If I Close My Eyes

"If I Close My Eyes", or "Theme from Up the Sandbox", was written and composed specifically for the 1972 American film Up the Sandbox, in which Streisand stars as the main character. It was recorded during a session in mid 1972, one of Streisand's first sessions for music since the work created for her most recent studio album at the time, Barbra Joan Streisand (1971).[1] Since the singer's role in the film was very demanding, she had little time to record any music. During an interview with Time in 1975, one of the editor's stated that Streisand called Billy Goldenberg and requested he turn the film's final music sequence into a standalone song, to which he completed. Goldenberg recalled that he "wrote like mad" to get the job done on time: "When she called I hummed her the tune. She liked it, and the next day we got the word writers Marilyn and Alan Bergman to fit it out with a lyric." The editor concluded by claiming that the single was released a few weeks later.[2]

The single was written and produced by Goldenberg, with Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman also contributing to the lyrics. It was released to United States radio stations in January 1973,[3] strictly as a non-commercial release.[4] However, in later years a 7" single was available for purchase from Streisand's catalog.[5] The distribution took place in two different formats: the earlier promotional edition version features the "Vocal Version" plus the instrumental,[6] while the standard release includes the "Stereo" and "Mono" renditions.[4] Anne Edwards, an author who compiled a biography displaying Streisand's discography in 2016, wrote that "If I Close My Eyes" may have been released in December 1972, coinciding with the North American release of Up the Sandbox.[7]

The physical release of "If I Close My Eyes" was very limited and only a set number of singles were created. Furthermore, Streisand excluded it from nearly all of her greatest hits albums. However, it was featured on disc three of Streisand's fifth compilation album and first box set, Just for the Record... in 1991.[8] The version that appears on the record is slightly different compared to the 1973 recording, with the more recent release featuring additional contributions from French musician and personal friend Michel Legrand.[9]

Works cited

• Considine, Shaun (November 1, 1986). Barbra Streisand: The Woman, the Myth, the Music (reprinted ed.). Random House. ISBN 0440104645.
• Edwards, Anne (2016). Streisand: A Biography. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1630761295.
• Popoff, Martin (August 5, 2010). Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records: 1948–1991 (revised ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 978-1440216213.