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| September 7, 2007 | The Jewish Advocate (Boston) | "Barry Manilow takes to the stage at the Garden" by Marvin Glassman |
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| One may think that singer-songwriter Barry Manilow has fond memories of Boston. The first time he ever performed as a singer was as an opening act to jazz trumpet player Freddie Hubbard at the now defunct Paul's Mall on March 4, 1974. The experience was not what Manilow hoped it would be. "My expectations were high as I had my first performance as a solo singer since having a record contact, but it was a bad experience. The club was a real dump ... My voice gave out on the second show," recalled Manilow in his 1987 autobiography "Sweet Life." To paraphrase a Manilow hit song, it's a miracle he did not quit as a performer following his less than stunning debut in Boston. Fast forward 33 years and six months, Barry Manilow has become a legend who will have an expected 19,580 fans listening to him sing at the TD BankNorth Garden on Sept. 9. Manilow will thrill fans at the concert with songs from his new CD, "The Greatest Songs of the Seventies" (to be released Sept. 18) ... in addition to most of his own hit songs. Manilow's reversal of fortune came six months after his Boston debut when "Mandy" became his first number one hit song. In fact, the way Manilow was back in the 1970s, his [latest] CD could have been titled "Other Great Songs of the 70s Besides Mine." Manilow was the dominant singer on the radio from 1974-1980, having 25 top 40 songs such as "Copacabana," "Even Now," "I Write The Songs" and "Weekend In New England." Manilow has sold over 75 millions records over his long career. There is very little that Manilow [hasn't done] in the last 33 years. Yet, despite the fame and fortune, he wants to be known more as the composer who wrote a great musical set in the Holocaust, "Harmony," than as the singer who wrote the popular songs that the whole world sings. "Harmony," with music by Manilow and book and lyrics by Bruce Sussman (they wrote the Manilow hit and musical "Copacabana," which won the team a Grammy Award), had a successful debut in 1997 at La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego. The play is based on the true story of the Comedian Harmonists, a group of young German performers, both Jewish and Gentile, who gained fame in Europe in the 1920s before returning to Nazi Germany in the 1930s. "Without a doubt, this is the one piece of work that I want to be remembered for," said Manilow in a telephone conversation from his home in Palm Springs, Calif. "What inspired Bruce Sussman and me is to tell a story of a unique and talented group of individuals who touched the lives of millions in their time. They set out on a quest to find harmony in what turned out to be the most discordant chapter in history. Despite what happened, the story is uplifting. Whether the tragic part of their story moves me more because I'm Jewish and because my relatives went through the Holocaust, it is hard to say. There are moments in the script that we refer to traditional Jewish rituals, such as the wedding scene when the groom breaks the wine glass, that I was moved to tears." Manilow [remains] hopeful that Harmony will debut on Broadway next year... Barry Manilow will be in concert on Sunday, Sept. 9, 8 p.m., at TD BankNorth Garden in Boston. Tickets range from $12.50-252.50 For more information, call (617) 931-2000 or visit www.manilow.com. |
| September 5, 2007 | Billboard.com | "Manilow Gets Jazzy For Hallmark Holiday Album" by Gary Graff |
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| Barry Manilow is bringing us more than "The Greatest Songs of the Seventies" this fall. In fact, the singing, songwriting piano man tells Billboard.com that "I'm like Starbucks; you're not gonna be able to get away from me. It's gonna be a Manilow fall," with a holiday album and a selection of DVDs. In early November, Hallmark plans to issue "In the Swing of Christmas," a jazz-styled album on which Manilow is accompanied by pianist Matt Herskowitz of the Mad Fusion Trio, who he proclaims is "beyond Bill Evans, beyond Fats Waller. You've never heard a young piano player like this." The song list, Manilow says, is a mix of "titles everyone would know" -- "Silver Bells" and "White Christmas" -- along with Irving Berlin's "Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)" and the Great American Songbook staple "Violets For Your Furs." "They're not all religious at all," Manilow says. "I was also able to put in winter songs, which turned out to be just beautiful. I'm nuts about it, and so is Hallmark." "In the Swing of Christmas" will be accompanied by the release of the DVD version of the 2003 A&E special "A Barry Manilow Christmas: Live By Request." And on Nov. 6, Rhino Entertainment/Stiletto New Media will put out the box set "Barry Manilow: The First Television Specials." One thing Manilow won't be releasing is his version of the 1976 Elton John/Kiki Dee duet "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" with Rosie O'Donnell that was slated for the "Seventies" album, which comes out Sept. 18 via Arista. The cut, Manilow says, was made for aesthetic rather than qualitative reasons. "It was just fantastic," he explains, "but when we put it all together the tone of the song just didn't fit on this album. The whole album turned out to be very romantic, and suddenly this thing came crashing in, and it just didn't feel right. "But Rosie ... was inspiring," he continues. "She's not a singer, really, and she got behind that mic and she turned into a rock 'n' roll singer. I hope people don't think we didn't put it on because she wasn't great. She was great. It's a wonderful cut; it just doesn't fit on the album, but it'll probably be a bonus cut somewhere." Manilow says he also has "a really big idea" for a new album of original songs that he hopes to work on next -- unless "The Greatest Songs of the Eighties" looms. |
| September 5, 2007 | Press Release
SOURCE: QVC, INC. | Barry Manilow Returns to QVC to Debut Latest Album The Greatest Songs of the Seventies |
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| WEST CHESTER, Pa., Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunday, September 9 at 5 PM and 9 PM (ET) legendary performer Barry Manilow returns to QVC� to debut his latest album, THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SEVENTIES, nine days before street date. Manilow stunned audiences last year when his QVC appearance marked the highest single-hour sales event in the multimedia retailer's twenty-year history, with over 43,000 units of THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SIXTIES ordered. He also had the largest sales week of his career, debuting at #2 on the Top 200 Albums Chart, with the same release. Broadcasting live from TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, QVC Presents Q Sessions Live Featuring Barry Manilow will offer viewers an exclusive interview with the two-time Grammy Award-winning artist as well as a special live performance by Manilow of songs off the new album. QVC shoppers will also have the opportunity to order THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SEVENTIES, with a bonus CD created especially for QVC. "We are excited to have Barry back to QVC," said Rich Yoegel, director of merchandising for QVC. "He is one of the best live performers of all time and has enjoyed tremendous success on QVC." "Performing on QVC last year was great fun," said Manilow. "I can't wait to do it again." THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SEVENTIES will be available through QVC at 800.345.1515 or http://www.QVC.com while supplies last. About Barry Manilow
THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SEVENTIES follows two hit albums released last year: The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties (released January 31) and The Greatest Songs Of The Sixties (released October 31), making 2006 the first year since 1981 that Manilow had two albums of new material top the charts and certified platinum and gold, respectively, in the same calendar year. With worldwide sales exceeding 75 million, Barry Manilow is ranked as the top Adult Contemporary chart artist of all time, according to R&R (Radio & Records); with no less than 25 consecutive top 40 hits to his credit between 1975 and 1983, on the Billboard Hot 100. Among these are songs that are now part of the standard songbook, including "Mandy," "It's a Miracle," "Could It Be Magic," "I Write the Songs," "Looks Like We Made It," "Can't Smile Without You," "Copacabana (At the Copa)," "Somewhere In the Night," "Ships," and "I Made It Through the Rain." About QVC
QVC, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Interactive Group (Nasdaq: LINTA - News), is one of the largest multimedia retailers in the world, with annual revenue of more than $7 billion. QVC is committed to providing its customers with thousands of the most innovative and contemporary beauty, fashion, jewelry and home products. Its programming is distributed to more than 166 million homes worldwide. The company's Web site, QVC.com, is ranked among the top general merchant Internet sites. With subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan, West Chester, Pa.-based QVC has shipped more than a billion packages in its 21-year history. |
| September 5, 2007 | UPI / NBC26 | Manilow to debut new CD on QVC (UPI) /
"Barry Manilow Returns to QVC" by Sara Feldkamp |
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| WEST CHESTER, Pa., Sept. 5 U.S. singer Barry Manilow is set to debut his latest album, "The Greatest Songs of the Seventies," on the TV retailer QVC -- nine days before it hits stores. Manilow's appearance on QVC last year marked the highest single-hour sales event in the multimedia retailer's 20-year history, with more than 43,000 copies of "The Greatest Songs of the Sixties" ordered, QVC said. He also had the largest sales week of his career, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, with the same release. Broadcasting live from TD Banknorth Garden in Boston Sunday, "QVC Presents Q Sessions Live Featuring Barry Manilow" will offer viewers an exclusive interview with the two-time Grammy Award-winning artist, as well as a special live performance of Manilow singing songs off the new album. QVC shoppers will also have the opportunity to order THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SEVENTIES, with a bonus CD created especially for QVC. "We are excited to have Barry back to QVC," said Rich Yoegel, director of merchandising for QVC. "He is one of the best live performers of all time and has enjoyed tremendous success on QVC." "Performing on QVC last year was great fun," Manilow said in a statement. "I can't wait to do it again." |
| September 5, 2007 | Montgomery Newspapers | "'The Showman of Our Generation' set to spark the Center" by Mike Morsch |
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| It didn't happen to Barry Manilow here back in the '70s and chances are it won't happen again. "Philadelphia was always very kind to me," said Manilow on getting his start in the city more than 30 years ago. "They didn't run out for orange juice on me like I thought they would. And when I came back the next year, they were very kind. I really broke out in Philly." Indeed. And given what's happened to Manilow's career since then, it's likely that no matter how much orange juice is available, the fans in the Philadelphia area aren't likely to run out on one of their favorite sons when he opens his highly anticipated tour to promote his latest album, "The Greatest Songs of the Seventies," at the Wachovia Center with an 8 p.m. show on Saturday, Sept. 8. And despite all the success he's had with his Las Vegas show over the past several years and the throngs of adoring fans he's accumulated just about everywhere, Manilow is still incredulous about the whole ride. "I had no idea that this [a successful music career] would ever happen to me," said Manilow in a recent telephone interview. "I was just an obnoxious songwriter. When I got out on my own, I was just shocked, shocked! I thought it would be over after every record." Let the record show that it's still not over. Rolling Stone magazine has proclaimed Manilow "The Showman of Our Generation." This latest work is the 60th album of his career, which has encompassed nearly every arena of music including performing, composing, arranging and producing. He's in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Industry charts rank him as the undisputed number-one adult contemporary artist of all time with record sales exceeding 65 million worldwide. He's won a Grammy, two Emmys, several Tony awards and an Oscar nomination. And he got his start right here. After teaming up with Bette Midler as her music director, arranger and pianist in 1972, Manilow recorded his first solo album. Surrounding the release of the now memorable and classic "Mandy" two years later, Manilow performed six of his first seven solo performances at Philadelphia's Bijou Caf� in March 1974. "The Seventies was a very confusing era for me," said Manilow. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was not my favorite decade, but it was an exciting decade. I just didn't understand what the people were liking about me. I was a musician, not a performer." "Mandy" launched a career of 25 consecutive top 40 hits including "Even Now," "This One's for You," "Weekend in New England," "I Write the Songs" and "Tryin' to Get That Feeling Again." In 1978, five of Manilow's albums were on the charts simultaneously, a record rivaled only by Frank Sinatra and Johnny Mathis. "The Greatest Songs of the Seventies," the next release in a best-selling series of tribute albums of popular music, follows Manilow's successful "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties" and "The Greatest Songs of the Sixties." The newest release is scheduled to arrive in stores on Sept. 18 in two distinct packages - one an 18-song CD and the other a two-disc set containing the 18-song CD plus a dual disc featuring four additional Manilow tracks and a "Making of the Album" video. Among the songs covered on the record are the Beatles' "The Long and Winding Road," Elton John's "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word," Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," the Hollies' "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," the Carpenters' "Close to You" and Albert Hammond's "It Never Rains in Southern California."Also included in the two-disc set are six stripped-down acoustic versions of some of Manilow's most endearing hits, including "Mandy," "I Write the Songs," "Even Now," "Looks Like We Made It," "Weekend in New England" and "Copacabana." "It's going to be a great show," said Manilow of the Wachovia Center appearance. "I hope the fans in Philadelphia are still excited to see me because I'll be excited to see them." Barry Manilow will perform at the Wachovia Center, 3601 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19148, Saturday, Sept. 8, 8 p.m.; Tickets: $13 - $253; Info: 800-298-4200 or www.comcast-spectacor.com.
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| September 4, 2007 | Philadelphia Daily News | "Looks like he made it: When it comes to pop music, Manilow's No. 1" by Jonathan Takiff |
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| FOR BETTER and sometimes worse, Barry Manilow has achieved icon status. One music trade magazine, Radio and Records, that keeps track of such things has anointed him "the number one adult contemporary artist" of all time. When many a TV or movie (say "Will & Grace" or the dark comedy "Unconditional Love") aims to evoke an old-school, romantic-pop state of mind, the production has characters fantasize an encounter with Manilow, or exploit one of his many big ballad hits - like "Mandy" or "Looks Like We Made It," "This One's For You" or "I Write The Songs." The often-historically minded "American Idol" has twice had Manilow as its special guest, for a theme-night focus, performance and coaching session. The first time, Manilow made a stylistic connection with Clay Aiken that worked out well for both guys, with a lot of cross-pollination of fans. "I'm Barry Manilow ... this is what Clay Aiken will look like in 30 years," Manilow would later kid in concert. On the down side, some radio stations have tried to tout their innate hipness by vowing that you'd never, ever hear Manilow's safe and syrupy music on their airwaves. When one high-profile station pulled this promotion in Manilow's home town of L.A., his lawyers responded with a defamation-of-character lawsuit. Two days later, the station stopped poking fun at the guy. Asked the other day what it feels like to be a larger-than-life symbol, Manilow offered a bemused and self-effacing response. "If you last as long as I have, you turn into an 'icon,'" the 64-year-old singer/writer/producer/arranger said with a laugh during a rehearsal break for his latest concert production. The show, grandly billed "An Evening of Music and Passion," debuts here at the Wachovia Center on Saturday. "I guess 'icon' is better than calling me an old fart," ruminated the talent. "But what they're really saying is you are an old fart! Truth is, I don't consider myself an icon. I consider myself a working musician, and a very lucky one." As for the business of being the biggest-selling Adult Contemporary artist, Manilow added, "Of course I'm very proud and happy that happened. But I'd be making music, no matter what. And the success of my career is really a combination of, a reflection of, so many people. With self-contained artists who write all their own material, it's about just them - a Sting or an Elton John. With me, it's all about Clive Davis [the label chief with whom he's enjoyed his biggest successes], and my co-producers, and all of those brilliant songwriters who came up with the hits for me." Like disco, like hip-hop, Manilow and his music have been "counted out" as passe, more than once, I noted. The first time, he responded agreeably, he actually inflicted the wound on himself. "I walked away from it in 1984," Manilow recalled. "I'd started in '74 with 'Mandy.' A decade later, I felt burned out. I told Clive that I'd used up every trick I knew - every time change, every production touch, the big endings, the small endings ... Clive allowed me to do the '2:00 a.m. Paradise Cafe' album - my first flirtation with jazz and blues singing and composing. I brought some great people in for that project - including Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughan and Gerry Mulligan. And from that moment on, I kind of eased away from the pop music world. I needed to play around in other styles like jazz, with film scoring, and with stage musicals." Manilow's very first showbiz recognition at age 21 had come from scoring the off-Broadway musical "The Drunkard," which wound up running for eight years. In his post-pop-star return to form, he'd expand his hit song "Copacabana" into a stage show that toured the United States and played in London for two years. Then he put his soul into a show called "Harmony," a historically based musical about a Jewish performing troupe in pre- and early Nazi Germany that was booked to try out in Philadelphia four years ago. It ran out of steam when the producer couldn't complete the financing. "Writing that show was the most thrilling and heartbreaking experience of my life," Manilow recalled. "It's the thing I'd want most to be remembered for, and for people to hear. With a little luck, maybe there will be a version of it produced someday." (You can hear highlights on the last album he did for Concord in 2004 - "Scores: Songs from 'Copacabana' and 'Harmony.'") While Manilow never stopped being a concert or TV draw, it wasn't until Davis put together a greatest-hits collection, "Ulimate Manilow," in 2002 that the singer bounced back onto the charts. As a follow-up, he mounted his last (he vowed) extended concert tour "One Night Live! One Last Time!" and then signed a long-term deal with the Las Vegas Hilton to be its major concert magnet, working about 25 weeks a year. (He recently renewed his contract, through 2008.) At one Hilton show, Davis came backstage to see him and proposed that Manilow record a new album of oldies for Arista, "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties." "When he suggested this idea to me, I slapped my forehead and said 'Why hasn't anyone thought of this idea?' " Manilow said. Released early last year, the album featured creamy classics like "Moments to Remember" and "Unchained Melody" that perfectly keyed into Manilow's sweet 'n' clear, sincerely sharing style. Moreover, the project tapped into one of his core fan groups and the nation's revived interest in standards. The album became Manilow's first No. 1 album in 29 years, selling a staggering 3 million copies. Later in the year, he came back with an equally cozy/comfy sequel, "The Greatest Songs of the Sixties" (featuring the likes of "And I Love Her" and "Can't Help Falling in Love") that debuted at No. 2 and has sold almost as well. Two weeks hence, he'll be following up with, you guessed it, "The Greatest Songs of the Seventies." This set will boast mellow Manilowed treatments of "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart," "You've Got a Friend" (a duet with Melissa Manchester), "(They Long to Be) Close To You" ... well, you get the idea. And since this is Manilow's own decade, the package also features new acoustic versions of eight songs from his catalog. "We're concentrating on all this material in the new concert show, too, in pretty much chronological fashion. Frankly, it's also what we do in Las Vegas, but this is the blown-up version. In Vegas, I can't stay on stage for more than 75 minutes, but in the arena I can stay on as long as we want. This is a lot of fun, but it's also a lot of hard work." So which is Barry's your favorite decade? "Truthfully it's the '40s. I think I was born too late. Those one or two albums that allowed me to swing with a big, crazy, kick-a-- band is the material that's most thrilling to do. Sure, I love 'What A Difference a Day Makes,' 'Love is a Many Spendored Thing,' 'Can't Keep My Eyes Off of You,' and now all the '70s material. But I really love the '40s stuff best because it plays against my image. I really know how to do that music. It's genuine and honest. And I was really raised in it while I made a career out of pop, which I didn't know how to do ... just kidding." Wachovia Center, 3601 S. Broad St., 8 p.m. Saturday, $13, $78, $138, $253, 800-298-4200, www.ComcastTIX.com. |
| August 29, 2007 | Press Release
SOURCE: STILETTO Television | PBS and STILETTO Television Present Barry Manilow: Great Songs From The Seventies - A New PBS Television Special to Air December 2007 |
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| LOS ANGELES, August 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Legendary songwriter and performer Barry Manilow revisits the 70s for his new high-definition television special, Barry Manilow: Great Songs From The Seventies, airing on PBS during its December Fundraising Campaign. Inspired by his highly anticipated CD, The Greatest Songs of the Seventies, the television event will not only feature Manilow in concert, but sharing his personal experiences with the audience. Barry Manilow: Great Songs From The Seventies will be taped before a live audience on September 12th at Steiner Studios in Brooklyn, New York , a return to the city where Manilow was born and raised. Manilow will also reunite with director David Mallet, who helmed last year�s Barry Manilow: Music and Passion for which Manilow won an Emmy Award for �Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.� As a director, Mallet�s work includes specials for Elton John, Celine Dion, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, U2 and Cher (where he won an Emmy for The Farewell Tour). Manilow�s music is synonymous with the 70s. His songs helped define the era, and Barry Manilow: Great Songs From The Seventies will revisit some of those songs, as well as some of his own favorites from the decade � many of which are featured on his new CD. Industry charts have ranked Manilow as the undisputed number one adult contemporary artist of all time with record sales exceeding 70 million worldwide. He has written hundreds of songs and performed around the globe, thrilling millions of fans and winning a Grammy, two Emmys, several Tony Awards, and an Oscar nomination. In 2006, Manilow celebrated one of the most successful years of his career. The Greatest Songs of the Fifties entered the Billboard charts at #1; the PBS special, Barry Manilow: Music and Passion, earned him an Emmy; and The Greatest Songs of the Sixties hit the charts at number two. STILETTO Television develops, produces and distributes groundbreaking programs, including the first original musical movie made for television, and has garnered national recognition for its docudramas on American life. Principals Garry C. Kief, Mark C. Grove, and Troy P. Queen will serve as Executive Producers for Barry Manilow: Great Songs From The Seventies. PBS is a media enterprise that serves 355 public noncommercial television stations and reaches nearly 73 million people each week through on-air and online content. Bringing diverse viewpoints to television and the Internet, PBS provides high-quality documentary and dramatic entertainment, and consistently dominates the most prestigious award competitions. PBS is a leading provider of digital learning content for pre-K-12 educators, and offers a broad array of other educational services. PBS� premier kids� TV programming and Web site, PBS KIDS Online, continue to be parents� and teachers� most trusted learning environments for children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org Web sites on the Internet. |
| August 10, 2007 | Reuters / Billboard | "Manilow revisits '70s hits -- his own and others" by Chuck Taylor (Yahoo! News)
"Manilow covers '70s favorites" by Chuck Taylor (Santa Barbara News-Press, 8/13/2007) |
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| Barry Manilow is trying to get the feeling again. He's preparing the follow-up to his two hit albums from last year. January 2006's "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties," which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and "The Greatest Songs of the Sixties," a No. 2 album in October 2006, combined have shifted nearly 1.7 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. "The Greatest Songs of the Seventies" is due September 18 via Arista. But given that the '70s is the decade that catapulted Manilow to fame, arranging and covering songs from his own heyday has left the artist a bit confounded. "This has been a real big mountain. On the 'Fifties' album, because the songs were much older, I could massage them and nobody would find fault. When we got to the '60s, it was more difficult because people were familiar with them. But the '70s -- these songs are so well known. Every time I sat down at the piano and tried to put my stamp onto them, whenever I touched a chord, I would stop because I felt I was hurting them." Add to the challenge that Manilow decided to include unplugged renditions of some of his own best-loved hits from the decade: "It seemed like such an easy idea, but then, oh, my God, how do you redo 'Mandy' and 'I Write the Songs'? I'm telling you, I stared at the piano for a good two weeks before I started." Even so, Manilow said, "I think we did it. These covers retain the integrity and emotion of the originals." Manilow recorded more than two dozen songs for consideration, with the final set list to be determined imminently. Contenders include Elton John's "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word," Christopher Cross' "Sailing," "You've Got a Friend" (a duet with longtime friend Melissa Manchester) and Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water." The experience of reinventing the hits gave Manilow a newfound regard for their melodic mastery. "When they were out, frankly, they were competition for me -- I was going up the charts, they were going up the charts -- so I guess I didn't respect them as great songs. Recording them, I realized how beautifully written and well crafted they are." Revisiting his own catalog was downright cathartic, Manilow added. Singing the opening line of "Mandy" -- "I remember all my life" -- brought him full circle. "The first time I sang that, I was maybe 15 years into being an adult. Now, I've actually lived. It comes from a more mature point of view." And yes, "Copacabana" is slated for a rerub, with a Gypsy Kings vibe. "I kept the fun of the original and stripped it down to bare bones," Manilow said. "All of the versions of my songs are more intimate than the big pop records, and yet they're still the songs we remember." Two versions of "Seventies" will be released. One will offer around 13 covers and five Manilow redos; a deluxe two-disc package that includes a DVD on the making of the album with Manilow reflecting on the music and the decade will likely sport 22 songs. "Barry offers a lot to his fans," J/Arista Records senior VP of marketing and artist development Scott Seviour says. "He really is his own brand. It's exciting to see such consistent support surrounding these concept albums." Arista's extended marketing plan for the album demonstrates its belief in a long shelf life. On Sept. 9, Manilow will appear on QVC, transmitting a live performance from Boston. Robust TV advertising will surround the release date, as will daytime and evening show appearances, and a stop at ABC's "Dancing With the Stars." A PBS special will follow during Thanksgiving, along with a TV performance at the Rockefeller Center lighting of the Christmas tree and another on NBC's holiday TV special featuring skating champion Brian Boitano. After the new year, campaigns are earmarked for Valentine's Day, the Grammy Awards and Mother's Day. Regarding his enduring 30-year career, Manilow says, "I'm fortunate that people are still interested in what I have to say. But most of all, I have something that nobody else has: the greatest manager, Garry Kief," and steadfast support from BMG Label Group chairman/CEO Clive Davis, with whom he partnered at the beginning of his career and has continually reunited with over time, including the current projects. "Year after year, decade after decade, I am in awe of Clive's ability and wisdom and genius. We've made beautiful music together," Manilow says. Manilow is still bursting with ideas. "I'm lucky to still feel so creative. I've got five projects ahead of me that I'm excited about," he says. "The well hasn't run dry yet."
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| July 18, 2007 | Press Release
(Source: Carol Marshall Public Relations on behalf of Barry Manilow) | Barry Manilow Takes "Music and Passion" on the Road in Celebration of New "The Greatest Songs of the Seventies" album with Shows in Philadelphia and Boston Arenas: Tickets on Sale today! |
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| LOS ANGELES, July 18 /PRNewswire/ -- A true legend of our time, Barry Manilow brings "Manilow: An Evening of Music and Passion," an 11-truck extravaganza, to the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia and the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston on September 8 and 9, respectively. Tickets are on sale today through http://www.Manilow.com for both venues or through Ticketmaster for Boston shows. In a rare occurrence, Manilow will perform a limited number of select arena concerts away from his home base at the Las Vegas Hilton. His award-winning show will also feature international recording artist Kristine W as special guest for both arena shows. The last time Manilow presented the show was at Madison Square Garden in January and resulted in three sold-out shows and the Pollstar record for the top ten concerts in 2007. Audiences at the special arena shows will receive an extra treat as Manilow performs songs from his new album, The Greatest Songs of the Seventies, which includes such favorites as The Beatles' "The Long and Winding Road," Elton John's "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word," Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," the Hollies' "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," Albert Hammond's "It Never Rains In Southern California," and The Carpenters' "(They Long To Be) Close To You." The Greatest Songs of the Seventies is the next release in a series of Manilow's best-selling tribute albums of popular music which includes The Greatest Songs of the Fifties and The Greatest Songs of the Sixties. Manilow's last three albums, which include Fifties, Sixties and Ultimate Manilow, have surpassed 70 million in cumulative sales. The Greatest Songs of the Seventies will arrive in stores on September 18th in two distinctly unique packages, one an 18-song CD and the other a two-disc set containing a 14-song Dual Disc (audio and video layers) plus a 9-song bonus CD. In addition, concertgoers will have a chance to enter a contest to win a wild weekend in Vegas to see "Manilow: Music and Passion" at the Las Vegas Hilton. Once proclaimed by Rolling Stone magazine "The Showman of Our Generation," Manilow's unparalleled career encompasses virtually every arena of music, including performing, composing, arranging, and producing. A Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Manilow has triumphed in every medium of entertainment. Industry charts rank him the undisputed Number One Adult Contemporary Artist of All Time with record sales exceeding 65 million world-wide. This pop icon has written hundreds of songs and performed around the globe thrilling millions of fans, winning a Grammy, two Emmys, several Tony Awards and an Oscar nomination along the way. "Manilow: Music and Passion" will resume at the Las Vegas Hilton on September 25 and is scheduled throughout 2008. |
| July 10, 2007 | Press Release
(SOURCE: ARISTA RECORDS) | New Barry Manilow Album, THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SEVENTIES, Arrives in Stores September 18th on Arista Records |
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:NEW BARRY MANILOW ALBUM, THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SEVENTIES, ARRIVES IN STORES SEPTEMBER 18th ON ARISTA RECORDS AVAILABLE AS SINGLE CD AND AS SPECIAL DELUXE DUALDISC+CD TWO-DISC VERSION FOLLOW-UP TO CHART-TOPPING THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE FIFTIES (RIAA PLATINUM) AND THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SIXTIES (RIAA GOLD) Classics from the '70s - "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "The Way We Were," "(They Long To Be) Close To You," "Sailing," "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart," "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (duet with Rosie O'Donnell), "You've Got A Friend" (duet with Melissa Manchester), "The Long And Winding Road," AND MORE! Bonus tracks of acoustic Manilow classics: "Mandy," "I Write The Songs," "This One's For You," "Weekend In New England," "Can't Smile Without You," "Copacabana," and more! (July 10, 2007 - New York, NY) Arista recording artist Barry Manilow revisits the songs of the decade that launched his career - the Seventies. THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SEVENTIES is the next release in a best-selling series of tribute albums of popular music which includes The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties and The Greatest Songs Of The Sixties, whose cumulative sales with Ultimate Manilow have surpassed 5 million units. THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SEVENTIES will arrive in stores on September 18th in two distinctly unique packages, one an 18-song CD; and the other a two-disc set containing a 14-song Dual Disc (audio and video layers) plus a 9-song bonus CD. THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SEVENTIES continues the productive and successful reunion between Manilow and Clive Davis, Arista founder and BMG U.S. Chairman & CEO. Davis has been Manilow's hitmaking collaborator on virtually all his recordings, since they first worked together on "Mandy," his debut #1 single as the first artist signed to Arista by Davis in 1974, the first year of the label's existence. The two produced The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties and The Greatest Songs Of The Sixties together, and that magic has carried over to the new album as well. Comments Clive Davis: "No one can reinvent these great classics better than Barry Manilow. He breathes new life and vitality into these truly wonderful songs and they sound fresh and timeless. We continue on the mission to bring to a new generation the great songs of a different era." Special pre-order campaigns for THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SEVENTIES at the www.manilow.com website and at Amazon will ensure fans of receiving the new album in its very first week of release. THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SEVENTIES is a fan's dream wish-list of favorites covering both sides of the Atlantic, from The Beatles' "The Long And Winding Road," to Elton John's "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word," as well as duets with Melissa Manchester on Carole King's "You've Got A Friend" and with Rosie O'Donnell on Elton John's "Don't Go Breaking My Heart." Other selections include Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," the Hollies' "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," Albert Hammond's "It Never Rains In Southern California," and The Carpenters' "(They Long To Be) Close To You." Manilow's tributes are flawlessly performed and arranged, starting with an homage to the Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were," Frankie Valli's "My Eyes Adored You," the Bee Gees' "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart," and the Christopher Cross masterpiece "Sailing," produced by Walter Afanasieff. The 18-song single CD package of THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SEVENTIES presents Barry Manilow's new versions of 10 classic songs by other artists from the '70s, plus first time ever, stripped-down acoustic versions of eight of his own titles. These range from "Mandy," "I Write The Songs," and "Could It Be Magic?," to 1976's "This One's For You" and "Weekend In New England"; from 1978's "Can't Smile Without You" and "Copacabana," up to "Even Now" and "Somewhere In The Night." The two-disc package of THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SEVENTIES contains a Dual Disc (CD + DVD) with new versions of 14 classic non-Manilow songs from the '70s on the audio layer, and "The Making of the Album" with Barry reflecting on the great music and the decade on the video layer. The bonus CD will contain stripped-down acoustic versions of nine Barry Manilow titles. THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SEVENTIES follows two hit albums released last year: The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties (released January 31) and The Greatest Songs Of The Sixties (released October 31), making 2006 the first year since 1981 that Manilow had two albums of new material top the charts and certified platinum and gold, respectively, in the same calendar year. Barry Manilow: THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SEVENTIES (tentative track listing and subject to change). "The Way We Were," 1974
"It Never Rains In Southern California ," 1972
"My Eyes Adored You," 1975
"You've Got A Friend" (duet with Melissa Manchester), 1971
"The Long And Winding Road ," 1970
"How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?" 1971
"Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word," 1976
"(They Long To Be) Close To You," 1970
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (duet with Rosie O'Donnell), 1976
"Bridge Over Troubled Water," 1970
"Sailing," 1979
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," 1970
"Could It Be Magic?," 1975 Barry Manilow (Acoustic Hits)
"Mandy," 1974
"Looks Like We Made It,"1976
"Even Now," 1978
"Weekend In New England ," 1976
"Somewhere In The Night," 1979
"Can't Smile Without You," 1978
"Copacabana," 1978
"This One's For You," 1976
"I Write The Songs," 1975 |
| July 10, 2007 | Reuters / Billboard | "Manilow revisits '70s faves on next album" by Jonathan Cohen
"Manilow Goes Mellow For '70s Covers Album" by Jonathan Cohen |
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| NEW YORK (Billboard) - Barry Manilow is in a mellow mood on "The Greatest Songs of the Seventies," his third volume of decade-driven covers albums. Due September 18 via Arista, the project will be available as an 18-track single-disc set and as a two-disc set with a 14-song Dual Disc (CD/DVD) and a nine-song bonus audio CD. For the single-disc package, Manilow focuses on contemplative fare such as Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Carole King's "You've Got a Friend" (a duet with Melissa Manchester), the Carpenters' "(They Long To Be) Close To You" and Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were." Rosie O'Donnell is featured on an interpretation of Elton John's "Don't Go Breaking My Heart." This version will be rounded out by acoustic versions of eight vintage Manilow tracks, including "Mandy," "Could It Be Magic?," "Copacabana" and "Somewhere in the Night." Manilow's two previous "Greatest Songs" albums have sold nearly 1.7 million copies in the United States combined, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Here is the tentative track listing for "The Greatest Songs of the Seventies": "The Way We Were"
"It Never Rains in Southern California"
"My Eyes Adored You"
"You've Got a Friend" (duet with Melissa Manchester)
"The Long and Winding Road"
"How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?"
"Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word,"
"(They Long To Be) Close to You"
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (duet with Rosie O'Donnell)
"Bridge Over Troubled Water"
"Sailing"
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"
"Could It Be Magic?"
Acoustic songs: "Mandy"
"Looks Like We Made It"
"Even Now"
"Weekend in New England"
"Somewhere in the Night"
"Can't Smile Without You"
"Copacabana"
"This One's for You"
"I Write the Songs"
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| July 10, 2007 | NBC 26 WGBA-TV | New Barry Manilow Album Arrives in Stores Sept. 18 |
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| NEW YORK -- Arista recording artist Barry Manilow revisits the songs of the decade that launched his career - the Seventies. �The Greatest Songs Of The Seventies� is the next release in a best-selling series of tribute albums of popular music which includes �The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties� and �The Greatest Songs Of The Sixties,� whose cumulative sales with Ultimate Manilow have surpassed 5 million units. �The Greatest Songs Of The Seventies� will arrive in stores on September 18th in two distinctly unique packages, one an 18-song CD; and the other a two-disc set containing a 14-song Dual Disc (audio and video layers) plus a 9-song bonus CD. �The Greatest Songs Of The Seventies� continues the reunion between Manilow and Clive Davis, Arista founder and BMG U.S. Chairman & CEO. Davis has been Manilow's collaborator on virtually all his recordings, since they first worked together on "Mandy," his debut #1 single as the first artist signed to Arista by Davis in 1974, the first year of the label's existence. The two produced The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties and The Greatest Songs Of The Sixties together, and that magic has carried over to the new album as well. Comments Clive Davis: "No one can reinvent the great classics better than Barry Manilow. He breathes new life and vitality into these truly wonderful songs and they sound fresh and timeless. We continue on the mission to bring to a new generation the great songs of a different era." |
| July 5, 2007 | USA Today | Coming Attractions: Music: "He writes the songs and covers others from the '70s" by Elysa Gardner |
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| Having covered classics from the '50s and '60s with platinum-plus results, Barry Manilow is ready to revisit the decade that made him a star. On Sept. 18, the pop veteran will release The Greatest Songs of the Seventies. Available as both an 18-track CD and a two-disc set with audio and video, Seventies features golden oldies such as Bridge Over Troubled Water, The Way We Were and How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, plus a pair of duets: You've Got a Friend, with Melissa Manchester, and Don't Go Breaking My Heart, with Rosie O'Donnell. To choose the material, Manilow says, "I sent a list of every No. 1 record in the '70s to everybody I knew, and asked them to pick their 13 favorites." The results, he reports, were very similar to the selections that he and label boss Clive Davis had in mind. Seventies also includes a bunch of Manilow's own hits, from Mandy to Copacabana, in new, stripped-down versions. "There was this idea of, how could I possibly leave them out? So I'm redoing them with a small, intimate band." |
| June 2007 | Image Magazine | "Barry Manilow: Looks Like He Made It" by Pat Michaels |
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| It was an almost nightly duty for Barry Manilow. He'd leave his home in the ancient Las Palmas district of Palm Springs and head for the airport. There, his private jet would whisk him to Las Vegas. A short time later, the man who writes the songs that make the whole world sing would take to the stage of the Las Vegas Hilton, perform for two hours before a jam-packed, sold-out crowd of 3,000 and then head back to his jet. "I'm back watching the end of Jay Leno every night," he told Palm Springs Life.
For Barry Manilow, his home in the California desert, he says, has become his favorite way of life. And although many would say it's less-than-adequate for his status, in truth, it's a long, luxurious way from where he spent his formative years. Born in 1946, Barry grew up in Brooklyn, mostly raised by his mother's parents while his mom worked to help support them all. His father left home when he was two. His birthname was Barry Alan Pincus, but he preferred using his mother's maiden name of Manilow. The family was economically overstretched, but somehow they found the funds to buy a piano. Barry soon became addicted to that piano. He loved plinking out tunes and songs and entertaining the family. It wasn't long before he decided music would be his life. At the age of 18, he attended the New York College of Music, getting a job in the mailroom at CBS to help pay his way. Economically, it was tough going, but he was willing to stretch to get the opportunity to learn from the best. He soon switched to the private Julliard School of Music, which became even more of a financial hardship for the young student. But he managed to make it work. In 1972 Barry caught the attention of songbird Bette Midler. She loved his musical expertise and he soon became her music director and then her arranger. Most of all, he was her pianist. Even though he had a steady gig with Bette, it wasn't all easy-going. Many considered his keyboard wizardry, unusual, off-the-cuff lyric selections and innovative style "schmaltzy" and old-fashioned. A chance-taking company called Bell Records (later Arista Records) thought there might be some money in the young accompanist and signed him to a try-out agreement. A short while later, Bell Records released Barry's first recognized hit. Titled "Mandy," the song was indeed called "schmaltzy" by reviewers, but it was a huge success at the record stores. It hit number one on the music charts almost immediately and stayed there as disk jockeys at stations across the country put it into what radio people call "high rotation." The schmaltzy song sold an amazing four million copies! For Barry, "Mandy" gave fodder to the critics, but the listeners loved it. And the publicity generated by the critics became the basis for a string of two dozen hits to follow. There were such greats as "Copacabana," "Can't Smile Without You," "This One's For You" and "I Write The Songs." As his songs gained popularity, so did Barry. He began touring extensively criss-crossing the nation with each new album, becoming more of a star as the public began to know him. In 1977, ABC presented "The Barry Manilow Special." It racked up one of the largest audiences television had ever seen - some 37 million viewers. Barry [also] appeared on such big hits as "Murphy Brown," "Ally McBeal" and "Will and Grace." He did a special for PBS, "Manilow: Music and Passion." The DVD of that show [topped] triple platinum in sales. [Another] DVD, "First and Farewell," also went platinum. Recently Barry not only entertained on "American Idol," but he also schooled the contestants in his kind of music. Barry, though, isn't content with his awesome success. He feels he should do more. More for the community. That's why he contributes his talent and effort to a lot of charities. He is the national spokesperson for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. He created the Manilow Fund for Health and Hope. He got involved with United Way, the Starlight Foundation and even the Music Center of Los Angeles. It was this busy lifestyle that eventually brought him to quiet Palm Springs. He often tells people, "It's my place to call home and get away from those hotel rooms and those small bars of soap." Barry hasn't slowed down in the desert, though. He consistently devotes his time to benefits for local charities and seems to be always available to help out on projects where he can do some good. He moves seamlessly through his two very different worlds. From the peace and quiet of the resort's streets in California, he transitions into that high-pressure world of Las Vegas, where he makes a marathon series of appearances at the Hilton. The Las Vegas Hilton can't seem to book enough of Barry's concerts to get ahead of the crowd that wants tickets. Even famed stars rush to see him. Almost nightly you can find a John O'Hurley or Rosie O'Donnell in the audience. Barry is scheduled at the Hilton through the end of 2007. It's a tribute to his audience-winning talent that even the scorching summer days in Las Vegas will see him performing 11 scheduled concerts in June and nine in July. In addition to those appearances, Barry still takes his act on the road. Not long ago, he completed what he called his "Final Road Tour." He sold out venues in 22 cities and performed for 250,000 fans. Currently, he's putting together a new album titled "The Greatest Songs of the Seventies," and he's also working on a Christmas album for Hallmark. Word is that he's helping shape up a new album for his old friend Bette Midler. Meanwhile, he's also making appearances on behalf of those numerous charities he supports. Does this rigorous schedule jeopardize Barry's health? His publicist, Carol Morris, says no, that he's indefatigable and that today his health is "excellent." Time has been good to Barry. At age 61, he quips, "Ive still got my hair." But, Carol Morris says Barry's not making that jet flight between Vegas and Palm Springs as often anymore. At least not nightly. But on those days where he gets three or four consecutive nights off, his friends in the Las Palmas district say, "He does come home and become our neighbor, the Barry Manilow we know." How do they know that? Says neighbor Craig Jensen, "We can hear him writing those songs when we walk by." |
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