Singin With the Big Bands

Barry Manilow | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 11, 1994)
• Original Release Date: October 11, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B000002VOO
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,854 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where have I been?, March 23, 2002

By 

F. F Klein "Heytaxi" (Lancaster, Pa USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Singin With the Big Bands (Audio CD)

As I listen again and again to this cd that I recently discovered in a 2nd hand store, I can't help but wonder how I missed it for 8 years. I'm sure my age has a lot to do with my enjoyment of this music, but these classics are presented in such a nostalgic manner by what appears to be a superb studio orchestra using original arrangements of former big band greats such as Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Harry James, Duke Ellington and Les Brown that, for me, this is a must for any big band collector or anyone who remembers and enjoys music from the 40's. The sound is clean and refreshing and Manilow is superb. Rosemary clooney drops by for Jimmy Dorsey's "Green Eyes". This is one is definately worth a listen.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Barry Manilow at His Absolute Best!, April 25, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Cleveland Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Singin With the Big Bands (Audio CD)

Before this recording, I had never heard the words to "Moonlight Serenade." Barry's done it again, and again, and again! From the man who charmed our socks off in the 70s to a sentimental journey-kinda dude, Manilow has given another breath of fresh air to some of the greatest songs in American history. I remember when he premiered this recording on "Larry King Live" several years ago, and I not only bought a CD for myself, but as Christmas gifts for others that year! The opening song, "Singing with the Big Bands" is catchy, lyrical, singable, and most of all, historical in the way it sets the "mood" for the rest of the recording. "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree," "Chattanooga Choo-Choo," and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," are favorites from the Glenn Miller/Nat King Cole era, and Barry has helped to bring them back to a culturally-bereft generation, who desperately needs to hear this music. From the man who can sing anything and make it sound wonderful, Barry Manilow has definitely outdone himself this time!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Sentimental Journey To The Big Band Era, January 3, 2006

By 

Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* (CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Singin With the Big Bands (Audio CD)

This is one of my favorite Big Band music from my collection. Barry Manilow did an excellent job in this recording singing sixteen great songs of all-time re-arranged based on the original arrangements from The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Benny Goodman Orchestra, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, The Harry James Orchestra and Les Brown and His Band of Renown. Mr. Manilow's interpretations of the songs in this wonderful CD are simply superb. I truly enjoyed listening to the entire CD and the sequence of tracks are just perfect, alternating swingy and upbeat tunes with the sweet and dreamy songs. There are touches of nostalgia in my all-time favorite gems and the best tracks from this compilation, Mitchell Parish/Glenn Miller's "Moonlight Serenade" and George Bassman/Ned Washington's "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You."

"Things you say and do . . .
Just thrill me through and through
I'm getting sentimental over you."

One of the standouts is "Green Eyes," re-arranged and conducted by Mike Melvoin based on the original Jimmy Dorsey arrangement and featuring one of the most distinguished female vocalists, Rosemary Clooney.

As you listen to this terrific CD, let Barry Manilow take you to a "sentimental journey" and "be with you in apple blossom time." He will sit with you "under the apple tree" "on a sunny side of the street." "And the angels sing" . . .

~ And The Angels Sing ~
Words & Music by Johnny Mercer & Ziggy Elman

"We meet and the angels sing
The angels sing the sweetest song I ever heard
You speak and the angels sing
Or am I breathing music into every word? . . .

. . . You smile and the angels sing
And though it's just a gentle murmur at the start
We kiss and the angels sing
And leave their music ringing in my heart."

This, in my opinion, is the very best Barry Manilow recording and if you love the sound of the Big Bands, you should have this in your collection. It's purely classic and timeless. I congratulate Mr. Manilow and all the musicians in this project for paying tribute to the beauty of Big Band music.

Greatly recommended. You'll love it!