Barbra Streisand releases new album, 'What Matters Most,' a tribute to friends

Barbra Streisand recently released her 33rd studio album, "What Matters Most," made up of songs written by Oscar-winning songwriting couple Alan and Marilyn Bergman.

The record hit stores on Tuesday, August 23. The Bergmans, who are in their 80s, have been friends with the 69-year-old Oscar and Grammy-winning singer and actress since they met her in New York in the 1960s, when she was just beginning her music career.

"When we write a song, we hear Barbra," the couple said in a statement. "She makes the connection from the heart to the mind, and it emerges through her voice."

Marilyn Bergman told CBS News that she was moved to tears when she first saw the singer on stage. Streisand performed the Leonard Bernstein song "My Name Is Barbara."

The first CD in the "What Matters Most" album contains 10 songs written by the Bergmans that Streisand had never recorded before, such as "The Windmills of Your Mind." Noel Harrison's version of the track won an Oscar and was featured in the 1968 film "The Thomas Crown Affair.'" The song was also previously recorded by artists such as Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark, Elaine Paige and even the Muppets.

The first disc also contains a cover of the track "Nice n' Easy," made popular by Frank Sinatra.

A deluxe version of "What Matters Most" contains a second disc, made up of 10 tracks by the Bergmans that Streisand has sung in the past, including her hit single "The Way We Were," the Oscar-winning title song of Streisand's 1973 movie of the same name, and "Papa Can You Hear Me?," the haunting ballad Streisand sings to her character's late father in the 1983 film "Yentl."

Streisand told CBS News that she does not worry about maintaining her voice.

"I don't worry about it," she said. "I never vocalize. I never sing in the shower either. It's like a gift that I can't even explain to you. When I love the music that I'm singing, it's just there for me. I'm very lucky."

Meanwhile, Streisand continues to act as well and recently filmed the comedy movie "My Mother's Curse," which sees her playing the mother of Seth Rogen's character, an inventor. The film also stars Adam Scott and Colin Hanks and is set for release on Nov. 2, 2012.