"Without
the protection of the recording studio and the magic that engineers
can contribute, a performer proves
his stuff by being able to pull off a live performance. Especially
if he's trying to recreate a song that the public knows.
In my opinion, most live CDs don't work. Here are a few that do.
I think they do because of the strength and talent of these giant
stars.
I'm including
one of my own tracks, not only because I think it's a great
song and
I do it pretty well, but because I am shamelessly
promoting this LIVE CD!”
- Barry
1. Rock-A-Bye
Your Baby With A Dixie Melody- Judy At Carnegie Hall – Judy
Garland
2. My Foolish Heart – The Best of Bill Evans Live On Verve – Bill
Evans
3. Bweebida Bwobbida – At Storyville – Gerry Mulligan
Quartet
4. The Look Of Love – Live In Paris – Diana Krall
5. My Funny Valentine – West Coast Live – Chet Baker/Stan
Getz
6. Mack The Knife – Mack The Knife (The Complete Ella Live
In Berlin) – Ella Fitzgerald
7. Love Sneaking Up On You – Road Tested – Bonnie Raitt
8. Don’t Explain – Stolen Moments: The Lady Sings Jazz
And Blues – Diana Ross
9. The Windows Of The World/What The World Needs Now – One
Amazing Night – Burt Bacharach and Luther Vandross
10. Philadelphia Freedom – One Night Only – Elton John
11. Caruso - Pavarotti and Friends – Luciano Pavarotti
12. One For My Baby – Sinatra At The Sands – Frank
Sinatra
13. Sweet Baby James – Live – James Taylor
14. A Nightingale Sang In Berkley Square – An Evening With
George Shearing and Mel Torme – 15. George Shearing and Mel
Torme
15. Every Single Day – 2NIGHTS LIVE! – Barry Manilow
“The
Blonde In The Thunderbird” Flies
High in the San Diego Sky - By Jack McClendon What
a show! Suzanne Somers’ San Diego world premiere of her
one-woman, autobiographical, motivational musical, “The
Blonde in the Thunderbird,” pioneers a new concept in entertainment.
It’s not just a
musical—it’s a life-changing event.
The lights dim to Gregorian chants and bluesy Irish strings: “I
was born Irish Catholic,” says Somers off-stage in her serious,
sober, sultry voice. An incredible high-octane version of the Everly
Brothers’ “Wake Up, Little Suzy,” deftly performed
by the amazing Doug Walter Orchestra, captivates the attention
of the assembled.
The audience howls as Somers takes the stage clad in a black leotard—enough
to make any Miss America swimsuit contestant envious. “I’m
57 years old and tonight you are going to learn the good, the bad,
and, oh yes, the ugly about
Suzy.”
A rapid-fire photo montage of Somers’ ugly duckling childhood
paves the way for Suzanne to reveal her tragically violent, painful,
and lonely upbringing. Raised by a physically and emotionally brutal
alcoholic father, Somers poetically recounts
the intimate horrors that she and her four siblings endured as
children. This two-hour musical masterpiece moves faster than a
photon in a laser beam. Even an audience of ADD conventioneers
would be easily transfixed by the vivacious variety of high-voltage
vignettes.
Original music
created by the brilliant songwriting team of Ken and Mitzie Welch—interspersed
with classic songs from Frank Loesser, Harold Arlen, Gershwin
and Gershwin, and Eddie Cantor—make “The
Blonde in the Thunderbird” an instant classic. A little-known
secret about this sonorous collaboration is that Somers’ best
friend, Barry Manilow, humbly volunteered his talents to serve
as unofficial musical consultant.
The theme of Somers’ show is that anyone can overcome a self-defeating
painful past. No passive experience, this is a stunning, gut-wrenching,
musical dramedy that sweeps
you up in a tsunami of emotion. Experiencing this Broadway-bound
musical is a therapeutic self-investment which brings
extraordinary memories that only get sweeter upon reflection.
Suzanne Somers initially captured the public’s attention
as the mysterious blonde driving the white Thunderbird in George
Lucas’ 1973 cult classic, “American Graffiti.” Ironically,
it is that same beloved T-Bird that is now taking her crowd-pleasing,
standing-ovation show to Broadway.
For more information about Ms. Somers please visit www.suzannesomers.com
From
Barry’s Appearance on American Idol, April 20-21
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