The songs on Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits originally appeared on one of the singer's eight previous albums and span in release from 1963 to 1968.

[1] A retrospective collection, it contains 11 singles from the singer's first decade in the recording industry, ranging from "My Coloring Book" (1963) to "Happy Days Are Here Again" (1968).

[2] Featuring her most commercially successful songs, the album features one Billboard Hot 100 top ten single ("People"), one top 40 single ("Second Hand Rose"), and seven of Streisand's lower-charting releases: "Free Again", "Gotta Move", "He Touched Me", "My Man", "Sam, You Made the Pants Too Long", and "Why Did I Choose You".

[3] The version of "Happy Days Are Here Again" that appears on Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits was recorded live during her A Happening in Central Park concert in 1968.

[4] The album's 11 tracks were produced by a variety of musicians, including Mike Berniker, Jack Gold, Robert Mersey, Ettore Stratta, and Warren Vincent.

In 2006, Sony Music Entertainment and BMG Rights Management repackaged the album under the name The Hits, featuring the same track listing and similar front artwork.

Concluding, Ruhlmann wrote: "For casual fans, [the album] made for a good sampling of Streisand's most prominent '60s work.

[15] Although the compilation did not chart in Australia, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) certified Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Gold in 2000, signifying shipments of at least 35,000 copies.