The Greatest Songs of the Fifties [DUAL DISC]

Barry Manilow

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 31, 2006)
• Original Release Date: January 31, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Dual Disc
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B000CNDIZY
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (99 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #64,107 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Clive Davis's ear earns him more accolades than most of his talents' vocal chords. Now it's time to give it up for his enterprising instincts. The Greatest Songs of the Fifties arrives on the heels of another of the famous producer's backward-looking projects, the ubiquitous, uber-successful Great American Songbook series by Rod Stewart. The short story: same vibe, different era. With songs like "All I Have to Do Is Dream," "Venus," and "Unchained Melody" (first recorded in the '50s but best known for its '60s Righteous Brothers rendition), Manilow sidesteps the stuff that rocked the sock hops in favor of cheek-to-cheek selections--the better to remind longtime fans of his nostalgia-steeped '70s hits. Overall, the approach works, especially when the bona fide '50s legend Phyllis McGuire steps in to heat up the "Teach Me Tonight/Sincerely" medley, and Manilow swings across genres to lovingly tackle Dinah Washington's "What a Diff'rence a Day Made." Vocally, a warm haze covers these tracks; whether it's there to evoke fuzzier times or to mask a voice that's gone slightly south is unclear. What couldn't be more crystal, though, is Manilow and Davis's commitment to first-class, sophisticated record-making. --Tammy La Gorce

From the Artist
Once again, Clive Davis astounds me with his brilliant ideas. When he suggested this idea to me, I slapped my forehead and said, "Why hasn’t anyone thought of this idea?" But of course, there is only one Clive Davis. I feel honored and terribly fortunate to be working with him again after all these years. It’s like coming home. Being given the opportunity to co-produce, co-arrange and sing these rarely sung golden standards is a privilege. I hope they affect a new generation of listeners as deeply as they did those of us who were there. -Barry Manilow

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loving the 50's in 2006, February 7, 2006

By	Robert Welborn (Illinois/Florida) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Barry Manilow At His Very Best, February 1, 2006

By	Joseph Papalia (Rockville Centre, New York United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Give it 10 stars, June 21, 2006

By	L. Flaherty "lorehere" (SI, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.