Lazy Afternoon (Barbra Streisand album)
{{good article}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Lazy Afternoon
| type = Studio
| artist = Barbra Streisand
| cover = Barbra Streisand – Lazy Afternoon.jpg
| alt = The singer sits surrounded by various blankets and pillows while wearing a pink gown and matching hat.
| released = {{Start date|1975|10|14}}
| recorded = {{Start date|1975|04
}}
| venue =
| studio = {{hlist|Record Plant (Los Angeles)|RCA Victor (Hollywood)|Capitol (Hollywood)}}
| genre = Pop standards
| length = 36:03
| label = Columbia
| producer = {{hlist|Rupert Holmes|Jeffrey Lesser}}
| prev_title = Funny Lady
| prev_year = 1975
| next_title = Classical Barbra
| next_year = 1976
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Lazy Afternoon
| type = studio
| single1 = My Father's Song
| single1date = {{Start date|1975|08
}}
| single2 = Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)
| single2date = {{Start date|1975|11|12}}
}}
}}
Lazy Afternoon is the seventeenth studio album recorded by American singer Barbra Streisand. It was released on October 14, 1975, by Columbia Records. Following a mixed critical response to her previous studio album, ButterFly (1974), the singer began working with new musicians for the project. Recorded in April 1975 in Los Angeles, Lazy Afternoon contains pop standards. Producer Rupert Holmes wrote three songs on the album and co-wrote a fourth, "By the Way", with Streisand. She also included a few cover songs, such as the Four Tops' "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)", Stevie Wonder's "You and I", and Libby Holman's "Moanin' Low".
The album received generally favorable reviews from music critics who agreed that it was more exciting than ButterFly. Commercially, the album peaked at number 12 in the United States, number 42 in Canada, and number 84 in Australia. It was later certified gold by the RIAA for shipments of 500,000 copies. "My Father's Song" and "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)" were released as singles in August and November 1975, respectively. The former entered the Adult Contemporary charts in the United States and Canada while the latter was a success on two of Billboard{{'}}s dance charts in late 1975.
Development
Following the release of the Funny Lady soundtrack earlier in 1975, Streisand began work on Lazy Afternoon with producers Jeffrey Lesser and Rupert Holmes, with whom she had not previously worked.{{harvnb|Bronson|2003|p=1010}} Because of the lackluster critical response to her previous album, ButterFly (1974), and her personal dislike for the record, she chose to collaborate with new musicians for the then-upcoming album.{{harvnb|Nickens|Swenson|2000|p=24}}{{harvnb|Santopietro|2007|p=32}}{{harvnb|Pohly|2000|p=75}} Holmes, in particular, was nervous while working with the singer. Following the completion of the album, Streisand hand-wrote a note to Holmes that read, "Dear Rupert, don't be frightened, you're the best, love Barbra". Specifically, she was touched by "My Father's Song", writing in the liner notes that she considered the song to be "a very personal gift [that] means a great to deal to me".
Recording sessions for the album took place at Record Plant, RCA Studios, and Capitol Recording Studios in Los Angeles in April 1975. Columbia Records released Lazy Afternoon on October 14, 1975.{{cite web|title=Lazy Afternoon – Barbra Streisand|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/lazy-afternoon/198174045|publisher=iTunes Store (US)|access-date=December 26, 2017|date=October 14, 1975|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227122024/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lazy-afternoon/198174045|archive-date=December 27, 2017}} It features handwritten liner notes developed by Streisand herself; she opened the booklet by writing, "While I usually let the vinyl speak for itself, I really had fun making this record, and I thought it might interest you to know something about each song. After all, I wouldn't want to be a chef who doesn't share her secrets!" Additionally, the label issued the album as an 8-track cartridge in 1975, with the track listing switching the order of "By the Way" and "Widescreen" around. Also a Cassette Tape version was issued. The album was finally released in compact disc format on October 25, 1990.{{cite web|title=Lazy Afternoon: Barbra Streisand|url=https://www.amazon.com/Lazy-Afternoon-Barbra-Streisand/dp/B00000255P|publisher=Amazon.com (US)|access-date=March 27, 2017|date=October 25, 1990|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401144224/https://www.amazon.com/Lazy-Afternoon-Barbra-Streisand/dp/B00000255P|archive-date=April 1, 2017}}
Music and lyrics
As a whole, the album contains a mixture of several different genres of music, particularly pop standards. Commenting on the diverse musical nature of the album, author Tom Santopietro described as the singer being able to "cover [...] all fan bases without seriously alienating any".{{harvnb|Santopietro|2007|p=33}} Lazy Afternoon opens with the title track, written by John La Touche and Jerome Moross. A "poetic nature song" where "Streisand gives her voice totally over to the lyrics",{{cite web|last1=Garrett|first1=Daniel|title=A review of The Essential Barbra Streisand and Guilty Pleasures|url=http://www.compulsivereader.com/2006/07/26/a-review-of-the-essential-barbra-streisand-and-guilty-pleasures/|website=Compulsive Reader|access-date=March 29, 2017|date=July 26, 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401144731/http://www.compulsivereader.com/2006/07/26/a-review-of-the-essential-barbra-streisand-and-guilty-pleasures/|archive-date=April 1, 2017}} director Francis Ford Coppola suggested the song to the singer in order to revive it. "My Father's Song" was written by Holmes and is the first original song on the track listing. Like other album tracks, it was considered to be a "sympathetic" ballad that relies on Streisand's vocals, according to AllMusic's William Ruhlmann. "By the Way", the record's third track, is noted as Streisand's first English-lyric songwriting credit in her career. While creating the track, Streisand decided to write from a "sense of resolute rather than desperate emotions".{{harvnb|Pohly|2000|p=77}} It is followed by a cover of the Four Tops' "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)". The original version, set in a gospel rock tempo,{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0143908|title=The Four Tops 'Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)' Digital Sheet Music|publisher=Musicnotes.com|last1=Holland|first1=Edward|last2=Dozier|first2=Lamont|last3=Holland|first3=Brian|year=1966|access-date=March 19, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321172029/http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0143908|archive-date=March 21, 2017}} was updated into a disco track. The song tells a story of a lost love, with neighbors supposedly discussing the matter during "long and sleepless night[s]". "I Never Had It So Good" is the fifth track on Lazy Afternoon and was written by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols. She wrote in the album's liner notes that she had always wanted to sing it and accompany it with someone playing the harmonica.
"Letters That Cross in the Mail" was the first song recorded for the album. Streisand claimed that the inspiration behind the track was "about love and the postal service". Santopietro wrote that Holmes' love of "big band sound[s]" and "a full symphonic orchestra" is evident in the production. Following her cover of "All in Love Is Fair" in 1974, seventh track "You and I" is Streisand's second cover of a Stevie Wonder song.{{harvnb|Waldman|2001|p=54}} Taken from his 1972 studio album Talking Book, she called the pop song "immediately [...] touch[ing]" and considered Wonder "brilliant" for his work on it. Written by Howard Dietz and Ralph Rainger, Streisand's cover of Libby Holman's "Moanin' Low" appears as the eighth song. In order to place focus on the lyrics during the song, the production contains "octave leaps" while Streisand "changes timbre frequently and quickly between loud and soft sections and high and low pitches". Ninth track "A Child Is Born" features a simple piano arrangement accompanied by Streisand's vocals; Columbia Records' executive reacted to the track's new genre for the singer, stating, "You could put Barbra in front of a rock band or a symphony orchestra, she would still be Barbra Streisand, not compromising, not uncomfortable". "Widescreen", the album's closing track, was inspired by the singer's love of film; according to author Patrick E. Horrigan, it specifically explains "how the movies, dark and dreamlike, seduce us into believing that life can be fulfilling, then let us down as soon as we return to the light of day".{{harvnb|Horrigan|1999|p=xvi}} It was also the last of four tracks written by Holmes and has a production consisting of "synthesized electronics".{{harvnb|Waldman|2001|p=57}}
Singles
"My Father's Song" was released as the album's lead single in August 1975.{{cite AV media notes |title="My Father's Song" / "By the Way" |others=Barbra Streisand |year=1975 |type=Liner notes |publisher=Columbia |id=3-10198 |quote="Whatever you are, you're going to be. Whatever you are is all right with me."}} The 7" record was released in the United States and Spain where the song was retitled "La Canción de Mi Padre". The song was paired with B-side "By the Way", although in Spain the track was titled "Da Paso".{{cite AV media notes |title="La Canción de Mi Padre" / "Da Paso" |others=Barbra Streisand |year=1975 |type=Liner notes |publisher=CBS |id=3613}} The single enjoyed success on the United States Adult Contemporary chart, where it peaked at number 11.{{cite magazine|title=Adult Contemporary – The Week Of October 25, 1975|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1975-10-25|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 16, 2017|date=October 25, 1975|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317025031/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1975-10-25|archive-date=March 17, 2018}} It also entered the similar chart in Canada, where it reached number 15.{{cite magazine|title=Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4053|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4053&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4053.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4053|access-date=March 27, 2017|magazine=RPM. Library and Archives Canada|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402064210/http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4053&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4053.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4053|archive-date=April 2, 2017}} Nicky Siano, a disc jockey, began playing Streisand's version of "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)" at The Gallery nightclub in New York City in the fall of 1975; in a handwritten letter by Streisand for Siano, she wrote that the hype generated from playing her cover at the club prompted Columbia Records to release it as another single from Lazy Afternoon.{{harvnb|Hermes|2012|p=154}}{{harvnb|Lawrence|2004|p=202}} It was distributed in 7" and 12" vinyl formats on November 12, 1975 featuring the B-side and album track "Widescreen".{{cite magazine|last1=Moulton|first1=Tom|title=Club Dialog|magazine=Billboard|date=November 15, 1975|volume=87|issue=46|page=40|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=exEEAAAAMBAJ|access-date=March 18, 2016|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|issn=0006-2510}}{{cite AV media notes |title="Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)" / "Widescreen" |others=Barbra Streisand |year=1975 |type=Liner notes |publisher=Columbia |id=3-10272}} A British version of the single was also created and features the longer cut of the single instead of the album version.{{cite AV media notes |title="Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)" / "Widescreen" |others=Barbra Streisand |year=1976 |type=Liner notes |publisher=CBS |id=CBS 4027}}{{harvnb|Aletti|2009|p=148}} Streisand's cover was noted by writers for Billboard as an attempt for pop singers to begin "releasing disco records"; other singers like Andy Williams and Ethel Merman were also mentioned as individuals following the fad.{{cite magazine|last1=Grein|first1=Paul|title=Everyone's Jumping on Disco Bandwagon|magazine=Billboard|date=April 14, 1979|volume=91|issue=15|pages=4, 6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TiQEAAAAMBAJ|access-date=March 31, 2017|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|issn=0006-2510}} Due to heavy airplay in dance clubs, it entered two of the dance charts compiled by Billboard; it peaked at number 14 on the Dance Club Songs chart and number 10 on the Disco Singles chart.{{cite web|title=Barbra Streisand: Awards|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/barbra-streisand-mn0000855531/awards|access-date=March 18, 2017|website=AllMusic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015173934/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/barbra-streisand-mn0000855531/awards|archive-date=October 15, 2012}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/lazy-afternoon-mw0000650838|title=Barbra Streisand – Lazy Afternoon|website=AllMusic|last1=Ruhlmann|first1=William|access-date=March 26, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323090855/http://www.allmusic.com/album/lazy-afternoon-mw0000650838|archive-date=March 23, 2017}}
}}
Lazy Afternoon received a positive response from music critics and her fans. Stephen Holden from Rolling Stone applauded Streisand, finding it to be a better album than 1974's ButterFly. He called "By the Way" as one of her most classic songs and found her vocals to be "controlled"; he also liked Holmes and Lesser's contributions as producers. Furthermore, Holden felt that as "the greatest singer of the past quarter-century, Streisand is one artist who not only withstands elaborate production but thrives on it".{{cite magazine|last1=Holden|first1=Stephen|title=Album Reviews: Barbra Streisand – Lazy Afternoon|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/barbrastreisand/albums/album/188230/review/5944227/lazy_afternoon|access-date=March 29, 2017|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=January 15, 1976|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609052322/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/barbrastreisand/albums/album/188230/review/5944227/lazy_afternoon|archive-date=June 9, 2008}} Derek Winnert, who wrote a biography of Streisand, found the album to be "outstanding" and considered "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)" and "By the Way" as the album's two best tracks.{{harvnb|Winnert|1996|p=1999}} With a more mixed opinion, AllMusic's William Ruhlmann awarded the album three out of five stars. He liked Streisand's vocals and the "delicately played individual instruments" that focused on them. However, he concluded "for the most part, Lazy Afternoon was true to its title, a collection of relaxed performances that was pleasant without being particularly impressive". British singer Rumer stated in The Quietus that Lazy Afternoon is one of her favorite albums, in addition to calling it "cinematic", "dreamy", and a "gorgeous experience". She recommended it as "the album for people who don't like Barbra Streisand" as it would likely change their minds.{{cite news|last1=Price|first1=Simon|title=Girls Don't Cry: Rumer's Favourite Albums|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/16834-rumer-favourite-albums-interview?page=3|access-date=March 16, 2017|work=The Quietus|date=December 3, 2014}}
Commercial performance
In the United States, Lazy Afternoon debuted at number 107 on the Billboard 200 chart for the week ending November 1, 1975.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1975-11-01 |title=Billboard 200: The Week Of November 1, 1975 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 23, 2017 |date=November 1, 1975 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401144639/http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1975-11-01 |archive-date=April 1, 2017 }} It continued rising on the charts for several weeks before peaking at number 12 on December 20 of that same year.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1975-12-20 |title=Billboard 200: The Week Of December 20, 1975 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 23, 2017 |date=December 20, 1975 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401145738/http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1975-12-20 |archive-date=April 1, 2017 }} Later in 1976 due to the album's strong sales, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified Lazy Afternoon Gold on April 14, 1976 for shipments of 500,000 copies. In Canada, the album peaked at a much lower position; it debuted on RPM{{'}}s official list at number 69 as the week's third highest entry on December 20, 1975.{{cite magazine|title=Top RPM Singles: Issue 4045b|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4045b&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4045b.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4045b|magazine=RPM. Library and Archives Canada|access-date=March 23, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402064221/http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4045b&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4045b.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4045b|archive-date=April 2, 2017}} The following month and year, it would reach its peak position at number 42. It also charted in Australia, where it peaked at number 84 according to the Kent Music Report.
Track listing
All tracks produced by Jeffrey Lesser and Rupert Holmes.
{{Track listing
| headline = Lazy Afternoon{{spaced ndash}} {{nobold|Standard edition}}{{cite AV media notes |title=Lazy Afternoon |edition=Vinyl release |others=Barbra Streisand |year=1975 |type=Liner notes |publisher=Columbia |id= PC 33815}}
| total_length = 36:03
| title1 = Lazy Afternoon
| writer1 = {{hlist|John La Touche|Jerome Moross}}
| length1 = 3:47
| title2 = My Father's Song
| writer2 = Rupert Holmes
| length2 = 3:52
| title3 = By the Way
| writer3 = {{hlist|Barbra Streisand|Holmes}}
| length3 = 2:55
| title4 = Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)
| writer4 = {{hlist|Brian Holland|Lamont Dozier|Eddie Holland}}
| length4 = 2:50
| title5 = I Never Had It So Good
| writer5 = {{hlist|Paul Williams|Roger Nichols}}
| length5 = 3:35
| title6 = Letters That Cross in the Mail
| writer6 = Holmes
| length6 = 3:36
| title7 = You and I
| writer7 = Stevie Wonder
| length7 = 4:16
| title8 = Moanin' Low
| writer8 = {{hlist|Howard Dietz|Ralph Rainger}}
| length8 = 4:25
| title9 = A Child Is Born
| writer9 = {{hlist|Alan Bergman|Marilyn Bergman|Dave Grusin}}
| length9 = 2:48
| title10 = Widescreen
| writer10 = Holmes
| length10 = 3:59
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Lazy Afternoon{{spaced ndash}} {{nobold|8-track cartridge edition}}{{cite AV media notes |title=Lazy Afternoon | edition=8-track cartridge |others=Barbra Streisand |year=1975 |type=Liner notes |publisher=Columbia |id=CAQ 33815}}
| total_length = 36:06
| title1 = Lazy Afternoon
| length1 = 3:47
| title2 = My Father's Song
| length2 = 3:52
| title3 = Widescreen
| length3 = 3:59
| title4 = Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)
| length4 = 2:53
| title5 = I Never Had It So Good
| length5 = 3:35
| title6 = Letters That Cross in the Mail
| length6 = 3:36
| title7 = You and I
| length7 = 4:16
| title8 = Moanin' Low
| length8 = 4:25
| title9 = A Child Is Born
| length9 = 2:48
| title10 = By the Way
| length10 = 2:55
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of the standard edition of Lazy Afternoon.
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
- Barbra Streisand{{spaced ndash}} vocals
- Nancy Donald{{spaced ndash}} album design
- Sam Emerson{{spaced ndash}} black and white photography
- Rupert Holmes{{spaced ndash}} producer, conductor, arranger
{{col-2}}
- Jeffrey Lesser{{spaced ndash}} producer, engineer, mixer
- Steve Schapiro{{spaced ndash}} photography
- Frank DeCaro{{spaced ndash}} music contractor, album supervisor
{{col-end}}
Charts
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Chart performance for Lazy Afternoon |
scope="col"| Chart (1975–1976)
! scope="col"| Peak |
---|
scope="row"| Australia Albums (Kent Music Report){{cite book|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W |year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}
| 84 |
{{album chart|Canada|42|chartid=4066b|rowheader=true|access-date=March 22, 2017|refname="Canada"}} |
{{album chart|Billboard200|12|artist=Barbra Streisand|rowheader=true|access-date=March 22, 2017|refname="United States"}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Barbra Streisand|title=Lazy Afternoon|award=Gold|relyear=1975|certyear=1976|access-date=March 22, 2017 |refname="United States certification"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}
References
= Citations =
{{Reflist|30em}}
= Bibliography =
- {{cite book|last1=Aletti|first1=Vince|title=The Disco Files 1973–78|date=2009|publisher=DJhistory.com Publishing|isbn= 978-0-9561896-0-8 |edition= illustrated}}
- {{cite book|last1=Bronson|first1=Fred|title=The Billboard Book of Number One Hits|date=2003|publisher=Billboard Books |isbn= 0-8230-7677-6 |edition= illustrated, revised }}
- {{cite book|last1=Hermes|first1=Will|title=Love Goes to Buildings on Fire: Five Years in New York That Changed Music Forever|date=September 4, 2012|publisher=Macmillan|isbn= 978-0-374-53354-0 |edition= illustrated, reprinted}}
- {{cite book|last1=Horrigan|first1=Patrick E.|title=Widescreen Dreams: Growing Up Gay at the Movies|date=April 20, 1999|publisher=University of Wisconsin Press|isbn=0-299-16163-3|url=https://archive.org/details/widescreendreams00horr}}
- {{cite book|last1=Lawrence|first1=Tim|title=Love Saves the Day: A History of American Dance Music Culture, 1970–1979|date=January 12, 2004|publisher=Duke University Press|isbn= 0-8223-8511-2}}
- {{cite book|last1=Nickens|first1=Christopher|last2=Swenson|first2=Karen|title=The Films of Barbra Streisand|date=2000|publisher=Citadel Press |isbn= 0-8065-1954-1 |edition= illustrated }}
- {{cite book|last1=Pohly|first1=Linda|title=The Barbra Streisand Companion: A Guide to Her Vocal Style and Repertoire|date=January 1, 2000|publisher=Greenwood Press|isbn=0-313-30414-9|edition=illustrated|url=https://archive.org/details/barbrastreisandc00lind}}
- {{cite book|last1=Santopietro|first1=Tom|title=The Importance of Being Barbra: The Brilliant, Tumultuous Career of Barbra Streisand|date=April 1, 2007|publisher=Macmillan |isbn= 978-1-4299-0853-5 }}
- {{cite book|last1=Waldman|first1=Allison J.|title=The Barbra Streisand Scrapbook|date=2001|publisher=Citadel Press|isbn= 0-8065-2218-6 |edition= illustrated, revised}}
- {{cite book|last1=Winnert|first1=Derek|title=Barbra Streisand|date=1996|publisher=Book Company|isbn=0-7525-1603-5|edition=illustrated|url=https://archive.org/details/barbrastreisandq0000winn}}
{{Barbra Streisand}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Barbra Streisand albums
Category:Columbia Records albums
Category:Albums recorded at Capitol Studios