Barry At His Best

I first heard the music on this album when Clive Davis put out an advance promotional tape (remember tape?). He was frustrated many younger listeners were writing Manilow off before even listening to his music. On the original release a sticker dared record store browsers to try the album and see if it wasn't the best thing they'd heard all year. This is a simply terrific album start to finish with exemplary songs, gorgeous orchestrations and Manilow at his best--expressive, honest, throughly musical and in gorgeous voice. The range of moods here is exemplary in that, though the songs are unrelated, the program holds together as a whole. Manilow has always been adept at taking songs others have recorded--in this case Streisand on "Some Good Things Never Last" and Anne Murray on "Anyone Can Do The Heartbreak"--and refashioning them with fresh results. He often rewrites lyrics or edits melodies to fit his own intentions. He's always interesting. This album has stood the test of time--it's still affecting, intriguing, melodic and important. Don't pass it up and, if I may, let's get in a plug for the "Mayflower" album, his Broadway-show-on-C.D. about life in an apartment building, his finest achievement ever and not to be missed.

it's Manilow...Please Don't Be Scared..

I have never understood why Barry Manilow has a clearly divided impact on people. On the one hand you have all the critics and several millions of people who are quick to laugh at his music and him personally and then you have other critics and several millions of people who are quick to defend his music and buy it in the millions. I like his songs and i don't understand why hatred for him is so deep and ferocious. Oh well, it's their loss. This CD contains the wonderful "Please Don't Be Scared", "Keep Each Other Warm", "In Another World", and the sing-a-long songs "My Moonlight Memories of You", "The One That Got Away", and the dance song "Anyone Can Do The Heartbreak". This is a CD that all Manilow fans already have but you new ones under 35 {admit it} ought to seek this one out on-line because it can't be found in stores anymore. It was released in 1989.

Kinda Sorta

This one sounded like he was riding with a band of gypsies. It is definately missing something.