Barry Manilow - The Greatest Songs Of The Sixties (2006)

"What do you get when you mesh Barry Manilow with an inspired set of retro songs perfectly suited for 50-year-old women? Massive nirvana." - Billboard, October 28, 2006, p. 80

Manilow and Rod Stewart successfully turned this sort of recording into a recognized late-career strategy. Since The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties hit #1, you can bet there was a sequel (and two more sequels following this one, but we won't get to those). It's more of the same, but with worse arrangements. One of those cover albums that leaves you longing to hear the originals. I'll just put this one back on the shelf and move on.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #2

Tracks:

	Song	Year
1	Can't Take My Eyes Off You	1967
2	Cherish/Windy	1966/7
3	Can't Help Falling In Love	1962
4	There's A Kind Of Hush	1967
5	Blue Velvet	1963
6	Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head	1969
7	And I Love Her	1964
8	This Guy's In Love With You	1968
9	Everybody Loves Somebody	1964
10	You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'	1965
11	When I Fall In Love	1962
12	Strangers In The Night	1966
13	What The World Needs Now Is Love	1965

I can't knock the song selection, particularly the inclusion of three classics by Bacharach/David. Track 12, Strangers In The Night, was previously released on the 1998 album, Manilow Sings Sinatra.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:

The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties (2006)	Barry (1980)
Ultimate Manilow (2002)	One Voice (1979)
Here At The Mayflower (2001)	Greatest Hits (1978)
Summer of '78 (1996)	Even Now (1978)
If I Should Love Again (1981)	Tryin' To Get The Feeling (1975)

Barry Manilow - The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties (2006)

It's a landmark day here at blog headquarters because this is the first time I've written about a DualDisc. This is also the only DualDisc currently in my collection; I inherited it from my father. I recently read a piece that collectively labelled formats such as DualDisc, SACD, DVD Audio, CD+G, CD Video, etc. as "legacy music discs" and I think I will adopt that terminology.

2004-2009

It makes sense Dad might want to try out this particular album as the 1950s were his decade in high school (Class of 1955) and college ('59). I have no idea if he knew it was a DualDisc when he purchased it, however. The disc comes with a warning:

Welp, I've currently got no fewer than 10 machines about the house that play DVDs and/or CDs so we'll just have to take our chances, won't we?

Musically, this album sounds exactly as you would expect. Manilow singing over derivative, schmaltzy orchestral arrangements with an upward modulation or two at the end of the tracks. Manilow doesn't have the greatest voice, but he sure can sell a song. And people who grew up in the '50s bought the hell out of this album and apparently recommended it to their friends, so I'll just put this one back on the shelf and move on.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #1 (Manilow's second #1 album, and his first since his 1977 live album)

Tracks (CD Audio Side) my top picks are checked.

	Song	Year
1	Moments To Remember	1955
2	It's All In The Game	1958	✔
3	Unchained Melody	1955
4	Venus	1959
5	It's Not For Me To Say	1957
6	Love Is A Many Splendored Thing	1955
7	Rags To Riches	1953
8	Sincerely/Teach Me Tonight	1955
9	Are You Lonesome Tonight?	1959	✔
10	Young At Heart	1954
11	All I Have To Do Is Dream	1958	✔
12	What A Diff'rence A Day Made	1959	✔
13	Beyond The Sea	1959

Two tracks placed on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart: Unchained Melody (#20) and Love Is A Many Splendored Thing (#32).

Tracks (DVD Side): The entire album in "enhanced stereo" (yes, I listened to all the audio tracks on each side) plus a 15 minute video of "exclusive behind-the-scenes footage," which is oddly unavailable on YouTube as of this writing. It is simply video footage of the recording sessions interspersed with interviews of Manilow and Clive Davis. If you haven't seen it, you haven't missed much.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:

Ultimate Manilow (2002)	One Voice (1979)
Here At The Mayflower (2001)	Greatest Hits (1978)
Summer of '78 (1996)	Even Now (1978)
If I Should Love Again (1981)	Tryin' To Get The Feeling (1975)
Barry (1980)

Barry Manilow - Greatest Hits (1978)

Note: this release was originally purchased as a 2 LP set, later replaced by a CD.

This recent pickup from a used bin was completely unneeded yet absolutely necessary. I've got all the songs on other discs, so why on earth would I pick up this compilation? Simple nostalgia. This one brings back memories of 1978 when my family moved 500 miles to a new city and I started 7th grade in a new school with new friends but didn't give up my existent musical tastes. I became a "Fanilow" at the tender age of 10 and the two-LP set with gatefold sleeve was the very first "greatest hits" album I ever purchased. It was also the first gatefold sleeve double LP set I ever purchased (suggested list price: $13.98). Man-oh-man did I ever play the mess out of the thing. So while Ultimate Manilow may arguably be a more complete single disc compilation, this is the one for this guy. And now I'll play the mess out of it.

Released in late 1978, just in time for your Christmas shopping. Also released that season were greatest hits packages from Steve Miller Band, Wings, Barbra Streisand, Commodores, Steely Dan, and Earth, Wind & Fire - strong competition for your gift-giving dollar.

And since this Columbia Record Club CD version didn't include the hyperbolic liner notes from Clive Davis, here ya go:

It's hard to believe that it was only four years ago that I first met Barry. I had gone to Central Park to see him open for Dionne Warwick. There he was relating to 8,000 people, most of whom did not know who he was, with incredible verve, enthusiasm and musicality. He was thoroughly professional yet refreshingly innocent. In one sense he dared the audience not to succumb, and yet the incredulous wonder that the crowd was already loudly claiming him as their own personal discovery. That sense of pure boyish bewilderment that his talent is loved, cherished and respected is still with him today despite the fact that his fans are legion, now numbering in the millions.

Today, Barry Manilow is peerless in the world of popular music. His interpretive performances rank him at the top. He's the unquestioned best arranger of songs in America today. Further, he brilliantly co-produces his own records and, even more, he has written many of his own giant hits. For those who love a great song, a great melody, a great rhythm, Barry Manilow is synonymous with music itself. More important than his now historic sales achievements is his uncanny ability to reach the average person in a way to meaningfully affect that person's life. That is artistry.

And, yet, with all the popular acclaim surrounding him, Barry has never lost perspective on the important values of life. His sense of loyalty, responsibility and caring for others has only increased with time. So, let me dedicate this album to him as a wonderful artist, composer and friend. Success could not have found a more deserving person.

Press of the time:

• Billboard: "featuring all the highlights of his meteoric career climb"
• CashBox: "further solidify Manilow's position as the leading figure in the pop/easy listening market"
• Record World: "many highlights"
• High Fidelity: "worthwhile"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: #7
• CashBox: #4
• Rolling Stone: #14

Tracks:

Song	Year	Hot 100	AC
Mandy	1974	1	1
New York City Rhythm	1975	-	-
Ready To Take A Chance Again	1978	11	5
Looks Like We Made It	1977	1	1
Daybreak	1976	*	*
Can't Smile Without You	1978	3	1
It's A Miracle	1975	12	1
Even Now	1978	19	1
Bandstand Boogie	1976	-	-
Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again	1976	10	1
Could It Be Magic	1975	6	4
Somewhere In The Night	1979	9	4
Weekend In New England	1977	10	1
All The Time	1976	-	-
This One's For You	1976	29	1
Copacabana (radio edit)	1978	8	6
Beautiful Music	1975	-	-
I Write The Songs	1976	1	1

*this CD inexplicably contains the studio version of Daybreak, not the later live version, which peaked at #23 on the Hot 100 in 1977. Also, the 1976 album cut Jump Shout Boogie, originally on the LP version, was omitted from this CD version. With a total disc running time of 69 minutes, that's an odd omission. However, the shorter radio edit of Copacabana is included here and I didn't have that elsewhere, so it all evens out.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I have a specific memory of this being the first album I played once I moved into my room at the new house. However, that can't be the case as the move happened in August 1978 and this set wasn't released until later that year. Shrug.

Finally, when my wife and I finally saw Manilow in concert in 2018, his setlist was very similar to this tracklist. And that's exactly what we wanted.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Ultimate Manilow (2002)
Here At The Mayflower (2001)
Summer of '78 (1996)
If I Should Love Again (1981)
Barry (1980)
One Voice (1979)
Even Now (1978)
Tryin' To Get The Feeling (1975)

Barry Manilow - Summer of '78 (1996)

In August of 1978, my family moved from the Chihuahuan Desert town of Odessa, Texas to the more humid climes of Bay City on the Texas gulf coast, near the mouth of the Colorado River. A culture and climate shock, I think I handled it fairly well. But I remember the summer months before the move as a wonderful time. I had completed the 6th grade and I had adventures with my friends that included soccer, tennis, swimming, backyard fort-building, family vacation to Hot Springs, Arkansas, and chasing girls at the local roller rink on Friday nights. At that time, I was already a big Manilow fan - I believe my very first album purchase was Even Now, but I'm just guessing. I had also wowed the local PTA with the definitive interpretation of Mandy.

Your humble blogger in April 1978

So this 1996 covers album seems like a perfect fit, right? And it might have been if: 1) it hadn't been made in the '90s with all the production values that go along with that decade, and 2) Manilow had stuck to 1978. Or at least the '70s, maybe? Perhaps he was thinking that all these songs could be heard in 1978, which is true.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #82

Tracks:

1. Summer of '78 - a Manilow original. C+
   "...and it seemed that every song they played on the radio was ours." Cheesy, but not a horrible tune with a brief, simple arrangement that segues into...
2. Interlude: Love's Theme - Barry White, 1973. A
   Who knew Barry was such a tease? Only 25 seconds of this classic theme before getting slapped in the face with electronic drums, a key change, and the first verse of...
3. Reminiscing - Little River Band, 1978. C
   Such a beautiful tune - fits Manilow's vocal range, too. The arrangement, however, leave me wanting the LRB original. And not only is there no flugelhorn solo, there's no solo.
4. I Go Crazy - Paul Davis, 1977. B
   It doesn't match the dreamy atmosphere of the Davis original, but, except for the gated drum, it sounds exactly like it would have if Manilow had recorded it for the b-side of Copacabana. The only misstep is the synth solo.
5. When I Need You - Leo Sayer, 1977. C-
   I wasn't sure if Manilow would have the vocal chops to pull off the falsetto, but he doesn't even try so I'll never know. The slow, plodding arrangement isn't doing him any favors, either.
6. The Air That I Breathe - The Hollies, 1974. B+
   I know The Hollies version is a cover, but it's the version I'm familiar with so I'll compare this to that. And I gotta admit that I dig this sparse, slightly slower arrangement. Imagine that - a mellow, understated Manilow arrangement. Nicely done.
7. Bluer Than Blue - Michael Johnson, 1978. B
   I've loved this song since the first time I heard it on the AM radio. This cover is fairly rote, right down to the vocal harmonies. So while Manilow isn't adding anything to this one, he isn't subtracting anything, either.
8. We've Got Tonight - Bob Seger, 1978. D-
   I've never been a fan of this ballad, but ballads are Manilow's sweet spot so I can't blame him for trying. After you get over the shock of not hearing Seger's rasp and the oboe comes in, you settle in and reach for the skip button.
9. I'd Really Love to See You Tonight - England Dan & John Ford Coley, 1976. C
   Another rote cover, but this lazy take doesn't quite match the energy of the original.
10. Sometimes When We Touch - Dan Hill, 1978. B+
    Now we're back to Manilow's wheelhouse. Good choice, good arrangement.
11. Never My Love - The Association, 1967. F
    No.
12. Just Remember I Love You - Firefall, 1977. D
    We're given a piano/strings treatment here and it just doesn't suit the material. It almost comes off as a child's lullaby, which might be what they wanted for an album closer, but he would have been better off briefly reprising track 1.

Grade average for the album: C Stick with the originals.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Ultimate Manilow (2002)
Here At The Mayflower (2001)
If I Should Love Again (1981)
Barry (1980)
One Voice (1979)
Even Now (1978)
Tryin' To Get The Feeling (1975)

Barry Manilow - Here At The Mayflower (2001)

Barry rings in the new millennium with an hour-long concept album of all original tunes? Yup, and it ain't half bad. Taking a break from an unwelcome (to me) series of cover albums, Manilow delivers his first album of original tunes in 17 years and it's like heading back to '70s AM radio. Allegedly, the album concept is based on the Brooklyn apartment complex where Barry Manilow grew up - each of the 16 tracks from this offering is listed in another apartment in the Mayflower building, such as "Apartment 6C: I Miss You," "Apartment 2G: I Hear Music Playing," and "Apartment 3E: Border Train," you get the point. Critics seemed to like it, using phrases like "return to form" but the following review from Amazon offers a slightly different take: "this cd is good but it needs more bass, and more duets with p diddy." Me? I like it fine.

Pluses: getting Dave Koz to guest on several tunes, piano driven arrangements
Minuses: the dreaded AutoTune/production tricks, a tendency to sound like Rex Harrison-spoken show tunes

Now that I write that, it occurs to me that this thing plays more like a musical cast album than a concept album. And now I've damned myself to hearing it as such from now on.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #90

Tracks: Like most concept/cast albums, it's best heard from start-to-finish (set it and forget it). It's not "all killer, no filler" but the filler is better than what he was putting out in the early '80s (ah, the luxury of time and no label pressure). For me, the standout tunes are Come Monday, Say Goodbye, and Welcome Home. Also fun is the disco tune, cleverly titled They Dance! Plus, I hate myself for liking Turn The Radio Up (#25 AC) as much as I do.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None; didn't find this until 15 years after it was released, but I've listened to it quite a bit since it arrived in a lot of CDs I purchased on eBay last year.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Ultimate Manilow (2002)
If I Should Love Again (1981)
Barry (1980)
One Voice (1979)
Even Now (1978)
Tryin' To Get The Feeling (1975)

Barry Manilow - Barry (1980)

Japanese Import

Note: this release was originally purchased as a LP, later replaced by a CD.

This album contained Manilow's last top ten pop single and signaled that while Manilow's easy listening formula was constant, pop culture moves on (until it cycles back for retro-stardom). In truth, this is a fairly decent 1978 album released at the end of 1980. I dig it for reasons of nostalgia and as a skinny high school freshman, I yet hadn't begun my failed attempts at being a New Wave Johnny Slash wannabe, so I could still listen to Manilow. The critics liked it more than I did but yeah, I still sing along with Barry to all these tracks, what of it?

Billboard, December 6, 1980, p. 45
Note: Barry got the album spotlight in that issue over REO Speedwagon's Hi Infidelity. Oops.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #15
• CashBox: #17
• Rolling Stone: #25

Tracks: Top ten hit (I Made It Through the Rain), intentional and unintentional novelty songs (Bermuda Triangle, Only In Chicago, The Last Duet), mid-tempo filler (Twenty-Four Hours A Day, Dance Away, London), and, of course, ballads (Lonely Together, Life Will Go On, We Still Have Time).

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: In 1980, I still bought every Manilow album upon release. Even though I held on for another album, I could tell that maybe it was time to seek other easy listening options (then I discovered smooth jazz and all bets were off).

Previously revisited for the blog:
Ultimate Manilow (2002)
If I Should Love Again (1981)
One Voice (1979) 
Even Now (1978)
Tryin' To Get The Feeling (1975)

Barry Manilow - Tryin' To Get The Feeling (1975)

Note: the CD I listened to was the 1998 reissue which includes a bonus track.

I started my Barry Manilow purchases with the Even Now album, but for some reason I never delved into the back catalog of Manilow's four previous studio releases. In fact, I hadn't heard this complete album until I picked up this CD last year from the 3-for-$10 bin at the local Hasting's. It's all typical Manilow soft rock, so I'm of the opinion that was $3.33 well spent. If I had purchased this album back in 1975, I'm fairly certain I would have had the lyrics memorized within a matter of weeks due to constant listening. From Manilow himself on the CD's back cover:

The album follows a pattern Manilow would follow for much of his career: a few hit singles written by other songwriters and filler tracks written by Manilow himself. Clive Davis and Ron Dante sure knew what they were doing when they put together Manilow albums.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #5
• CashBox: #6

Tracks:  In addition to the #1 single, I Write The Songs, I was previously familiar with the other songs that appeared on Manilow's 1978 Greatest Hits package: New York City Rhythm, Bandstand Boogie, Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again, and Beautiful Music. I like those 5, plus the cheesy goodness of She's A Star and Lay Me Down. If I'm tempted to skip any tracks, it's A Nice Boy Like Me and the bonus track. The bonus track, Marry Me A Little, sounds just like you'd think Manilow singing Sondheim would sound.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  As I mentioned earlier, I had the 2 LP Greatest Hits package pictured below. That set got plenty of playing time from 1978 until about 1982, when I decided I was too cool for Manilow. Now that I'm middle aged, I can fully embrace my inner Fanilow and frequently do. Heck, I may even pull out my vinyl copy of the 1980 LP Barry and give it a listen today. [Update: it should surprise absolutely no one that I eventually bought CD copies of both the greatest hits album and Barry.]

Previously revisited for the blog:
Ultimate Manilow (2002)
If I Should Love Again (1981)
One Voice (1979)
Even Now (1978)

Barry Manilow - Even Now (1978)

Note: this release was originally purchased as a LP, later replaced by the 2006 reissue CD which includes 2 bonus tracks.

Manilow at the height of his powers. Corny but catchy songs with lots of upward key modulations and ever-increasing volume. And I love it. I listened to it a lot. This album produced four Top 40 singles: the title track, Somewhere In The Night, Can't Smile With You, and a song the liner notes call "a stunningly ambitious and infectious number and arguably Manilow's best-loved recording ever," Copacabana (At The Copa). Copacabana was later turned into both a made-for-TV musical and a stage musical. I missed both of those. I don't know if I really like all these tunes or if they just bring back good memories and I listen for nostalgia's sake.

Press of the time:

• Rolling Stone: "certainly less pretentious than it could have been"
• Billboard: "an impeccably produced album dominated more than ever by big-building ballads"
• Stereo Review: "enthusiasm and professionalism for 'urban C-W'"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: #3
• CashBox: #2

Tracks:  In general, I've always been partial to the songs that made up side one (tracks 1-6 on this CD). In addition to the four hits, I like A Linda Song, Leavin' In the Morning, and Sunrise. I also like the attempt at a lounge song, I Was A Fool (To Let You Go). Granted, songs like Losing Touch and Starting Again aren't very good, but as long as I still enjoy singing along, I guess it really doesn't matter, does it?  The only tracks I skip are the two bonus tracks - the album was just fine as is.

It's hardly surprising that I like Copacabana as it is the perfect combination of two of my favorite genres: soft rock and disco.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  If this wasn't the first album I ever purchased with my allowance money, it was certainly one of the first. I fell in love with Copacabana after hearing it on a TV variety show about the time Can't Smile Without You was on top of the charts. My elementary school music teacher had a copy of the album and I begged her to play it during class. And by "begged" I mean "cried like a little girl lost at the supermarket."

About 6 years later, when I was a high school senior, I was on a trip into Houston with my friend Jack. He drove a huge mid-70s land-yacht maroon Ford LTD. Of course, it had an 8 track tape player in the dash. I opened the glove box, saw the 8 track tape of this album, and immediately shoved it into the tape deck. Barry, Jack, and I sang all the way into the city.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Ultimate Manilow (2002)
If I Should Love Again (1981)
One Voice (1979)

Barry Manilow - Ultimate Manilow (2002)

Lisette, a faithful reader of the blog, is headed out on a road trip this morning and requested some "traveling music." Since I like to sing at the top of my lungs when I drive, I think the best traveling music is stuff you can sing along with because you know all the words by heart. If you grew up in the '70s listening to AM Top 40 radio, this compilation certainly fits the bill. I still remember all the words and I'm singing along with Barry as I write this. I feel a modulation coming on...

From allmusic:

Unlike some other MOR pop stars, Barry Manilow never enjoyed the sort of swinging-hipster revival that made him a hot name to drop, ironically or otherwise. Incredibly enough, until the release of Ultimate Manilow in early 2002, there was no comprehensive single-disc hits package on the market -- a shockingly long wait for one of the most popular hitmakers of the '70s, hip or not (and clearly the demand was there; Ultimate Manilow entered the charts at number three).

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #3 (Feb 23, 2002)

Tracks: A non-stop parade of (mostly) Top 40 hits in (mostly) chronological order from (mostly) the 1970s.

Song	Year	Hot 100	AC
Mandy	1974	1	1
It's A Miracle	1975	12	1
Could It Be Magic	1975	6	4
I Write The Songs	1976	1	1
Bandstand Boogie	1976	-	-
Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again	1976	10	1
This One's For You	1976	29	1
Weekend In New England	1977	10	1
Looks Like We Made It	1977	1	1
Daybreak	1977	23	7
Can't Smile Without You	1978	3	1
Even Now	1978	19	1
Copacabana	1978	8	6
Somewhere In The Night	1979	9	4
Ready To Take A Chance Again	1978	11	5
Ships	1979	9	4
I Made It Through The Rain	1981	10	4
The Old Songs	1981	15	1
When October Goes	1984	-	6
Somewhere Down The Road	1982	21	1

Believe it or not, these aren't all of Manilow's Top 40 hits. Missing from this compilation are: Read 'Em and Weep (#18 in 1984), When I Wanted You (#20 in 1980), Some Kind Of Friend (#26 in 1983), Let's Hang On (#32 in 1982), I Don't Want To Walk Without You (#36 in 1980), Oh Julie (#38 in 1982), and Memory (#39 in 1983). That makes a total of 25 Top 40 hits. Whew.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Lots of memories with Barry. While I listened to Manilow a lot in the late '70s and early '80s, I later inexplicably forgot about him and his music. Then, not long after this compilation was released, I visited my good friend Richard's house one Sunday evening and he had this playing. Without really thinking about it, I found myself singing along to all the tunes. Whether the music was good or bad was irrelevant - they were songs I remembered from my youth, songs I grew up with. I embraced my inner Fanilow and a copy of the disc was obtained.

In the late 70's, I owned Manilow's first greatest hits collection on vinyl. It was a 2 LP set released in 1978. All the songs on those records are included on the Ultimate Manilow CD (tracks 1-15), except for the following four: New York City Rhythm, Jump Shout Boogie, All The Time, and Beautiful Music. I confess to downloading those four songs from iTunes.

Finally, my first public solo performance of music was singing Mandy in elementary school around 1977 or 1978. I was accompanied (and greatly encouraged) by my music teacher on guitar. More on that experience here.

Previously revisited for the blog:
If I Should Love Again (1981)
One Voice (1979)

Barry Manilow - One Voice (1979)

NUMBERS WEEK (MARCH 14-20, 2011)

Note: this release was originally purchased as a LP, later replaced by a CD.

This is a little terrifying, starting with the pic on the album cover. I'm a confessed Fanilow, but even I can admit that this was the beginning of the end for Barry. I'll also admit that if I were in Vegas, I'd check out his cheesy show at the Paris. Every now and then, I get nostalgic for my youth, and I listened to a lot of Manilow when I was in elementary and junior high school. I hadn't heard this music in over 25 years, the CD was cheap, why not? It's an interesting trip for the memories, but not so much for the music. I can only shake my head at the fact that, after this record, I stuck with Barry for two more albums before I gave up on his new releases. His '70s output is so much better than his later work, and I'm betting his Vegas shows focus on that earlier era of Manilow's career.

Press of the time:

• Billboard: "overall the quality level is high"
• CashBox: "an adventuresome and totally successful project"
• Record World: "shows off a decided maturity"
• Stereo Review: "Afterwards you may wonder how you got so involved, but you can't deny that you did."

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #9
• CashBox: #8
• Rolling Stone: #17

Tracks: The title track is loved by many of his fans, and I liked it when I was 13, but now I can hear how bad the tuning is. The worst songs are those that Manilow wrote himself: One Voice, A Slow Dance, Bobbie Lee, Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed (disco!!), and Sunday Father. But Manilow only gets blame for the music. The lyrics on this album are among the worse I've ever heard. I usually don't even listen much to lyrics, but these are so bad they got my attention. I'd give an example, but I wouldn't know where to start. The only decent track on the album, the top 10 single Ships, is a cover of former Mott the Hoople leader Ian Hunter's song that appeared on his solo album You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic. Manilow performs the 1941 Styne and Loesser song I Don't Want To Walk Without You from the Paramount Pictures motion picture Sweater Girl. Listening to this song, we should have easily predicted Barry's later output covering jazz standards. This 2006 re-release comes with 4 bonus tracks, a b-side and 3 demo tracks. Dear Arista, some music is in the vault for a reason.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Surprisingly, nothing comes to mind. Surprising because I remembered all these songs 25+ years later.

Barry Manilow - If I Should Love Again (1981)

Note: this release was originally received as a 1981 Christmas gift (from my mother) as a cassette tape, later replaced by a 1998 reissue of the CD.

I'll admit it: I am a "Fanilow". In the mid-70s, I fell in love with the sappy ballads and the predictable, cheesy modulations at the end of almost every song. By the time this album was released, Manilow's star was fading, although he desperately tried to stay up-to-date with a disco cover of The Four Season's Let's Hang On which would have been great if it had been released 3-4 years earlier. In fact, the entire album seems to be in a time warp. I wasn't a very discriminating listener when I was 15, so I never noticed that Manilow isn't very strong vocally on this release - he would have benefited greatly from today's autotune technology. Overall, however, I'm glad I bought the reissue because it provides a nice soundtrack for a stroll down memory lane.

Press of the time:

• Billboard: "an impeccable set of romantic ballads"
• Stereo Review: "you have to admit he has the true pop touch"
• Record World: "Manilow has hit the pulse of pure romance this time around."
• CashBox: "a strong collection of true songwriter's songs"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #14
• CashBox: #14
• Rolling Stone: #26

Tracks: I like The Old Songs and think Somewhere Down the Road is one his better singles. By the way, both these tracks were written by someone else. I think Manilow had to continually fight Arista for the inclusion of his own material on his albums. The title track could possibly be one of the most overwrought ballads of Manilow's career (think of what I'm saying there). Forgettable tracks included Break Down the Door and Fools Get Lucky. The reissue's bonus track, You're Runnin' Too Hard, wouldn't have fit on the original release so it's easy to hear why it was left off.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I remember listening to this cassette many times that winter before finally coming to the realization that I had no more need for newer Manilow. I was moving to the greener pastures of New Wave music. Indeed, this would be the last Manilow current release I would get.