People cover art

  Studio Album · No. 2

People Songwriting Credits by Barbra Streisand

1964 Columbia Records 12 tracks 36 min

Produced by Robert Mersey, Mike Berniker

Columbia Records Traditional PopVocalAdult Contemporary
0%
Authorship
Singer / Performer

Holds writing credit on 0 of 12 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 0 / 12 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether Barbra Streisand carries a lyricist or composer credit.

0%
0 trackswritten by Barbra Streisand 12 tracksoutside writers
Barbra Streisand's roles on this album

Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist0%
Composer0%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

12
Tracks
11
Lyricists
2
Producers
1 million
US Copies Sold
1964
Released
Data Insight

People is an interpreter's album: Barbra Streisand sings show tunes and standards written by other people, so the songwriting credits belong to the original Broadway and Tin Pan Alley authors, not to her. The centerpiece is 'People,' with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill, carried over from the Funny Girl score she was performing on Broadway at the time. The rest of the track list pulls from theatre and standards writers such as Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Harold Arlen and Truman Capote, and Bock and Harnick. Robert Mersey produced the bulk of the record, with the 'People' single handled separately by Mike Berniker. It was the album that pushed Streisand to number one for the first time.

People is the fifth studio album by Barbra Streisand, released by Columbia Records in September 1964. It is built around her recording of the show tune 'People' from the Broadway musical Funny Girl, in which she was then starring, and pairs that signature ballad with a program of standards and theatre songs. Most of the album was produced by Robert Mersey, while the title track was produced by Mike Berniker, with arrangement work led by Peter Matz. It became the first Streisand album to reach number one on the Billboard album chart, holding the top spot for five weeks, and was certified Platinum by the RIAA. The record won Streisand the Grammy for Best Vocal Performance, Female, and in 2017 it was added to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry.

Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Absent-Minded Me
Bob Merrill Jule Styne Robert Mersey Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals)
2
When in Rome (I Do as the Romans Do)
Carolyn Leigh Cy Coleman Robert Mersey Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals)
3
Fine and Dandy
Paul James Kay Swift Robert Mersey Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals)
4
Supper Time
Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Robert Mersey Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals)
5
Will He Like Me?
Sheldon Harnick Jerry Bock Robert Mersey Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals)
6
How Does the Wine Taste?
Matt Dubey Harold Karr Robert Mersey Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals)
7
I'm All Smiles
Herbert Martin Michael Leonard Robert Mersey Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals)
8
Autumn
Richard Maltby Jr. David Shire Robert Mersey Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals)
9
My Lord and Master
Oscar Hammerstein II Richard Rodgers Robert Mersey Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals)
10
Love Is a Bore
Sammy Cahn Jimmy Van Heusen Robert Mersey Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals)
11
Don't Like Goodbyes
Truman Capote Harold Arlen Robert Mersey Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals)
12
People #5
Bob Merrill Jule Styne Mike Berniker Barbra Streisand (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 24 contributors

More from Barbra Streisand

Frequently Asked Questions People

Who wrote the song 'People'?
'People' was written by lyricist Bob Merrill and composer Jule Styne for the Broadway musical Funny Girl, in which Streisand starred.
Did Barbra Streisand write the songs on People?
No. People is an album of standards and show tunes, so every track was written by outside composers and lyricists. Streisand is the vocalist and interpreter, not the songwriter.
How did the People album chart?
It was the first Barbra Streisand album to reach number one on the Billboard album chart, where it spent five weeks at the top.
How high did the 'People' single go?
The single 'People' peaked at number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100, Streisand's first Top 40 hit, and topped the easy listening chart.
Who produced the album?
Robert Mersey produced most of the album, while the title track 'People' was produced by Mike Berniker.
Did People win any awards?
Yes. It won Streisand the Grammy for Best Vocal Performance, Female, and its arrangement and cover design were also recognized. It was later added to the National Recording Registry in 2017.
What label released People?
People was released by Columbia Records in September 1964.

Sources