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Barry Manilow made it to number one again during his first year as a hit artist with a rendition of Beach Boy Bruce Johnston's "I Write the Songs," beating out covers by David Cassidy and Captain and Tennille (who also released a version in Spanish). The modernized (read: no distortion) take-off on Phil Spector's Wall of Sound was what made "Mandy" so very special, and it came back to work here; Manilow sings with a seriousness on "I Write the Songs" that is as determined as his voice is on the title track, David Pomeranz' "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again." Both titles are light years beyond the rest of the album, even including Bruce Sussman and Barry's reworking of the American Bandstand theme. Like the Four Seasons before him, Barry Manilow is known for his ability to take a song up the charts; the album tracks are secondary and reserved for his most devoted followers. This quest for chart supremacy had a formidable team pooling their talents. It was co-produced by the star and Archies' lead singer Ron Dante, while Bette Midler, Miles Laurie, and Dick Fox are thanked for showing Manilow "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again." Peter Thom and Phil Galdston's "Why Don't We Live Together" is nice enough, but indicative of the near-miss compositions Manilow himself contributes -- "She's a Star," "You're Leavin' Too Soon" and "A Nice Boy Like Me" -- that might have gotten some Top 40 action due to Manilow's momentum, but without the staying power of the established hits. At least the co-write with Adrienne Anderson, "As Sure as I'm Standin' Here," has a bit of a future, with the David Pomeranz/Manilow hit, "The Old Songs," something to look forward to. The problem with Barry Manilow is also his strength -- that he skillfully mixes Johnny Mathis' adult contemporary charm with Liberace's flamboyance. Both Mathis and Liberace knew how to reign in the excesses, while Barry could care less -- and he doesn't have to. By the same token, his fan base might be more prone to spinning Ultimate Manilow and avoiding the few rough spots of this album. [The CD version contains an extra title, Stephen Sondheim's "Marry Me a Little."]
© Joe Viglione /TiVo
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Barry Manilow, Composer - Barry Manilow, Lyricist - Barry Manilow, Performer - Barry Manilow, Producer - Marty Panzer, Composer - Marty Panzer, Lyricist - Ron Dante, Producer
(P) 1975 Arista Records LLC
David Pomeranz, Composer - David Pomeranz, Lyricist - Barry Manilow, Performer - Barry Manilow, Producer - Ron Dante, Producer
(P) 1975 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Phil Galston, Composer - Phil Galston, Lyricist - Thom, Composer - Thom, Lyricist - Barry Manilow, Performer - Barry Manilow, Producer - Ron Dante, Producer
(P) 1975 Arista Records LLC
Les Elgart, Composer - Les Elgart, Lyricist - Charles Albertine, Composer - Charles Albertine, Lyricist - Bob Horn, Composer - Bob Horn, Lyricist - Bruce Sussman, Lyricist - Barry Manilow, Producer - Barry Manilow, Lyricist - Barry Manilow, Vocal - Larry Elgart, Composer - Larry Elgart, Lyricist - Ron Dante, Producer
(P) 1975 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Enoch Anderson, Composer - Enoch Anderson, Lyricist - Sid McGinnis, Steel Guitar - Charlie Brown, Guitar - Jimmy Maeulen, Congas - Lee Gurst, Drums - Ron Dante, Producer - Ron Dante, Background Vocal - Steve Donaghey, Bass - The Flashy Ladies, Background Vocal - Alan Axelrod, Keyboards - Barry Manilow, Producer - Barry Manilow, Vocal - Barry Manilow, Composer - Barry Manilow, Lyricist - Barry Manilow, Performer - Barry Manilow, Piano - Barry Manilow, Background Vocal
(P) 1975 Arista Records LLC
Barry Manilow, Composer - Barry Manilow, Lyricist - Barry Manilow, Producer - Barry Manilow, Vocal - Ron Dante, Producer - Enoch Anderson, Composer - Enoch Anderson, Lyricist
(P) 1975 Arista Records LLC
Bruce Johnston, Composer - Bruce Johnston, Lyricist - Barry Manilow, Producer - Barry Manilow, Performer - Ron Dante, Producer
(P) 1975 Arista Records, LLC
Michael DeLugg, Engineer - Lee Gurst, Drums - Lee Gurst, Percussion - Norman Harris, Arranger - Adrienne Anderson, Composer - Adrienne Anderson, Lyricist - Sid McGuiness, Guitar - Ron Dante, Producer - Ron Dante, Background Vocal - Steve Donaghey, Acoustic Bass - Alan Axelrod, Keyboards - Barry Manilow, Composer - Barry Manilow, Lyricist - Barry Manilow, Producer - Barry Manilow, Vocal - Barry Manilow, Arranger - Barry Manilow, Piano - Barry Manilow, Background Vocal
(P) 1975 Arista Records LLC
Barry Manilow, Composer - Barry Manilow, Lyricist - Barry Manilow, Producer - Barry Manilow, Vocal - Ron Dante, Producer - Enoch Anderson, Composer - Enoch Anderson, Lyricist
(P) 1975 Arista Records LLC
Larry Weiss, Lyricist - Larry Weiss, Composer - Barry Manilow, Producer - Barry Manilow, Performer - Ron Dante, Producer
(P) 1975 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Lady Flash, Background Vocal - Marty Panzer, Lyricist - Marty Panzer, Composer - Michael DeLugg, Engineer - Lee Gurst, Drums - Lee Gurst, Percussion - Norman Harris, Arranger - Sid McGuiness, Guitar - Reparata, Background Vocal - Steve Donaghey, Acoustic Bass - Ron Dante, Producer - Ron Dante, Background Vocal - Debra Byrd, Background Vocal - Alan Axelrod, Keyboards - Ramona Brooks, Background Vocal - Barry Manilow, Performer - Barry Manilow, Composer - Barry Manilow, Producer - Barry Manilow, Lyricist - Barry Manilow, Arranger - Barry Manilow, Piano - Barry Manilow, Background Vocal
(P) 1975 Arista Records LLC
Thom Cadley, Mixing Engineer - Mark Rinaldi, 2nd Engineer - Barry Manilow, Performer - Barry Manilow, Composer - Barry Manilow, Lyricist - Barry Manilow, Producer - Adrienne Anderson, Composer - Adrienne Anderson, Lyricist - Ron Dante, Producer
(P) 2006 Arista Records LLC
Arif Mardin, Orchestrator - Sid McGinnis, Guitar - Charlie Brown, Guitar - Stephen Sondheim, Composer - Stephen Sondheim, Lyricist - Lee Gurst, Percussion - Steve Donaghey, Acoustic Bass - Ron Dante, Background Vocal - Ron Dante, Producer - The Flashy Ladies, Background Vocal - Alan Axelrod, Keyboards - Barry Manilow, Performer - Barry Manilow, Vocal Arranger - Barry Manilow, Keyboards - Barry Manilow, Producer - Jimmy Maeulin, Congas
(P) 1998 Arista Records LLC
Album review
Barry Manilow made it to number one again during his first year as a hit artist with a rendition of Beach Boy Bruce Johnston's "I Write the Songs," beating out covers by David Cassidy and Captain and Tennille (who also released a version in Spanish). The modernized (read: no distortion) take-off on Phil Spector's Wall of Sound was what made "Mandy" so very special, and it came back to work here; Manilow sings with a seriousness on "I Write the Songs" that is as determined as his voice is on the title track, David Pomeranz' "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again." Both titles are light years beyond the rest of the album, even including Bruce Sussman and Barry's reworking of the American Bandstand theme. Like the Four Seasons before him, Barry Manilow is known for his ability to take a song up the charts; the album tracks are secondary and reserved for his most devoted followers. This quest for chart supremacy had a formidable team pooling their talents. It was co-produced by the star and Archies' lead singer Ron Dante, while Bette Midler, Miles Laurie, and Dick Fox are thanked for showing Manilow "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again." Peter Thom and Phil Galdston's "Why Don't We Live Together" is nice enough, but indicative of the near-miss compositions Manilow himself contributes -- "She's a Star," "You're Leavin' Too Soon" and "A Nice Boy Like Me" -- that might have gotten some Top 40 action due to Manilow's momentum, but without the staying power of the established hits. At least the co-write with Adrienne Anderson, "As Sure as I'm Standin' Here," has a bit of a future, with the David Pomeranz/Manilow hit, "The Old Songs," something to look forward to. The problem with Barry Manilow is also his strength -- that he skillfully mixes Johnny Mathis' adult contemporary charm with Liberace's flamboyance. Both Mathis and Liberace knew how to reign in the excesses, while Barry could care less -- and he doesn't have to. By the same token, his fan base might be more prone to spinning Ultimate Manilow and avoiding the few rough spots of this album. [The CD version contains an extra title, Stephen Sondheim's "Marry Me a Little."]
© Joe Viglione /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:50:08
- Main artists: Barry Manilow
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Arista - Legacy
- Genre: Pop/Rock International Pop
(P) 1975, 1998, 2006 Arista Records LLC
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