Articles and Reviews - Archives 43

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December 6, 2008 Times Online"Barry Manilow at The O2, SE10" by Lisa Verrico
Begin a gig by blending the beat of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s "Relax" with a spoken-word sample about naked men getting their bits out and the last person you expect to emerge atop stairs from a cloud of dry ice is Barry Manilow. The introduction to the veteran crooner’s first British show in several years — he is now a Las Vegas staple – began an evening of sexual innuendo and sonic blasts from the past, greeted with screams and singalongs from an audience made up almost exclusively of women waving glowsticks that they were handed on arrival.

[Manilow] appeared astonishingly unchanged from his heyday. Still svelte, boasting a full head of fluffy, highlighted hair and, clad in a sharp, black, purple silk-lined suit and a glittery tie that he soon removed with his teeth and a growl, he shimmied across the stage, played piano, joined in dance routines with a trio of female backing singers and told entertaining tales from his childhood in Brooklyn.

Unlike, say, Cliff Richard, Manilow performed his camp cabaret act with a nudge and a wink. "That was just foreplay," he teased, after an opening ten-minute medley that climaxed in a splendid "Could It Be Magic." Eyebrows were persistently raised in mock astonishment, he renamed Strictly Come Dancing (on which he is due to appear this weekend) Strictly Come Shagging and when he took a makeshift stairlift down into the crowd to pluck out a female fan, it was hard to tell who groped whom more.

Backed by a tight, ten-piece band, Manilow promised to shoehorn in all his biggest hits, not least to promote his current greatest-hits collection. As ever, the show's pacing was spot on. Never dwelling too long on downtempo tracks and truncating intros and outros, he made the smaltzy, two-hour show fly by. "I Made It Through the Rain" was a heart-tugging highlight, New York City Rhythm fabulous, frisky disco and "Mandy," which began with a video of the singer in the Seventies before he slipped on stage to take over, an arm-waving anthem that incited the night's loudest singalong.

A finale of "Copacabana" came complete with dancers in 6-ft-high, furry headdresses, a guest rapper, confetti cannon and a shower of streamers. Manilow's magic remains alive and thriving. Barry Manilow plays the O2 in London tonight and tomorrow, and the MEN in Manchester on Monday.

December 5, 2008 Seattle TimesBarry Manilow to headline benefit concert in Everett
Barry Manilow, the love-him-or-hate-him singer-songwriter who gave the world "Mandy" and "Copacabana," is giving to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Washington, as the headliner for a benefit concert set for March 15 at Comcast Arena, 2000 Hewitt Ave., Everett. Tickets for the concert go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday (December 8). Manilow has sold more than 70 million records worldwide in his long career and currently holds court at the Las Vegas Hilton. His new album, "The Greatest Songs of the Eighties," came out last month at reached No. 14 on the Billboard 200 this week. Tickets for the March benefit cost $52-$252 through the Comcast Arena box office (866-322-TIXX or www.comcastarenaeverett.com). VIP packages are available through the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, at 206-282-4770.
December 5, 2008 BillboardBillboard CD review "The Greatest [Songs] Of The Eighties" - Barry Manilow
Following "The Greatest [Songs] of the Fifties" (No. 1 debut, 2006), "Sixties" (No. 2, 2006) and "Seventies" (No. 4, 2007), Barry Manilow's "Eighties" debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 this week. His gleeful duet with Reba McEntire on "Islands in the Stream" proves what a master arranger/interpreter he is, taking an overtly familiar hit and recasting it honorably. The same holds true for "Right Here Waiting" and "Have I Told You Lately." Most surprising are "I Just Called to Say I Love You," now a lite rhumba, and "Never Gonna Give You Up," where Manilow busts a groove.
December 3, 2008 Seacoast OnlineManilow in Manchester Vegas
Barry Manilow, a true legend of our time, will perform his hit concert, "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits...and then some" at a special concert on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009 at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester. Tickets to see Manilow's first performance in New Hampshire since 2002 are $99.50, $79.99, $69.99, $49.99, $29.99, $19.99 go on sale on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. at www.Manilow.com, or www.Ticketmaster.com.

Manilow, who will be performing the exclusive rendition of his hit Las Vegas Hilton show, ranks as the top Adult Contemporary chart artist of all time with more than 75 million records sold worldwide. His career includes 25 consecutive Top 40 hits such as "Even Now," "This One’s for You," "Weekend in New England," "I Write the Songs," "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again" and "Copacabana (At the Copa)." In 1978, five of Manilow's albums were on the charts simultaneously - a record rivaled only by Frank Sinatra and Johnny Mathis.

Manilow recently launched the 62nd album of his career, The Greatest Songs of the Eighties, continuing the series that began nearly three years ago with The Greatest Songs of the Fifties, which debuted #1 on the Billboard 200 Charts in January, 2006 (his first #1 album since the triple-platinum double LP Barry Manilow/Live in 1977) and The Greatest Songs of the Sixties, which debuted #2 in October, 2006. When The Greatest Songs of the Seventies entered at #4 in 2007, he was distinguished as the only artist to chart three Top 5 debuts in a span of two years.

Billboard Magazine recently stated: "Among the few things one can count on in life: the taste of McDonald's cheeseburgers, 'I Love Lucy' reruns are still funny - and Barry Manilow never wearing out his welcome at the top of the charts." The 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.

Tickets are priced at $99.50, $79.99, $69.99, $49.99, $29.99 and $19.99 and go on sale Saturday, Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. at the Verizon Wireless Arena Box Office. Tickets can also be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet by calling Ticketmaster at 868-7300 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. If you are a Verizon Wireless subscriber, press #TIX on your cell phone to be automatically connected to Ticketmaster.

December 3, 2008 The Times-TribuneManilow Returning to W-B
Pop music legend Barry Manilow will make a return visit to Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Township on Feb. 5. Mr. Manilow, who last played the arena in 2004, will be performing his popular Las Vegas Hilton show, "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits...and then some." Tickets range from $19.99 to $99.99 and will go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. at the arena box office via the lottery system, online at www.Manilow.com or www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 693-4100 or at any local TicketMaster location.

Mr. Manilow recently released his 62nd album, "The Greatest Songs of the Eighties," his latest in a series of wildly successful cover albums that began with 2006's "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties," which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart. For more information on the show, visit www.wachoviaarena.com.

December 3, 2008 WFMZ-TV 69Barry Manilow Coming to the Sovereign Center
Local fans of Barry Manilow will get to see the legendary singing icon perform in person just two days before Valentine's Day. He'll be taking the stage at the Sovereign Center in downtown Reading for the first time since 2002 on Thursday, February 12.

Tickets for his concert, called "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits... and then some," will go on sale this Saturday. Manilow, who recently launched the 62nd album of his career and has sold more than 75-million records around the world, will be performing the rendition of his hit show at the Las Vegas Hilton.

December 1-8, 2008 People MagazineCatching Up With... Barry Manilow
The crooner takes on yet another decade on his new CD, The Greatest Songs of the Eighties.

Barry Manilow on Revisiting the '80s: I like what we did to "Islands In The Stream" (with Reba McEntire). "Careless Whisper" was hard - George Michael is just fantastic. I tried Michael Jackson's "Rock With You," but I couldn't sing it. White Jewish boy couldn't nail it.

On his Vegas Show: It's been almost four years. I love it. When I was a youngster, I said, one of these days I'll end up here.

On the Songs he has to sing: They would riot if I didn't do "Copacabana." And probably "I Write the Songs," "Mandy" and "Can't Smile Without You."

On his longevity: I'm lucky. I've got my hair, I'm still skinny. It's amazing that I'm 65 and still making albums.

December 1, 2008 HeraldNet"Barry Manilow to play Everett: Vegas star plays charity show at Comcast Arena" by Andy Rathbun
Comcast Arena will play host to the "Copacabana" this March, as Barry Manilow makes his way to Everett. The singer, known for his lush 1970s pop songs and more recent Las Vegas act, plans to play an Everett benefit show for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on March 15. Tickets go on sale Dec. 8.

"Come on and support this organization to try and wipe out this disease," Manilow said. "Even if you don't like me, I promise you'll have a good time." Critics may sniff at Manilow, but fans have never left the singer. Manilow topped the chart in 2006 with "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties." The latest part in his "Greatest Songs" series, featuring covers of 1980s hits, came out Nov. 25.

Tickets for the Everett show go on sale at 10 a.m. Dec. 8, and range in price from $52 to $252 before service fees. For more information, visit www.comcastarenaeverett.com or call 866-332-8499.

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November 28, 2008 The Province (Vancouver)Manilow's got it covered: 'Greatest Songs' series still sells millions for Barry
Thirty-four years after "Mandy" launched Barry Manilow's career, the crooner is still racking up achievements, thanks to his series of decade-themed covers albums.

The Greatest Songs of the Eighties, out this week, is the fourth -- and likely final -- installment in an album series aimed squarely at pre-baby boomers. Their zest for all things Manilow offers such slam-dunk promo opportunities as Manilow's regular appearances on QVC, where he is the best-selling artist in the U.S. retail channel's history.

In 2006, The Greatest Songs of the Fifties became Manilow's first No. 1 album chart debut, followed by Sixties (No. 2) in 2006 and Seventies (No. 4) in 2007. In total, the three collections have sold more than 2 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Scanning the playlist, Manilow says this was the most challenging of the four albums: "These songs are so well-known, so loved -- perfectly recorded records. With the '50s and '60s, we could play around with the arrangements. The '70s was more difficult, because those arrangements were wonderful. How can you touch 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'? 'You've Got a Friend' was perfectly written and recorded."

The new disc is led by the single "Islands in the Stream," a 1983 No. 1 pop, country and AC hit for Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. Manilow's version is a gleeful duet with Reba McEntire. Other selections include Chicago's "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" and Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You." Among the most novel efforts on Eighties is Rick Astley's 1988 No. 1 "Never Gonna Give You Up."

November 25, 2008 The Desert Sun"Barry adapts 'Manilow sound' for '80s tunes" by Bruce Fessier
"The Greatest Songs of the Eighties" won't win Barry Manilow many young new fans. But, for Manilow CD collectors jonesing for a new product, "The Greatest Songs of the Eighties" will provide a rush of euphoria.

One of Manilow's greatest assets is his skill as an arranger who knows the "Manilow sound" and how to achieve it. His own preference may be to adapt to a Johnny Mercer lyric, but he respects the ear of co-producer Clive Davis, who he calls "the Albert Einstein of music" on the disc's liner notes, and he accepts Davis' feel for the type of material Manilow fans will like. With those parameters, Manilow has chosen melodic pop hits such as Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called To Say I Love You," Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" and Van Morrison's "Have I Told You Lately."

The opening track, a cover of the Kenny Rogers-Dolly Parton hit, "Islands in the Stream" with Reba McEntire, is the kind of smart merger you wish our government could come up with for the stock market. The song that best utilizes the Manilow formula of power modulations is probably his solo rendering of the Bill Medley-Jennifer Warnes hit, "(I've Had) the Time of My Life." [This] "decades" CD uses that Manilow formula more appropriately than any since his No. 1, "Greatest Songs of the Fifties." Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" could become a high-energy dance production in Manilow's Vegas show ... This is supposedly Manilow's last "decade" CD, but we'll be listening to his varying interpretations in his live performances.

November 24, 2008 The Desert Sun"Good news, fanilows! Barry's CD of '80s music on sale today" by Bruce Fessier
Barry Manilow's new CD, "The Greatest Songs of the Eighties," will be released a day early today due to what the Manilow folks are saying is by popular demand. The Palm Springs resident has been building that demand with rounds of television appearances. He'll appear tonight through Thursday on "The Insider" and "Entertainment Tonight," which last week featured clips from his live QVC broadcast from his stage at the Las Vegas Hilton. He'll appear Dec. 12 on "Ellen" and "Jimmy Kimmel."

The 12-track album includes the first single, "Islands in the Stream," a 1983 hit for Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, recorded live in studio with Reba McEntire. Other songs from the '80s include Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called To Say I Love You," Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" and Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time." "I didn't want to do karaoke renditions," Manilow told Billboard magazine. "I was intimidated, but I think I nailed them."

"Greatest Songs of the Eighties" is available in stores and online. For a video promotion of the CD, go to http://www.jrecords.com/barry_manilow/manilow60_pre_nov19.mov.

November 22, 2008 Billboard Magazine"He Loves The '80s" by Chuck Taylor
Thirty-four years after "Mandy" launched Barry Manilow and Arista Records -- the then-new label founded by Clive Davis -- the singer is still racking up achievements, thanks to his Davis-directed series of decade-themed cover albums.

"The Greatest Songs of the Eighties," due Nov. 25 on Arista, is the fourth -- and likely final -- installment in an album series aimed squarely at pre-baby boomers. Their zest for all things Manilow offers such slam-dunk promo opportunities as Manilow's regular appearances on QVC, where he is the best-selling artist in the retail channel's history.

In 2006, "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties" became Manilow's first No. 1 album chart debut, followed by "Sixties" (No. 2) in 2006 and "Seventies" (No. 6) in 2007. In total, the three collections have sold more than 2 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"The good thing with a brand like Barry Manilow is that he's such an icon," says RCA Music Group senior VP of marketing and artist development Scott Seviour. "It's a matter of telling a built-in audience that he has something new." Case in point: Following database marketing of a press release announcing "Eighties" directly to his fans, "the next morning on Amazon.com, advance sales were at No. 8," Seviour says. "Those 50,000 fans can literally drive first-week sales."

"Barry's enduring popularity comes from a combination of his songs, which are part of the soundtrack of people's lives -- you see him live and the audience knows every word to 30 songs -- coupled with the fact that he is a great live showman," says Davis, Sony BMG Worldwide's chief creative officer. "On both counts, he has stood the test of time."

Manilow returns the kudos: "In my career, I have one thing nobody else does: NostraDavis!"

The 12-track "Eighties" is led by the single "Islands in the Stream," a 1983 No. 1 pop, country and AC hit for Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, written by the Bee Gees. Manilow's version is a gleeful duet with Reba McEntire, recorded live in the studio.

Other selections include Chicago's "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" and Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You." Scanning the playlist, Manilow says this was the most challenging of the four albums: "These songs are so well-known, so loved -- perfectly recorded records. With the '50s and '60s, we could play around with the arrangements. The '70s was more difficult, because those arrangements were wonderful. How can you touch 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'? 'You've Got a Friend' was perfectly written and recorded."

Manilow says he was determined to maintain the original writers' and singers' integrity, while still placing his stamp on the songs. "It took a long time to figure out how to make them my own, to see where I could crawl inside the meaning of the lyric," he says. "I didn't want to do karaoke renditions. Make no mistake, I was intimidated, but I think I nailed them. Once the arrangements were done, it was one big smile after another."

Among the most novel efforts on "Eighties" is Rick Astley's 1988 No. 1 "Never Gonna Give You Up." "It has the catchiest little melody, with production from Stock, Aiken and Waterman. How do you compete with that?" asks Manilow, who called on producer Michael Lloyd (the "Dirty Dancing" soundtrack) for assistance. "I think it's going to stand out on the album."

To court Manilow's fans, Arista set up a busy schedule of TV appearances, including "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," "Today," Rosie O'Donnell's Thanksgiving Eve special and a week's worth of coverage on "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider." Manilow will also return to QVC, performing five songs in an hour on Nov. 20. Arista has print ads lined up and interviews in People and Ladies Home Journal, with Internet ads on female-leaning Web sites and radio links with syndicated AC shows led by Delilah, John Tesh, Martha Stewart and Casey Kasem.

"I had a feeling there could be more, but no idea it would wind up being this big," Manilow says about the new chapter in his career opened by "Fifties." On Jan. 16, he'll begin his fifth sold-out year-long residency at the Hilton. "I figured I'll be there until they throw me out."

To Davis, "The fact that Barry can have a successful album at this stage in his career shows how timeless songs last and compelling performers can maintain an audience, even outside of radio and MTV and VH1."

November 20, 2008 Monsters and Critics"Barry Manilow's 'Eighties' album gets an early release" by Patrick Luce
The Greatest Songs of The Eighties is the next release in a best-selling series of tribute albums of popular music which includes The Greatest Songs of The Fifties, The Greatest Songs Of The Sixties and The Greatest Songs Of The Seventies whose cumulative sales, along with Ultimate Manilow have surpassed 5 million units worldwide. The Greatest Songs of The Eighties continues the productive and successful reunion between Manilow and Clive.

Thanks to demand from fans and the Thanksgiving holiday, Barry Manilow's new album 'Greatest Songs of the Eighties' has gotten bumped up to a Nov. 24th release. The album features the Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Award-winning Arista recording artist Manilow putting his own spin on some of the biggest hits from the 1980s – including "Islands in the Stream" (duet with Reba McEntire), "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Careless Whisper," "I Just Called to Say I Love You," "Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do)," "Time After Time," "I've Had the Time of My Life," and "Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)."

The album is Manilow's latest addition to the mega-best-selling series of tribute albums that he masterminded with Arista founder Clive Davis. 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 tribute album series began nearly nearly three years ago with 'The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties.'

'Greatest Songs of the Eighties' track listing includes:

"Islands in the Stream" duet with Reba McEntire
"Open Arms"
"Never Gonna Give You Up"
"Have I Told You Lately"
"I Just Called to Say I Love You"
"Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)"
"Careless Whisper"
"Right Here Waiting"
"Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do)"
"Hard to Say I'm Sorry"
"Time After Time"
"I've Had the Time of My Life"

November 17, 2008 The Desert Sun"Barry Manilow appears tonight on 'Leno'" by Bruce Fessier
Barry Manilow, whose latest "decades" CD is due for release Nov. 25, will preview a song from the album tonight on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on NBC-TV. Manilow will unveil more of the album, titled "The Greatest Songs of the Eighties," at 5 p.m. Thursday on QVC in a performance live from his stage at the Las Vegas Hilton.

This is the Palm Springs resident's fourth album reinterpreting songs from each decade since the 1950s. The first of those albums for his long-time mentor and label chief, Clive Davis, "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties," revitalized Manilow's career in 2006 when in debuted at No. 1. He set sales records promoting his subsequent "decades" CDs on QVC and Rich Yoegel, director of merchandising for QVC, now calls him "our best-selling musical artist of all time." The Grammy, Tony and Emmy Award-winning artist also is considered the best-selling adult contemporary artist of all time.

Again collaborating with Davis, now chief creative officer of Sony BMG Worldwide, "The Greatest Songs of the Eighties" includes such movie theme songs as "Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)," "I've Had the Time of My Life" (from "Dirty Dancing"), and "Arthur’s Theme (The Best That You Can Do)." The CD also features a duet with Reba McEntire on the Kenny Rogers-Dolly Parton hit, "Islands in the Stream."

"The Greatest Songs of the Eighties" can be pre-ordered at www.manilow.com and Amazon.com to ensure receiving it in its first week of release.

November 16, 2008 The Celebrity Cafe"Barry Manilow Loves the '80s: Barry Manilow covers '80s hits for new release" by Claudine Paul
Barry Manilow freshens up his career by looking to the '80s for renewed inspiration. Billboard reports that the crooner will release a new title, The Greatest Songs of the Eighties, which will cover songs made famous in the '80s by superstars like Rick Astley, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Rogers, Chicago, and Stevie Wonder. Some featured tracks included are "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Time After Time," "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," and "I Just Called to Say I Love You." Singer Reba McEntire will also guest duet with Manilow on '80s famed hit "Islands in the Stream." Manilow's new title will be released on November 25, 2008.
November 14, 2008 Press Release
(Source: QVC, Inc.)
All Bets Are On! Barry Manilow to Debut GREATEST SONGS OF THE EIGHTIES on QVC Live from The Las Vegas Hilton
WEST CHESTER, Pa. /PRNewswire/ -- Live from the city of lights, legendary performer and pop music icon Barry Manilow is scheduled to return to QVC to unveil his latest album THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE EIGHTIES on Thursday, November 20 at 8 PM (ET). During the QVC Presents Q Sessions Live broadcast, the Grammy, Tony and Emmy Award-winning artist will give viewers a sneak peek of his much-anticipated new release with a special performance featuring a selection of songs from the album. Fans will also get the chance to order THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE EIGHTIES (Arista) five days before street date with an exclusive re-issue of the 1985 RCA release MANILOW! This special bonus disc will only be available to QVC shoppers and marks the first time that the collection will be offered on CD.

"To have our best-selling musical artist of all time performing live from Las Vegas -- the entertainment capital of the world -- is certainly exciting," said Rich Yoegel, director of merchandising for QVC. "This is absolutely a show that viewers will not want to miss."

Collaborating, once again, with longtime friend and music partner Clive Davis, Manilow's latest release features an eclectic assortment of hits from both sides of the Atlantic. Standout tracks include Van Morrison's iconic "Have I Told You Lately," Journey's break-through power ballad "Open Arms," and Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time." However, perhaps one of most memorable moments from THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE EIGHTIES is Manilow's playful duet with Reba McEntire on "Islands in the Stream," which pays homage to Kenny Rogers' and Dolly Parton's #1 duet of 1983. "I always love coming back to QVC," said Manilow. "To be able to debut my new album live from Las Vegas makes this experience even better!"

Manilow, whose 2006 QVC appearance marked the highest single-day sales by a musical artist in QVC history, also continues to hold the record as the highest single-hour music sales event in QVC's twenty-two year history. THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE EIGHTIES will be available through QVC at 800.345.1515 or http://www.QVC.com, while supplies last.

About Barry Manilow
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."

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE EIGHTIES continues the series that began nearly three years ago with The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties, which was certified RIAA platinum after entering the Billboard 200 at #1 in January 2006 (his first #1 album since Barry Manilow/Live in 1977). The Greatest Songs Of The Sixties (October 2006) entered at #2. When the RIAA platinum The Greatest Songs Of The Seventies entered at #4 (September 2007), he was distinguished as the only artist to chart three Top 5 debuts during 2006-2007. www.manilow.com.

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 22-year history. QVC, Q, and the Q Ribbon Logo are registered service marks of ER Marks, Inc.

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November 12, 2008 The Examiner"Cranberry Christmas" by Sherrill Fulghum
The Ocean Spray Cranberry company is bringing a children's book to life with an animated version of the 1976 book " Cranberry Christmas". The program will air on December 8 at 7:30pm EST on the ABC Family network as a part of their 25 Days of Christmas programs. The program is a first for Ocean Spray. The multi award winning legendary entertainer Barry Manilow along with writing partner Bruce Sussman (Copa) have written two new original songs for the production. Manilow who has sold over 75 million albums worldwide has won Grammys, Emmys, Tonys and an Oscar nomination. He is currently amidst an extended residence at the Las Vegas Hilton and will perform in London next month.
November 10, 2008 Media Post"Ocean Spray To Run Holiday TV Special" by Karl Greenberg
Middleboro, Mass.-based cranberry growers coop Ocean Spray will run its first-ever holiday TV special, "Cranberry Christmas." The animated program, airing at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 8 and on Dec. 13 at 12:30 p.m. on ABC Family, is part of the network's "25 Days of Christmas" programming event. The commercial-free special is based on a children's book of the same title, written and illustrated by Wende and Harry Devlin. It also features two new songs by Barry Manilow. The story is about an antagonist, Cyrus Grape, who won't let kids ice skate over the local cranberry bog near his home. The hero, a young girl, saves Christmas Day for the children by reclaiming their favorite ice skating spot and discovering the land's rightful owner.
November 10, 2008 United Press InternationalOcean Spray special features Manilow music
LAKEVILLE-MIDDLEBORO, Mass., Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. says its first U.S. holiday TV special, "Cranberry Christmas," featuring songs by Barry Manilow, will air next month on ABC Family. The animated special is based on the 1976 children's book of the same title, written and illustrated by Wende and Harry Devlin. The "Cranberry Christmas" cartoon is slated to air Dec. 8 on ABC Family as part of the network's annual "25 Days of Christmas" programming.

Ocean Spray said it has created the show as a gift to consumers, so it will air commercial-free. The special features two new original songs performed by famed singer-songwriter Barry Manilow, who co-wrote the holiday tunes with his longtime collaborator Bruce Sussman. "Cranberries have become as much a part of holiday traditions as ice skating and decorating the tree," Ken Romanzi, chief operating officer of Ocean Spray, said in a statement. "We have taken a story that is near and dear to Ocean Spray's heart and brought it to life to share with other families, and we hope that 'Cranberry Christmas' will take its place as a perennial holiday favorite."

"We were moved by this lovely children's story because it celebrates the importance of community as well as the simple pleasures of the holiday season," Manilow said. "The songs we wrote for this television special reflect the themes of the story, which we hope will help viewers step back from the holiday hustle and bustle and get in touch with the true spirit of the season."

November 10, 2008 Press Release
(Source: Ocean Spray)
Ocean Spray Proudly Announces Its First Television Special 'Cranberry Christmas' on ABC Family: Animated Holiday Special Features Original Songs by the Legendary Barry Manilow and Longtime Collaborator Bruce Sussman
LAKEVILLE-MIDDLEBORO, Mass., Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Already a star of the holiday table, Ocean Spray launches its first animated television special -- "Cranberry Christmas" -- airing at 7:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Monday, December 8, on ABC Family as part of the network's annual 25 Days of Christmas programming event. The special will re-air on ABC Family on Saturday, December 13, at 12:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Ocean Spray has created the animated show as a special gift to consumers, commercial-free. The show is based on the classic 1976 children's book of the same title, written and illustrated by Wende and Harry Devlin. "Cranberry Christmas" features two new original songs performed by the legendary Grammy® Award-winning singer/songwriter, Barry Manilow. With worldwide sales of more than 75 million records and dozens of hit songs, music superstar Barry Manilow co-wrote the two songs with longtime collaborator Bruce Sussman.

"Cranberries have become as much a part of holiday traditions as ice skating and decorating the tree," said Ken Romanzi, chief operating officer of Ocean Spray. "We have taken a story that is near and dear to Ocean Spray's heart and brought it to life to share with other families, and we hope that 'Cranberry Christmas' will take its place as a perennial holiday favorite."

"Christmas Is Just Around the Corner" has been released as Manilow's Christmas single for 2008. "It's the first original holiday single from an animated TV special in decades," said Rick Ungar, executive producer of the special and former president of Marvel Productions. "I look forward to it being played for decades as well."

"We were moved by this lovely children's story because it celebrates the importance of community as well as the simple pleasures of the holiday season," said Manilow. "The songs we wrote for this television special reflect the themes of the story, which we hope will help viewers step back from the holiday hustle and bustle and get in touch with the true spirit of the season."

"Our brothers and sisters are absolutely thrilled to see our parents' work revived and come to life after a long period of quiet," said a Devlin family member. "For over 30 years we have thought Ocean Spray would be the perfect partner, and now here we are. Our parents would be overjoyed with the faithful and creative TV version of this humorous and colorful tale, with its message of forgiveness and love for the holiday season."

Story Synopsis: Set in the fictitious town of Cranberryport, the story begins three days before Christmas when grumpy old Cyrus Grape forbids children to play and skate on the ice over the local cranberry bog near his home. Young Maggie, along with her grandmother and their friend Mr. Whiskers, work together to save Christmas Day for the children by reclaiming their favorite ice skating spot and discovering the land's rightful owner. When Mr. Whiskers learns his sister is coming to visit, it's a scramble to get his house in order and Maggie and her grandmother pitch in to help clean the old house. While working, they uncover a hidden box that holds a surprise for everyone ... Maggie and her grandmother make delicious cookies to serve at their Christmas feast...

November 7, 2008 Press Release (Source: Stand Up for a Cure)Barry Manilow Brings Valentine's and Music to New York With Concert to Raise Funds for Breast Cancer Research
NEW YORK /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Stand Up for a Cure today announced the first of its 2009 Concert Series -- a Valentine's Day show with Barry Manilow, in partnership with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The show will be held on February 14th, 2009 at Nassau Coliseum, and tickets for this exclusive event go on sale Monday, November 10th at 10am through Ticketmaster.com or by calling Stand Up for a Cure at 212 209 3871. The celebrity host of the concert will be Kelly Ripa. Last year's Stand Up for a Cure Concert Series featured shows by Bon Jovi, Jerry Seinfeld, Brian Wilson and Dave Matthews Band -- featuring actress Julia Roberts.

"ULTIMATE MANILOW: The Hits...and then some" will be a full length concert featuring all of the music superstar's greatest hits including "Mandy," "Copacabana," "Weekend In New England" and "I Write The Songs." A limited number of VIP tickets, which include premium seating, access to a pre-concert reception, and a souvenir gift bag, are available through Ticketmaster.com or by calling Stand Up for a Cure directly. Barry Manilow also celebrates the release of a new CD on November 25th -- THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE EIGHTIES -- a 12-song collection which uncovers a bounty of treasures and reignites nostalgia for these fantastic hit songs reinterpreted by Manilow in his signature style and available on Arista Records.

Proceeds from the concert will be donated by Stand Up for a Cure to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (www.bcrfcure.org), founded by Evelyn Lauder in 1993. The foundation is credited for creating the "pink ribbon" and is recognized by Money Magazine as one of America's top eight charities having raised over $220 million. "I am delighted to announce that The Breast Cancer Research Foundation will partner with Stand Up for a Cure for a wonderful concert event featuring one of the world's best entertainers -- Barry Manilow," says Mrs. Evelyn H. Lauder, Founder and Chairman.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation's mission is to achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime by providing critical funding for innovative clinical and translational research at leading medical centers worldwide, and increasing public awareness about good breast health. Stand Up for a Cure (www.sufac.org) produces exclusive live concert events to raise money and awareness for cancer research and related diseases.

October 23, 2008 PollstarGigs & Bytes: Fanilows Boost Manilow
Never underestimate the power of dedicated fans. Barry Manilow has a new album dropping November 25. Called The Greatest Songs Of The Eighties, Manilow's latest effort has him covering some of the biggest pop hits of that decade, including a duet with Reba McEntire on "Islands In The Stream," as well as renditions of Phil Collins' "Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)" and "Arthur's Theme (The Best That [You] Can Do)." Here's where the fan power comes in. Within one day of Manilow's official site sending an e-mail blast to fans announcing the new work, the album shot up from No. 1,912 to No. 8 on the Amazon bestsellers chart. Now, if only we could harness the fans' energy for our automobiles. Just think of the possibilities!
October 17, 2008 Access HollywoodBarry Manilow Returns With The Greatest Songs Of The Eighties
Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Award-winning Arista recording artist Barry Manilow will release his new album, "The Greatest Songs of The Eighties," a brand new 12-song collection that will arrive in stores from Arista Records on November 25, Access Hollywood has confirmed. Working with longtime collaborator Clive Davis, Chief Creative Officer of Sony BMG Worldwide, Manilow and co-producers Scott Erickson and Michael Lloyd have crafted a CD collection of instant memories.

Special pre-order campaigns for "The Greatest Songs of The Eighties" at the www.manilow.com website and at Amazon.com will ensure fans of receiving the new album in its very first week of release.

"The Greatest Songs of The Eighties" uncovers a bounty of treasures and reignites nostalgia for these fantastic hit songs reinterpreted by Manilow in his signature style - from his duet with Reba McEntire on "Islands in the Stream," as they pay homage to Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton's #1 duet of 1983 – to a trio of songs associated with memorable films: Phil Collins #1 hit of 1984, "Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)"; Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes' #1 hit of 1987, "I've Had the Time of My Life" (from Dirty Dancing); and Christopher Cross' Oscar-winning #1 hit of 1981, "Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do), " and much more.

"The Greatest Songs of The Eighties" is Manilow's newest addition to the mega-best-selling series of tribute albums that he masterminded with Arista founder Clive Davis. 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 Greatest Songs of The Eighties"continues the series that began nearly three years ago with "The Greatest Songs of The Fifties" which was certified RIAA platinum after entering the Billboard 200 at #1 in January 2006 (his first #1 album since Barry Manilow/Live in 1977). "The Greatest Songs of The Sixties" (October 2006) entered at #2. When the RIAA platinum "The Greatest Songs of The Seventies" entered at #4 (September 2007), he was distinguished as the only artist to chart three Top 5 debuts during 2006-2007.

"The Greatest Songs of The Eighties" moves seamlessly through a selection of major hits from both sides of the Atlantic. The UK is well-represented by "Careless Whisper," the #1 hit of 1984 by Wham! featuring George Michael; Rick Astley's #1 "Never Gonna Give You Up"; and a song that Van Morrison first wrote and recorded in 1989, "Have I Told You Lately," which later became a giant hit for Rod Stewart.

Manilow's impeccable performances and signature arranging style also breathe new life into a quintet of American classics: "Open Arms" by Journey; Chicago's #1 "Hard to Say I'm Sorry"; Stevie Wonder's #1 "I Just Called to Say I Love You"; Cyndi Lauper's #1 "Time After Time"; and Richard Marx's #1 "Right Here Waiting."

October 17, 2008 Live Daily"Barry Manilow to release '80s tribute album" by Suzanne Kayian
Barry Manilow will continue his series of tribute albums with the Nov. 25 release of "The Greatest Songs of the Eighties," according to a press release. The new 12-song collection features cover versions of several No. 1 songs, including Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's 1983 duet "Islands in the Stream." Manilow also interprets several songs from films, including Phil Collins' 1984 hit "Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)," Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes' 1987 hit "I've Had the Time of My Live," from "Dirty Dancing," and Christopher Cross' Oscar-winning hit of 1981, "Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do)." "The Greatest Hits of the Eighties" is Manilow's newest addition in a series of Clive Davis-produced tribute albums that began with the 2006 release of "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties." Also in 2006, Manilow released "The Greatest Songs of the Sixties," followed by the 2007 release of "The Greatest Songs of the Seventies." Other songs on the new set include Wham's "Careless Whisper," Journey's "Open Arms" and Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time."
October 17, 2008 antiMUSICManilow Takes on the Eighties
Barry Manilow just announced the release of his new album, The Greatest Songs Of The Eighties, a brand new 12-song collection that will arrive in stores on Arista Records on November 25th.

The Greatest Songs Of The Eighties uncovers a bounty of treasures and reignites nostalgia for these fantastic hit songs reinterpreted by Manilow in his signature style - from his duet with Reba McEntire on "Islands in the Stream," as they pay homage to Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton's #1 duet of 1983 – to a trio of songs associated with memorable films: Phil Collins #1 hit of 1984, "Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)"; Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes' #1 hit of 1987, "I've Had the Time of My Life" (from Dirty Dancing); and Christopher Cross' Oscar-winning #1 hit of 1981, "Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do), " and much more.

Barry Manilow: The Greatest Songs Of The Eighties (Tentative Track Listing And Subject To Change):

"Islands in the Stream" duet with Reba McEntire
"Open Arms"
"Never Gonna Give You Up"
"Have I Told You Lately"
"I Just Called to Say I Love You"
"Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)"
"Careless Whisper"
"Right Here Waiting"
"Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do)"
"Hard to Say I'm Sorry"
"Time After Time"
"I've Had the Time of My Life"

October 17, 2008 KTVO-3Barry Manilow duets with Reba McEntire on 'Greatest Songs of the Eighties'
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Barry Manilow will bring out his inner Rick Astley and channel his best Kenny Rogers for his new album. Manilow will release "The Greatest Songs of the Eighties" Nov. 25. It's a collection of songs from the 1980s, including Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" as well as "Islands in the Stream," originally by Rogers and Dolly Parton, but this time by Manilow and Reba McEntire. Among the other songs Manilow remakes are "Careless Whisper," "Time After Time," "Right Here Waiting" and "Open Arms." Manilow has recently done albums of songs from the 1950s, the '60s and the '70s.
October 16, 2008 Billboard.com"Manilow Tackles '80s Hits On New Album" by Jonathan Cohen
Barry Manilow's tour through the annals of pop music continues Nov. 25 with "The Greatest Songs of the Eighties," his fourth decade-themed collection for Arista. Working again with longtime collaborator Clive Davis, Manilow tackles Reagan-era staples such as Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up," Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called To Say I Love You," Wham!'s "Careless Whisper," Phil Collins' "Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)" and Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers' "Islands in the Stream," with Parton's part handled by Reba McEntire. The three prior "Greatest Songs" releases have sold more than 2 million copies combined in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Manilow's "Ultimate Manilow" engagement resumes Oct. 22 at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Here is the tentative track list for "Greatest Songs of the Eighties":

"Islands in the Stream" with Reba McEntire
"Open Arms"
"Never Gonna Give You Up"
"Have I Told You Lately"
"I Just Called to Say I Love You"
"Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)"
"Careless Whisper"
"Right Here Waiting"
"Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do)"
"Hard to Say I'm Sorry"
"Time After Time"
"I've Had the Time of My Life"

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