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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Barry's 1985 foray into techno-pop!, February 24, 2009
I bought this album in 1985 when it first came out, and I was surprised by the change in production values that "Manilow" took. Having dumped ARISTA as his long-time label, RCA Records took Manilow on for this one-shot album, and with a new songwriter/producer partner, Howie Rice, created this record which dips its toe into 80s techno-pop. It bombed. Big time.
It's pretty obvious that trying to re-shape Manilow's fading image as a romantic crooner in the cold, synthsized slam-glam of 1980s technology was doomed to failure, but that doesn't mean that this is a bad album, on the contrary, it's one of my favorites of Barry's. Despite the programmed drum tracks and synth loops, this is in every way a Barry Manilow album, with songs that are some of the catchiest and most melodic he's ever written. "It's All Behind Us Now," "Some Sweet Day," "If You Were Here With Me Tonight" and "Sweet Heaven" are all romantic swooners, with all of the sweeping melodrama of the best Manilow ballads. And "In Search of Love" "I'm Your Man" and one of my favorite tracks, "It's A Long Way Up" are driving dance numbers that Barry sings with tremendous power.
Two numbers on the album I generally skip over - one is the goofy "At The Dance" which feels clumsy and out of place, and the other is the needless remake of "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" which is a bloodless duet with Muffy Hendrix (another *cough* "star" lost to the mists of time.) The latter song is smooth and professional, but give me the original Marvin Gaye/Tammy Terrell version any day.
All in all, this is a strikingly original sounding Barry Manilow album, with strong singing, melodies; dated only by it's 80's production flourishes. I am amazed and SO happy that this album is available again. It received a limited release on CD, [RCA PCD1-7044], but for years was one of Barry's rarest albums. Now if ARISTA would only release 1980's "Barry" - which has NEVER been on CD.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ain't Nuthin' Like the Real Thing, Baby!, February 24, 2009
Which is, by the way, #9 on the CD. This CD was originally released in 1985, now re-released in 2008/2009. Love the cover, too. Great pix of B with beautiful haunting baby blue eyes. It's a great album with some different B songs. (Numbers 1, 8, and 10 below are not different, but the others are.) #9 is an old song but one you may not have not heard B do before. B was about 42 at this time and did some hot recordings at this time in his life. 10 tracks, lasting about 39 minutes, a little on the short side but a great CD. My favorites on this CD are ALL OF THEM!
1. I'm Your Man - You have likely heard this upbeat song before. It has been on many Barry albums.
2. It's All Behind Us Now - slow and pretty, heavy, emotional--something haunting about the melody--I love it.
3. In Search of Love - Strong heavy beat with another haunting melody. Oh could I wiggle to this one on the dance floor. (I can really get into a good strong beat.) - I love it.
4. He Doesn't Care (But I Do) - Slow song, heavy, emotional--the crescendo B is famous for. Love it.
5. Some Sweet Day - Cha-cha, It is the kind where in the 60s/70s you cha-cha'd and hit every 4th beat with a hard step. Love it. Again, heavy and crescendo. Makes me wanna dance. Reminds me of something Paul Anka might have done in his hey-day.
6. At the Dance - Another cha-cha. I love this one too. A hint of latin. Actually, I'd like to either salsa this one or play it on the drums. B adds a brief doobie doobie jazz vocal in between. A fun song.
7. If You Were Here With Me Tonight - slow, pretty, great crescendo--yes, I love this one, too.
8. Sweet Heaven (I'm In Love Again) - From B's musical "Copacabana" and one of my favorites. This is a beautiful arrangement.
9. Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing [Baby] (Duet with Muffy Hendrix) - old song, Barritized.
10. It's A Long Way Up - you have likely heard this on just a few B albums - about the climb to the top being a long way up when you are coming from nowhere--how you gotta keep on trying. I absolutely LOVE the "there is hope" and "keep going" music that B puts out there.
On a side note, I cannot count the times in the past 3 years where songs like this, I Made It Through The Rain, and others that B has done have kept me going when I felt a bit down. Especially since I know that B has had some hurdles in his life, so they are more than just songs to him too. He means it. Keep on going!
Back to the review, a tri-fold inside includes the words, so you can sing along with Mr. B. I love it when he does that because I ALWAYS sing along with B. (Not that I need the words, because his vocalization is always so clear, but I figure some people may need the words.) A great CD with some different songs on it. I love the emotional feel to Barry's music, the passion. It's all beautiful to me and is the kind of music I grew up with. If I had to blast off to another planet and could take only one thing with me, it would be my ipod (because it has my Barry collection on it). I just hope I would be able to find a plug for the charger somewhere on Venus. (Women are from Venus, men are from Mars--remember?)
A wonderful addition to my collection. I just LOVE this album to pieces!
Update Feb 2009--Gotta tell you this one. I was in the car, windows up, radio up--rockin' with B. "At the Dance" comes on and it is sooo hot, I start dancing in the car at the traffic light. 16-year old granddaughter in the front with me. I mean, I was rollin'--arms were goin'. Everything was movin'. Next thing I hear a HONK. The young couple in the car next to me starts dancin' with me, at the light. COOL! We all had a good laugh on that one.
Stay tuned to this channel for the latest and greatest on B music -- WBAM radio :-)
Update July 2009: Still lovin' this CD. I play it every day and am surprised I haven't worn it out. I cannot believe the price. It is a great inexpensive gift. You can even make up a gift basket with a bunch of little things, and make this one of them.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love this album too, April 29, 2009
This 'Manilow' CD is great. I bought it when it was first released on CD in the 80's. At this price this is such a bargain! Some Sweet Day, It's all behind us now and If you were here with me tonight will not disappoint Manilow fans who love him for the big ballads with lots of key changes and big drums. My least favourites are He Doesn't Care and In search of love. Way too over-produced - even for Barry!
This CD was also originally released in Japan with 2 extra songs - In search of love (a Japanese/English duet) and Sakura - an old Japanese song.
Incidentally, re: the other review on here, Barry's 1980 album called 'Barry' WAS released on CD in Japan in the late Eighties. I bought a copy and it sounds fantastic. Well overdue for a re-release.
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