great concept for Barry

Prior to buying this cd, I really wasn't much into showtunes. I love Barry Manilow and think he is a great singer and has great taste in songs. HIs version of where or when is the best by far that I have ever heard! The arrangement is beautiful. It doesn't get better than that. Another standout song is "look to the rainbow", a beautiful duet, probably Barry Manilow's best duet by far. "I'll be seeing you", "old friends", "the kid inside", "Never met a man I didn't like", and "bring him home" are all great songs, which are the kinds of songs we've come to and love by Barry Manilow. Thanks Barry for making old songs fresh and new.

Well put together.....

but something was missing. Just didn't sound like the Barry I know.

What Really "Shows"

is that Mr Manilow had a really great time making "Showstoppers"! He couldn't possibly laugh the way he does in "Once in Love With Amy" if he wasn't having the best time ever. I'm having a great time too, learning all the words and singing along. I do have favorites and those include "All I I Need is the Girl, and "Real Live Girl", but I've found new favorites in "Look to the Rainbow, and But the World Goes 'Round", and I thank Barry for giving me these new songs to love. As an added bonus, I work with singers and if I start a song someone around here will sing along with me. This is so joyful it's like champagne bubbles in your blood!
My only wish would be that Barry would make "Showstoppers II" and put in something from "The Music Man", but I suppose he still has a few hundred favorites of his own that could go in it...sigh. No matter how much we get, we still want MORE! (But isn't that that the way you're supposed to leave 'em????)