Lionel Richie talks working on new Barbra Streisand album: ‘She’s a gift to the world’

Legendary singer Lionel Richie has revealed that working with Barbra Streisand on her forthcoming LP was a “special experience”.

Lionel has recorded a new version of The Way We Were with the musical icon for her new duets record Partners, which is released on September 15 through Capitol Records.

The song was originally recorded by Barbra for the 1973 movie of the same name, where it topped the US singles chart and won an Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Original Song in a film.  

"It’s always such a special experience to collaborate with a good friend,” Lionel exclusively told Official Charts.

“Barbra and I had a wonderful time recording The Way We Were together. Barbra is a gift to the world.”

Partners marks Barbra’s 34th studio album and her second duets collection after 2002’s Duets, which sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide.

The collection features artists personally chosen by Barbra because their voice has “someway impacted on her life”; including Stevie Wonder on the song People, Michael Buble on It Had To Be You, Billy Joel on New York State Of Mind and John Mayer on Come Rain Or Come Shine. 

Watch Lionel Richie in the studio recording The Way We Were with Barbra Streisand below: