Michael Bublé, Love (Reprise) ****; Barbra Streisand, Walls (Columbia) ****

TITANS of old-school transatlantic entertainment, Michael Bublé and Barbra Streisand personify luxurious perfection.

Both have a massive global audience with a rich catalogue to add to. Indeed, Love is Bublé’s tenth studio set; Walls, is Streisand’s 36th!

Both artists command the world’s greatest writers, fellow musicians and producers (in fact David Foster shares credit on both Love and Walls). At this stage in their careers, they know what is expected, and how to deliver.

Fortunately, both showcase some new material. Streisand teams up with co-writers Carole Bayer Sager, Jonas Myrin and Jay Landers on What’s On My Mind and an accusatory protest song aimed at Donald Trump, Don’t Lie to Me. Other new songs include Alan and Marilyn Bergman’s Walls and Desmond Child’s Lady Liberty.

Meanwhile, Bublé offers only one new self-composition, the very radio-friendly Forever Now. His other new song is a classy Charlie Puth number, Love You Anymore.

This listener certainly has no qualms about the odd cover version or two. However, there is a fuzzy line between an inspired choice of reinterpreting another’s work and wholesale colour-by number plundering of very established evergreens.

Ms Streisand decidedly has the upper hand on this matter, albeit that her choice of material is much travelled. Barbra tackles a mash-up of Imagine and What A Wonderful World, as well as What The World Needs Now and a re-recording of Happy Days Are Here Again, which adds to the protest nature of the collection.

Whereas Bublé’s set is built around too safe a choice of standards: When I Fall In Love, I Only Have Eyes For You, La Vie en Rose. Bublé has been dealing with a well-documented family matter, so, understandably, he may be spared for this oversight. However, surely Messrs Foster and Jachen Van der Saag could have found slightly less covered material for their employer?

Despite this moan, both Streisand and Bublé perform their material impeccably and will thrill their expectant audiences.

Ian Sime

Michael Bublé will play Leeds First Direct Arena on June 3 and 4 2019