Customer Reviews

The Greatest Songs of the Fifties

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

I have always loved Barry manilow as long as I can remember. With this new CD, he has recorded some oldies that I remember my mom listening to, and they are better now than they were back then! Barry is the consumate professional and anyone who listens to this CD will love it!

I LOVE every song I've heard Barry perform and have never been disappointed. This album is no exception. He does an outstanding job with some great songs that bring back many memories of the '50s. There are 13 tracks of romantic "(mainly) slow" songs--great mood-music for having dinner, or dancing, with someone special.

I remember listening to "Moments to Remember, All in the Game, Unchained Melody" and many of the others. (I was just a wee bit young to dance to them when they first came out.) But these and the others on this CD are songs that have endured, well, about 50 years! They were played over and over again by musical groups at all the dances and many are still played today.

"Venus" is one of my all-time favorites and just makes you want to go ah-h-h-h. I think many of us remember Frankie Avalon doing this one. Barry does it very well. As a matter of fact, he includes it in his Vegas show and they announce him as Barry Avalonio. "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" tuggs at your heart strings, reminding us of the Burt Lancaster movie. Beyond the Sea is done as a ballad rather than the Bobby Darin version, and is quite pretty.

So many others from the GREAT 50s included! The entire album is done beautifully. Most of the songs parody the originals pretty closely, at least as I remember them. "Chances Are" sounds pretty much like Johnny Mathis to me. There's also Johnny T.'s "All I have to do is Dream"--love that song. There's also a duet between Barry and Phyllis McGuire (McGuire Sisters) "Sincerely/Teach Me Tonight" (a combination of the 2 tunes. An excellent collection of 50s music, Barry's style transcends time and is such truly beautiful music. I wish more people enjoyed the peace and love that his music provides. I sure hope to see a 2nd 50s album. There's a lotta songs out there Barry hasn't done--YET!

You can purchase this 50s CD as either CD only or as "Dual Disc". The difference is that the Dual Disc is a CD on one side and a DVD on the other side. The DVD side includes the entire album in enhanced stereo (a deep rich base sound) and a "Greatest Songs of the Fifties" in video. The video is about 15 minutes of behind-the-scenes making of this album, with commentaries by Barry and by Clive Davis. The commentary shows studio shots of how Barry worked with others, arranging the songs and working with background singers.

Of course, you need a DVD to play the DVD side of the dual disc. If you put it in on the wrong side, it won't play, so you just flip it. Nothing to fear, not even for the tekkie impaired, like me.

A wonderfully done album that takes you back to those days of when you were dancing ever so closely with the girl of your dreams. What great nostalgia Barry Manilow creates with his smooth style and flawless renditions of these 50's classics. His voice is one of the very few in the music business today that lends itself to this unique music.

There wasn't a song I didn't love nor the way Barry sang it. The duet with Phyllis McGuire was incredible and fresh. I wasn't expecting a clone of the original songs, and Barry made them his own and every bit as wonderful. The musical arrangements were among the best I've ever heard. If you want a great compilation of great fifties music in one CD, I'd highly recommend this one. I hope Barry comes out with another 50s CD or even one from the 60s.

First of all, here are the amazing facts about Barry Manilow's "The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties" CD:
Debuts at number 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart!
155,630 units sold first week!
This is Barry Manilow's first EVER number 1 debut!
This is his first number 1 of the SoundScan era!
This is his highest one week scan total in SoundScan history!
This is his first number 1 album since July 1977!
Only Ray Charles and Elvis Presley had longer spans between number 1 albums!

Barry's "The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties" starts out strong with "Moments To Remember", and it is very clear that Barry's voice is very well suited for these golden gems of the 1950s. It is also very obvious that his passion for music shines through this very romantic album. No, Barry did not write any of these songs, but his recordings are definitely some of his best! Some highlights of this fabulous album are: "Moments To Remember", "Unchained Melody", "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing", "Venus", "Sincerely/Teach Me Tonight" (with Phyllis McGuire) "Young At Heart", "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" and "Beyond The Sea". In conclusion, this is an album full of timeless music that sounds as great in 2006 as it did fifty years ago. As usual, Barry's arrangements lush and beautiful, however, he takes great care not to take away anything from the original versions. This is definitely an album that will provide many moments to remember for many years to come!

Last but not least, the Dual Disc version provides some fabulous footage of Barry and the incredibly talented musicians and singers who worked with Barry on "The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties". This rare studio footage gives you the feeling you are there when the album is being made. There is also commentary by Barry himself, and he looks absolutely gorgeous! In fact, 30+ years after "Mandy" his face and hair still have the look of eternal youth. In addition, there is great commentary by Clive Davis, which is very appropriate because this album also represents the reunion of Barry and Clive Davis and Arista Records. There is another reason the success of this album is even sweeter! Barry Manilow is like fine wine, and he just keeps getting better. This album is the perfect marriage of artist, song, arrangement and production. Congratulations, Barry, this album is like a jewel in your crown of musical achievement!

Having been introduced to these songs by my dear grandfather. I was pretty familar with most of them. Barry does a great interpretation of these great classics. He gives each one his own signature. Barry being the master showman, composer, and producer he is able to create wonderful arrangements to make them sound brand new.
I really enjoyed the dvd portion. It was interesting to see Barry at work in the recording studio.
Get this cd and enjoy these timeless classic by the best in the business.
Can't wait too see these performed in Las Vegas this year. Last year was a blast too.
Thanks Barry for 30 years or wonderful music..
A fan forever and a day : )
Sherri

First of all, I love this CD. It's got a lot of heart and soul. Barry Manilow can not only sing wonderfully, but he ALWAYS puts it all out on the line when he sings.

You may like his style or not, but some of the hateful reviews here and the "dive bombing" of good reviews by sour cynics go way over the line.

Truth be told, this is a CD brimming with passion and love for the songs. And yes, these are real songs, not the sampled, boring, repetitive, misogynistic, explicit drivel being cranked out by much of today's music industry.

Best of the lot: "All I Have to Do Is Dream," "Venus," "It's All in the Game," "Are You Lonesome Tonight?"

I really enjoy the DUAL Disc, it is interesting to hear background information on the song choices, etc. I never knew the story behind the song Beyond the Sea, puts it in a new light for me and I have a much better appreciation for the song. This is a beautifully done cd and I'm not a big fifties fan, in fact I wasn't certain I'd buy this. I am a Manilow fan though (for 28 years) so I took a chance. I love it! Barry is brilliant. The arrangements and music are wonderful. You can tell he loves these songs. My favorites Are You Lonesome Tonight Unchained Melody and It's Not For Me To Say. If you are a fan you will so enjoy this CD. Sing it Barry, Sing it!

I was a diehard Barry fan in the 70's and early 80's. However, the last album I bought was in 1990 because I never cared for any of his latest albums. In fact, I never really thought of myself as a Manilow fan today. But, this album has changed all of that!

I have to admit that when I first heard it, I had mixed feelings. The songs that I was used to hearing were now very different, which took a few times to get used to. However, I immediately loved two of them right off the bat - Unchained Melody and Beyond the Sea. Unchained Melody is a real tear-jerker - way better than the original.

After I heard the CD a few times, it REALLY grew on me. In fact, there isn't a single one that I don't like now. They just keep sounding better and better. And, I think I know why - the arrangement and quality. Barry has a way of arranging music like no one else can. I crank this up so I can really hear all of the quality and I am loving it!

I am glad that I did not listen to the really bad reviews and gave this album a second and third chance. I have played it at least 15 times front to back. All I can say is, WOW!! In my opinion, it is the BEST album he is ever done! I recommend dimming the lights, getting a glass of wine, and putting on Rags to Riches. Thank you, Thank you, Barry, for this fine CD!!

For the past 3 1/2 Decades, Barry Manilow is STILL on top of his game. He packs up a big crowd every time He performs in Vegas. Tickets are so hard to find, you can get them @ eBay. What makes Manilow's music more memorable? He still writes all of the songs that makes the whole world sing. In his album, Manilow takes his fans and makes them get lost in the '50s. This is a brilliant Idea for Manilow and His Mentor, Clive Davis for whom he discovered when Davis founded Arista back in 1975. Since then, Arista(Once owned by CBS) was the premiere music label that gave us Whitney, Kenny G ,and Air Supply (et. al). 30 years later, At Davis' request, Manilow went back to Arista,(Now owned by Sony) and with someof the premiere studio musicians at hand, Manilow handpicked some of the best songs from the '50s. "Unchained Melody"(A song made popular by "Ghost")-was the #1 hit by The Righteous Brothers-Was the only song made back in the '60s that DID made it on the album's Playlist. Manilow gave advice to the contestants on "American Idol" when They went to Vegas to get some sound advice from the legend himself. BTW: Eliminated "Idol" Competitor Bobby Bennett(No Relation to Paris-He's Hispanic) made a suprised visit to meet the legend himself one-on-one. Bennett performed "At The Copa..." before he got booted off the stage. Next album Manilow will be recording: "Songs from the '60s". And then "Songs from the '70s". Manilow has gone full circle.