Ultimate Manilow

Amazon.com:
There's a cynical adage that argues if you stand still long enough, history will eventually catch up with you. It's tempting to say that about Barry Manilow, an artist whose stubborn, quarter-century dedication to old-fashioned song craft and musical melodrama has earned him few critical praises but a loyal worldwide following in the millions. When a cult of 20-something would-be lounge lizards tried to cash in on Manilow's shtick in the 1990s, they distanced themselves from its emotional potency with telling dollops of irony and retro-hip cynicism--anything to keep from looking too sincere. This album serves up the high points of Manilow's long, successful career, rightly focusing on the long string of '70s hits that built both his legend and record label. They're a body of songs whose solid craftsmanship is undeniable, but it's Manilow's sincerity that crucially sells them--indeed, he didn't write "I Write the Songs," but who could doubt him? It's an odd tribute that much here--"Mandy," "Looks Like We Made It," "Copacabana," et. al.--has become the palette for a popular entertainment spectrum that somehow encompasses endless hotel piano bars on one flank and TV sketch-com parody on the other. Good to remember that kitsch, by definition, requires a deep and lasting impact on the culture. Manilow hasn't just embraced the "K" word; he's reveled in it with a smile--how could one frown through "Bandstand Boogie" and "Copa" anyway?--and elevated it to something approaching the transcendental through his sheer, joyous force of will. And if his latter work has been unabashedly nostalgic, how could anyone be surprised? --Jerry McCulley

Disc 1:

1. Mandy
2. It's A Miracle
3. Could It Be Magic
4. I Write The Songs
5. Bandstand Boogie
6. Tryin' To Get The Feeling
7. This One's For You
8. Weekend In New England
9. Looks Like We Made It
10. Daybreak
11. Can't Smile Without You
12. Even Now
13. Copacabana (At The Copa)
14. Somewhere In The Night
15. Ready To Take A Chance Again
16. Ships
17. I Made It Through The Rain
18. The Old Songs
19. When October Goes
20. Somewhere Down The Road

Browse for similar items by category:

• Music » Styles » Broadway & Vocalists » General
• Music » Styles » Broadway & Vocalists » Traditional Vocal Pop
• Music » Styles » Pop » General
• General » Easy Listening » Dance Pop » Compilations
• Music » Styles » Pop » Adult Contemporary » General AAS

Customer Reviews

Rating: - No Complaints
I have no complaints.The CD was in perfect condition and I received it on time.
Rating: - ULTIMATE RIP-OFF
Do not purchase this download. Track 15 has a serious glitch in it at about 2:30 seconds. It may well be in the master, too.
Rating: - He's YOUR man!
Gotta LOVE this Manilow album!Classic "RCA" album from 1985.Great memories of concerts where he would sing "I'm your man" and others like "It's a long way up."

This was a hard-to-find gem among Manilow fans and collectors; and look! you can now download the MP3's right from Amazon.

Sweet deal.No Manilow fan should be without this collection!
Rating: - Manilow
This is my favorite CD, I love all of Barry Manilow's CD's but this one just relaxes me.

Rating: - Ultimate but not "complete"
After just writing a review for "The Essential Collection" and referencing this collection many times within that review, I figured I should write a quick one singing the praises of this CD.

I rate this CD 5 stars because it sounds the best of all of the Barry Manilow Collections I own ("The Essential Collection", "Greatest Hits", "Greatest Hits Vol. 2" and "The Complete Collection And Then Some")

There are quite a few tracks that I would include on an "Ultimate" collection ... Read More