The Way We Were

This was the title track to the movie of the same name, which starred Streisand and Robert Redford. The song is about a couple who fall deeply in love despite being complete opposites. They are looking back on fond memories of their time together.

Alan Bergman and his wife Marilyn wrote the lyrics to this song, and Marvin Hamlisch wrote the music. The Bergmans also wrote lyrics for "The Windmills Of Your Mind" and "You Don't Bring Me Flowers."

Streisand recorded this song on September 12, 1973 with Marty Paich doing the arrangements. The song was released as a single later in the month, and the movie came out on October 19, 1973. The film was very successful and helped popularize the song, which entered the Top 40 on December 22, 1973 and became Streisand's first #1 hit on Groundhog Day, 1974. The next week it was bumped from the top spot by "Love's Theme" by the Love Unlimited Orchestra, but reclaimed #1 a week later and stayed there until "Seasons In The Sun" bumped it on March 2. A total of three weeks at #1, but also the beginning of a chart hiatus for Streisand, who wasn't seen again on the Top 40 until 1976, when "Evergreen" from A Star Is Born entered. This one also spent three weeks at #1.