Barbra Streisand’s upcoming all-star duets album is nearing completion, according to one of its producers.
“It took a long time to get it done, but we’re finally, I don’t want to say done-done, but we’re right there,” Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, who’s co-producing the set with Walter Afanasieff, tells Billboard. “It’s a beautiful, beautiful record. She’s singing amazingly well, and it’s been a fun project to do.”
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Streisand made her first public acknowledgement of the album last week via a birthday greeting for Lionel Richie — thanking him for being part of the project — that was shown during his concert in suburban Detroit. The set also includes pairings with Billy Joel, John Mayer, Michael Buble, John Legend, Blake Shelton, Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban, as well as a virtual duet with the late Elvis Presley. An online posting from Afanasieff earlier this year said that Beyonce, Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga and Bette Midler were also part of the set, while during the fall of 2012 he reported that Usher, Willie Nelson, Robin Thicke and Yo Yo Ma were also involved.
Neither Columbia Records nor Streisand’s reps responded to requests for more details about the project. Streisand previously released a “Duets” compilation in 2002. Her last album, “Release Me,” featured previously unreleased material and debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 in October 2012.