmy Pardo Podcast in January 2020, Marx was approached by Streisand when she was in the studio mixing the album for release. He was recording background vocals for Kenny Rogers and Streisand heard that Marx could imitate other singers. She told him that Barry Gibb did not sing “it outta be illegal” the night the concert was taped; Marx spent just a few minutes in the recording booth singing that line (in the voice of Barry Gibb) and was done! Streisand didn't pay him, but he did receive a credit on the album.