Barbra Streisand has plenty of hits and signature songs. But she’s pretty much known for ballads and show tunes, not rock songs or anything considered “contemporary.” In the 60s she made her name with “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “People” and “Happy Days Are Here Again.”

But in 1970 she asked producer Richard Perry — whom she’d met through Clive Davis, then the head of Columbia Records —  to “Get me the new Van Morrison, Marvin Gaye, Randy Newman, Johnny Cash, and the new Joni Mitchell—and by the way, I think she’s a gas!” Barbra, Perry writes in his memoir, “Cloud Nine,” out today, had totally immersed herself in the pop culture.

Perry writes that he “brought Clive seven songs to begin with, including three by Laura Nyro: “Stoney End,” “Time and Love,” and “Flim Flam Man.” Laura was the hottest songwriter in the business at the time, and Barbra had a great affinity for her music. There were two Randy Newman compositions: “I’ll Be Home” and “Let Me Go,” a personal favorite of mine. I also included Gordon Lightfoot’s “If You Could Read My Mind,” a gem of a song that Warner Brothers hadn’t thought of releasing as a single by Lightfoot until Barbra recorded it.”

“Stoney End” would become Barbra’s one and only rock hit, still demanded by fans after 50 years. But when it came to record it, Barbra, Perry recalls, broke down in the stuio. “I can’t do this,” she exclaimed. “This isn’t me…I just don’t feel it!”

Perry writes: “Stoney End” was the third song we recorded that night, and certainly the biggest stretch for her artistically… All of Barbra’s first takes in the studio were pure magic—hearing that voice singing these songs—but the moment we ran down the first take of “Stoney End,” it felt like a lightning bolt was going through me. I swear, my hair stood on end. It was one of the most amazing feelings I have ever had in the studio.”

“As we were listening to the playback, Barbra leaned over and whispered in my ear, “You were right, and I was wrong. But it’s nice to be wrong.” It was a moment I will remember for the rest of my life.”

Cloud Nine is out today on amazon.com and booksellers.

EXCLUSIVE

Landing on amazon.com and in bookstores tomorrow is just about the most explosive, detailed account of 1970s pop I’ve ever read. Famed record producer Richard Perry is landing with “Cloud Nine,” his memoir of working with Carly Simon, Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson, Rod Stewart, Fats Domino, the Pointer Sisters, Leo Sayer, and dozens more acts.

As good if not better than Keith Richards’s juicy tome, “Life,” Perry’s “Cloud Nine” had me on Cloud Nine literally. Perry is one of the most successful record producers of all time, and probably the most successful of the 70s and 80s. Carly’s “You’re So Vain,” Nilsson’s “Without You,” The Pointers’ “Jump,” Ringo’s “Photograph,” are just a few of his many, many chart hits. The list goes on and on.

It was Perry who pitched Clive Davis on the idea of Rod Stewart singing the Great American Songbook. They got five chart topping albums out of this idea, not to mention one with the late Phil Ramone.

Beatles fans will go crazy about the behind the scenes stuff Perry did to make Ringo’s “Ringo” album with contributions from Paul McCartney, George Harrison and John Lennon, just two years after the Beatles broke up.

But the big news is about “You’re So Vain,” which Perry says in the book he can’t believe that 48 years later people are still talking about. He writes: “I consider this to be the closest I’ve come to making a perfect record and it is the one of which I am most proud.”

He writes about how Carly brought Mick Jagger to the studio to sing back up, which you can hear clearly now on remastered versions. Says Perry: “Most people are unaware that Mick is on the record—but now that you know, play it for anyone and see how shocked they are. I must say that the sound of Mick’s voice adds a unique edge to the sound of the record, especially when he and Carly sing, “Don’t you, don’t you, don’t you!”

But let’s cut to the Big Question. Who is “You’re So Vain” about? Perry weighs in: “The final chapter of the “You’re So Vain” saga would not be complete without answering the question that continues to fascinate people forty-eight years later. I am still asked all the time who the song is about. Even when they are told the answer, it’s as if they don’t really want to know. They’d rather keep asking than put the matter to rest once and for all. It’s more exciting! Since it’s been revealed numerous times, I’ll take this opportunity to give my insider’s scoop: the person that the song is based on is really a composite of several men that Carly dated in the ’60s and early ’70s, but primarily, it’s about my good friend, Warren Beatty.”

“Cloud Nine” is a winner. Perry, you realize, was quite the ladies man in the Warren Beatty- Jack Nicholson circle. He dated Cher, and Diana Ross. And then, Jane Fonda. I mean, hello? I’ll try to dig out a couple more gems before tomorrow’s publication.

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