Rating:
Genre: Vocal Music
Release Date: 11/11/1997
Run Time: 56:21

As Barbra Streisand's first studio album of mainstream pop material in nine years, Higher Ground is something of an oddity. Instead of devoting herself to Broadway standards or a set of radio-oriented pop tunes, Streisand has crafted a record that she intended as a tribute to the power of music as prayer. It's an ambitious project, but for the most part it works, achieving a surprising grace. Higher Ground comprises both traditional religious songs and new material (even "Tell Him," an overblown duet with Celine Dion, vaguely touches on that theme), with grandiose arrangements by Marvin Hamlisch. Although Streisand and Hamlisch still favor sweeping strings and bold statements -- so much so that many of the songs sound remarkably similar to each other, in terms of dynamics and arrangements -- the album retains its power thanks to her subtle interpretations of melody and lyrics. The end result might not quite match her latter-day masterpieces, but it's another strong addition to her catalog.

~Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

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Barbra Streisand - Producer
Barbra Streisand - Main Performer
Barbra Streisand - Liner Notes
Barbra Streisand - Executive Producer
Pete Escovedo - Percussion
Jeremy Lubbock - Arranger
Jeremy Lubbock - Conductor
Jeremy Lubbock - Keyboards
Jeremy Lubbock - Producer
Jeremy Lubbock - Orchestral Arrangements
David Foster - Synthesizer
David Foster - Arranger
David Foster - Keyboards
David Foster - Producer
Marvin Hamlisch - Arranger
Marvin Hamlisch - Conductor
Carl Graves - Choir, Chorus
John Aguto - Engineer
Doug Anderson - Choir, Chorus
Maxi Anderson - Choir, Chorus
Jeff Balding - Engineer
Billy Beck - Choir, Chorus
William David Brohn - Arranger
Alex Brown - Vocals (Background)
Carmen Carter - Choir, Chorus
Jules Chaiken - Orchestra Contractor
Dana Jon Chappelle - Engineer
Lynn Davis - Vocals (Background)
Lynn Davis - Choir, Chorus
Greg Dennon - Engineer
Felipe Elgueta - Engineer
Mark Eshelman - Engineer
Lynn Fiddmont - ?
Frank Filipetti - Mixing
Simon Franglen - Drum Programming
Scott Frankfurt - Synthesizer
Scott Frankfurt - Keyboards
Scott Frankfurt - Programming
Scott Frankfurt - Drum Programming
Scott Frankfurt - Percussion Programming
Humberto Gatica - Engineer
Humberto Gatica - Mixing
Jim Gilstrap - Vocals (Background)
David Gleeson - Engineer
Mick Guzauski - Mixing
Mark Hagen - Engineer
Reggie Hamilton - Bass
Dann Huff - Guitar
Phillip Ingram - Vocals (Background)
Richard Jackson - ?
Bobette Jamison-Harrison - ?
Jay Landers - Executive Producer
John Mahoney - ?
John Mahoney - Pre-Programming
Arif Mardin - Arranger
Arif Mardin - Producer
Arif Mardin - Orchestral Arrangements
Sue McLean - Engineer
Vladimir Meller - Mastering
Kristle Murden - Choir, Chorus
Shawn Murphy - Engineer
Michael O'Reilly - Engineer
Dean Parks - Guitar (Acoustic)
Greg Phillinganes - Piano
Greg Phillinganes - Keyboards
Jeffrey Ramsey - Choir, Chorus
Dave Reitzas - Engineer
Dave Reitzas - Mixing
John "J.R." Robinson - Drums
Dan Shea - Programming
Dan Shea - Drum Programming
Dan Shea - Design
Dan Shea - Keyboard Programming
Dan Shea - Sound Design
Alfie Silas - ?
Byron Smith - Organ (Hammond)
Neil Stubenhaus - Bass
David Porter Thomas - ?
Carmen Twillie - Choir, Chorus
Randy Waldman - Piano
Mervyn Warren - Piano
Mervyn Warren - Arranger
Mervyn Warren - Conductor
Mervyn Warren - Producer
Maxine Willard Waters - ?
Paul Wertheimer - Engineer
Wil Wheaton - Choir, Chorus
Yvonne Williams - Choir, Chorus
Frank Wolf - Engineer
Bob Zimitti - Percussion
Eric Rigler - Uillean Pipes
Andy Grassi - Engineer
Greg Parker - Choir, Chorus
Glen Marchese - Engineer
Peter Fletcher - Product Manager
Yoav Steven Paskowitz - Choir, Chorus
Tony Gonzalez - Engineer
Mark Mann - Keyboards
Walter Afanasieff - Synthesizer
Walter Afanasieff - Bass
Walter Afanasieff - Arranger
Walter Afanasieff - Drums
Walter Afanasieff - Keyboards
Walter Afanasieff - Programming
Walter Afanasieff - Producer
Walter Afanasieff - Drum Programming
Walter Afanasieff - Keyboard Programming
Walter Afanasieff - Synthesizer Programming
Pete Matthews - Engineer
Bill Smith - ?
Sandy DeCrescent - Orchestra Contractor
Randee Saint Nicholas - Photography
Randee Saint Nicholas - Cover Photo
Nancy Donald - Art Direction
William Ross - Arranger
William Ross - Conductor
William Ross - Orchestral Arrangements
Kim Skalecki - Coordination
Firooz Zahedi - Photography
Eric Greedy - Engineer
Norm Dlugatch - Engineer
Paul Falcone - Engineer
Marc Mann - Keyboards
Greg Thompson - Engineer
Paul Bogaev - Conductor
Stuart Brawley - Engineer
Bridgette Bryant-Fiddmont - ?
Susan Holsonbake - Choir, Chorus
Judith Siirila - ?
Patty Zimmitti - Orchestra Contractor
Jonathan Mooney - Engineer
Alan Stein - Production Coordination
Alan Stein - Project Coordinator
Patrick Weber - Engineer
Barbara Stout - Production Coordination
Chris Brooke - Engineer
Michael Parnin - Engineer
Mike Fried - ?
Gloria Gabriel - Production Coordination
Dominic Gonzales - Engineer
Troy Gonzalez - Engineer
Ed Levy - Choir, Chorus
Susan Mills - Choir, Chorus
Lisa Naulls - Choir, Chorus
Sara Willard - Choir, Chorus
Tyson Leeper - Engineer
Wendy Knudsen - ?
Plaster Dan - ?
Joel Pressman - Choir, Chorus
Cheryl Roach - ?
Nancy Roof - Production Coordination
Nancy Roof - Project Coordinator
Ethan Schofer - Engineer
Janet Smith - Choir, Chorus
John St. Marie - Choir, Chorus
Jeff Araluce - Choir, Chorus
Lauren Azeltine - Choir, Chorus
Mark Beasom - Choir, Chorus
Samela Beasom - Choir, Chorus
Carole Lombard Children's Choir - Vocals (Background)
Chuck Feldman - Dialect Consultant
Meg Gister - Choir, Chorus
Lisa Graham - Choir, Chorus
Carmen Tuwillie - ?
Vlado Meller - Mastering
Fred White - ?
Renata Buser - Personal Assistant
Datz Pyle, Debbi - Orchestra Contractor
Bill Airey Smith - Choir, Chorus
Jessica Williams - Vocals (Background)
Peter Michael Escovedo III - Percussion
Daniel Plaster - Choir, Chorus
Jon Mooney - Engineer

Rachelle Ferrell
    Rachelle Ferrell / CD / 1992
Still on the Road
    Rosemary Clooney / CD / 1993
Bette of Roses
    Bette Midler / CD / 1995
A I Wish It So
    Dawn Upshaw / CD / 1995
Chicago [Original Broadway Cast]
    Original Broadway Cast / CD / 1975
A Love Like Ours
    Barbra Streisand / CD / 1999
Movie Music: The Definitive Performances
    Various Artists / CD / 1999
This Is the Moment
    Donny Osmond / CD / 2001

Release Date: 11/11/1997
Genre: vocal
Run Time: 56:21