Studio Album · No. 11
Higher Ground Songwriting Credits by Barbra Streisand
Produced by Barbra Streisand, Walter Afanasieff, David Foster, Arif Mardin, Jeremy Lubbock, Mervyn Warren · Engineered by David Reitzas, David Gleeson, Shawn Murphy, Jeff Balding, Humberto Gatica, Frank Wolf
Holds writing credit on 0 of 12 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 0 / 12 documented
Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether Barbra Streisand carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Higher Ground is an interpreter's album, not a songwriter's. Streisand sings inspirational and spiritual material drawn from hymns, Broadway, traditional folk, and contemporary writers, so the composer credits belong to the original authors rather than to her. The one credit worth watching is 'Tell Him,' the duet with Celine Dion written by Walter Afanasieff, David Foster, and Linda Thompson, which anchored the album commercially and paired two of the era's biggest voices. Production splits along team lines: Arif Mardin handles the standards-leaning tracks, Walter Afanasieff produces and arranges the pop numbers, and Streisand co-produces throughout.
Higher Ground is the studio album Barbra Streisand released in November 1997 on Columbia Records, a themed collection of inspirational and spiritual songs. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, her eighth chart-topping album in the country. Streisand co-produced the record and shaped it around interpretations of hymns, standards, and contemporary ballads rather than original compositions, opening with the medley 'I Believe/You'll Never Walk Alone' and closing with the Hebrew prayer 'Avinu Malkeinu.' The lead single 'Tell Him,' a duet with Celine Dion, became an international hit and reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. The album was inspired by and dedicated to Virginia Clinton Kelley and sold more than five million copies worldwide.
Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
I Believe/You'll Never Walk Alone
|
Ervin DrakeIrvin GrahamJimmy ShirlAl StillmanOscar Hammerstein IIRichard Rodgers | Ervin DrakeIrvin GrahamJimmy ShirlAl StillmanOscar Hammerstein IIRichard Rodgers | Barbra StreisandArif Mardin | Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
Higher Ground
|
Kent AgeeSteve DorffGeorge Green | Kent AgeeSteve DorffGeorge Green | Barbra StreisandArif Mardin | Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
At the Same Time
|
Ann Hampton Callaway | Ann Hampton Callaway | Walter Afanasieff | Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
Tell Him
#3
|
Walter AfanasieffDavid FosterLinda Thompson | Walter AfanasieffDavid FosterLinda Thompson | David FosterWalter Afanasieff | Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals)Celine Dion (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
On Holy Ground
|
Geron Davis | Geron Davis | Barbra StreisandMervyn Warren | Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
If I Could
|
Ken HirschRon MillerMarti Sharron | Ken HirschRon MillerMarti Sharron | Barbra StreisandArif Mardin | Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
Circle
|
Jud FriedmanCynthia Weil | Jud FriedmanCynthia Weil | Walter Afanasieff | Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals) |
| 8 |
The Water Is Wide/Deep River
|
Traditional | Traditional | Barbra StreisandArif Mardin | Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Leading with Your Heart
|
Alan BergmanMarilyn BergmanMarvin Hamlisch | Alan BergmanMarilyn BergmanMarvin Hamlisch | Barbra StreisandJeremy Lubbock | Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
Lessons to Be Learned
|
Dorothy Sea GazeleyMarsha MalametAlan Rich | Dorothy Sea GazeleyMarsha MalametAlan Rich | Walter Afanasieff | Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals) |
| 11 |
Everything Must Change
|
Bernard Ighner | Bernard Ighner | Barbra Streisand | Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals) |
| 12 |
Avinu Malkeinu
|
Max Janowski | Max Janowski | Barbra Streisand | Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals) |