"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