Barry Manilow, The #44 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Four

 

(Continued from Part Three)

In 1985, Barry switched to RCA Records and released the album Manilow.  This represented a further shift to modern uptempo music.  Manilow starred and wrote all the music for a CBC-TV movie based on Copacabana.

    

Manilow released his autobiography Sweet Life:  Adventures on the Way to Paradise.  He returned to Arista in 1987 and released an album of uptempo jazz, Swing Street, which was certified Gold. The ballad "Summertime," a duet with Diane Schurr, also features the sax of Stan Getz.

 

 

Manilow brought in Kid Creole & the Coconuts for "Hey Mambo".

 "Once You Were Mine" is another worthy track on the album.

Manilow (with Kid Creole, above) starred in a CBS television special, Big Fun on Swing Street, in 1988, which was nominated for two Emmy Awards and won an Emmy for Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program.

 Manilow released another self-titled album in 1989, this time utilizing other songwriters.  The single "Keep Each Other Warm" gave him his first Top 10 on the Adult chart in five years.  

 

He continued to get significant airplay with several singles since, but it would be his last Top 10 until the 2012 Christmas hit "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town".  "Please Don't Be Scared" is a deeply emotional song about the importance of sharing burdens and not shouldering everything ourselves.

 Perhaps the best song the album, however, is "My Moonlight Memories Of You".

Barry made 44 appearances at the Gershwin Theatre.  To benefit victims of Hurricane Hugo, Manilow lowered ticket prices to $10 for his show in Columbia, South Carolina and asked fans to bring canned food for those affected by the disaster.

The following year, Barry released the album Because It's Christmas, which has sold over one million copies.  In 1991, Manilow began to concentrate on the American Songbook, releasing the album Showstoppers, his covers of popular songs on Broadway.

The widow of famous composer Johnny Mercer asked Manilow to compose music for some of the lyrics left behind by Mercer.  Barry finished these songs for jazz vocalist Nancy Wilson and produced her 1991 album With My Lover Beside Me.

Manilow released the compilation album The Complete Collection and Then Some..., which has been certified Gold.

Barry testified on February 19, 1992 before the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property and Judicial Administration House Committee regarding The Audio Home Recording Act.  U.S. President George H.W. Bush signed The Act, a compromise between the music and consumer electronics industries.

Barry recorded a show at London's Wembley Arena for use as a PBS fundraiser, Barry Manilow:  The Best of Me.

Manilow co-wrote scores for the animated movies Thumbelina in 1994 and The Pebble and the Penguin the next year.

Manilow released the album Singin' with the Big Bands in 1994 and an album of covers called Summer of '78 in 1996.  Both have sold over 500,000 copies each. 

Manilow recorded a concert for airing on A&E called Barry Manilow:  Love By Request, which became the most successful music program in the channel's history, drawing over 2.4 million viewers.  

Manilow and Sussman co-wrote the musical Harmony, which premiered in 1997 in La Jolla, California.   Barry released the album Manilow Sings Sinatra months before Frank died in 1998.  Manilow was nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance for his work on the album.

Showing Manilow's universal appeal, country artists, including Trisha Yearwood, Lorrie Morgan, Neal McCoy and JoDee Messina sang their favorite Manilow songs for The Nashville Network's airing of Manilow Country in 2000.  It was one of TNN's highest-rated concert specials.

Barry switched to Concord Records for the release of the eclectic Here at the Mayflower.

Barry continued to give back, funding The Barry Manilow Scholarship, awarded from 2002 to 2005 to six students who had exhibited excellence in the art and craft of lyric writing.  Students at Eastern Michigan University, George Washington University, Northwestern University, the San Francisco Conservatory, Settlement Music School, the University of Nevada, the University of Southern California and the University of Toronto offer scholarships in Barry's name.

In 2002, Barry released the Gold album A Christmas Gift of Love as well as the two-million-selling compilation album Ultimate Manilow.  Barry starred in another CBS television special of the same name.  The show was nominated for Outstanding Music Direction at the Emmy Awards.

Barry (with Brian McKnight, above) was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 2002.

Manilow teamed up with Midler for the first time in 20 years to produce her albums Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook in 2003, which went Gold, and Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook in 2005.

After Hurricane Katrina, Manilow tripled the amount donated by his fans to the American Red Cross through the Manilow Fund.

Manilow did a Christmas special with A&E and released the albums 2 Nights Live! and Scores:  Songs from Copacabana & Harmony.

In 2004, Manilow announced a residency at the Las Vegas Hilton, which was extended to 2009.  He returned to Arista for his album of covers, The Greatest Songs of the Fifties, in 2006.  The album debuted at #1 and has sold over one million copies in the United States and over three million worldwide.

Manilow lent his voice and entertainment to PBS once again for the fundraiser, Barry Manilow:  Music & Passion.  Barry was nominated for two more Emmy Awards, winning a statue for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.  

Barry continued the theme on his previous album by releasing The Greatest Songs of the Sixties, which debuted at #2 in 2006.  

In 2007, the Recording Industry Association of America presented Barry with a plaque commemorating worldwide sales of 75 million.

In 2007, Manilow played three shows at Madison Square Garden and performed in several other major cities in the East.  The PBS concert special Barry Manilow:  Songs from the Seventies aired in 2007, with Manilow touring again in 2008.  

Manilow released the album In the Swing of Christmas, which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.  The albums The Greatest Songs of the Seventies and The Greatest Songs of the Eighties, released in 2007 and 2008, respectively, both went Gold.  In 2009, Barry received an Honorary Clio Award for his early work with commercial jingles.

In 2010, Manilow began a residency at the Paris Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.  That year, Barry released the album The Greatest Love Songs of All-Time, nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album that extended his streak of being nominated in every decade since the '70s.  In December, he performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway.

In 2011, Manilow released the album 15 Minutes, inspired by the struggles of Britney Spears in 2007 and about the joys and pitfalls of fame.  Manilow received another Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Pop Album.

In 2013, Barry began his concert series Manilow on Broadway and performed on the PBS show A Capitol Fourth on the west lawn of the United States Capitol.  Barry released the album Night Songs in 2014, which enabled him to get another nomination at the Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

The next year, Barry released the album My Dream Duets, earning a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.  It was Manilow's fourth nomination in the category since 2009.

Manilow went on a "farewell tour" throughout North America.

Sinatra once said about Manilow, "He's next."  Bob Dylan met Manilow at a party in 1988 and told him, "Don't stop what you're doing, man.  We're all inspired by you."

Manilow amassed 27 career hits with 11 of those reaching the Top 10 and three #1's.  But he is one of the top artists of the Rock Era among adults, he chalked up 47 hits, with an incredible 30 of those going Top 10 and 13 reaching #1.  

Manilow has sold over 80 million records around the world.

Barry has won one Grammy Award out of 11 nominations, three American Music Awards from four nominations and two Emmy Awards from five nominations.

Barry Manilow, The #44 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Three

 

(continued from Part Two)

 

In 1980, Manilow released the album Barry, another Platinum album.  "I Made It Through The Rain" peaked at #4 AC and #10 overall.  The song is cited by Sheila Davis, author of the book The Craft of Lyric Writing, as "a fine example of the classic metaphoric concepts 'good times = fair weather' and 'bad times = stormy weather."

 

The single "Lonely Together", written by Kenny Nolan ("I Like Dreamin'" in 1977), hit #7 on the Adult Contemporary chart.  

 

Barry released the album If I Should Love Again in 1981.  Led by the single "The Old Songs" (#1 AC and #15 Popular), it too sold over one million copies, his eighth consecutive album to do so.

 "Somewhere Down The Road" also raced to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.  It was later featured in an episode of the television show Ally McBeal in 2001.

 

In 1982, Barry released the album Here Comes the Night, which featured his remake of "Memory" (#8 AC) from the hugely successful Broadway play Cats.  The single "Some Kind Of Friend" reached #4 on the AC chart. 

Later in the year, he released Barry Live in Britain, another million-seller.

By 1983, Manilow had endowed music departments at six universities in the United States and Canada in his ongoing commitment to fund music education and open up new careers for young musicians.

 Manilow released his Greatest Hits Vol. II album, which went Gold.  The new song "Read 'Em And Weep", written by Jim Steinman and recorded by Meat Loaf in 1981, topped the Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at #26 overall.

 

Barry released the album of his career in 1984, 2:00 AM Paradise Cafe, which represented a change to light jazz and blues and showcased his amazing versatility.  The standout song resulted from an unfinished lyric by another songwriting great, Johnny Mercer.

Mercer liked Manilow's music and after he died of brain cancer, his widow Ginger arranged to get some unfinished lyrics of her late husband to Manilow to see if he could develop them.  Among these was "When October Goes".  Manilow developed the melody for the song and released it as a single.

"When October Goes" reached #6 on the AC chart but when it did not chart on the Popular chart, it became one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.  

 Manilow says the theme of the album came to him in a dream and it is the one that he wants to be best remembered for.  "Paradise Cafe" is another gem.

 

We want to feature three more songs from this amazing album.  This is "Where Have You Gone".

 

The listener is transported to a smoky bar after last call.  As patrons file out, the ones who stay are fortunate to hear the singer sing personal, emotional songs from his heart, such as "Say No More".

 Manilow and Sarah Vaughan were nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for "Blue".

2:00 AM Paradise Cafe made it 10 consecutive Platinum studio albums for Manilow.   He released the album The Manilow Collection:  20 Greatest Hits, which has been certified Gold.

We conclude with Part Four next--be sure to catch it!

Barry Manilow, The #44 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Two

 

(Continued from Part One)

ABC-TV granted Manilow his own special, The Barry Manilow Show, which 37 million people saw in 1977.  The special was nominated for four Emmy Awards, including a win for Outstanding Comedy--Variety or Music Special.  The Barry Manilow on Broadway show earned a special Tony Award.  The Second Barry Manilow Special in 1978 also garnered four Emmy nominations.  


 Manilow released one of his best career albums in Even Now in 1978.  The lead single "Can't Smile Without You" jumped to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #3 Popular in the U.S. and #2 in Canada.  It was Barry's fourth #1 single in a little less than four years.

 

Even Now was nominated for Album of the Year and became his third consecutive to reach Triple Platinum status.  The title song also hit #1 on the AC chart.

In 1978, Manilow placed five albums in the Top 200, joining the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra and Johnny Mathis as the only artists to accomplish that.  One of those was Barry's compilation Greatest Hits, which has sold over three million copies.

 

Partly due to his incredible success and because he persevered, Manilow had great control over his releases, and this cocktail lounge number showed hints of more Manilow versatility he would later display in full force in the latter part of his career. This is "I Was A Fool To Let You Go".

  Manilow won Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist for a second consecutive year at the American Music Awards.  "Copacabana (At The Copa)" peaked at #6 AC and #8 overall in the United States while hitting #7 in Canada and selling over one million units.  The Copacabana is a famous nightclub in New York City named after a district in Rio de Janeiro, which is the locale for the song.

Manilow earned a Grammy Award for Best Pop Male Vocal Performance for "Copacabana" and earned Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist for the third straight year at the American Music Awards, completing one of the most dominating reigns in the history of the category.  "Copacabana" was later made into a musical movie on television and three musical plays.

 Parker McGee, who wrote both "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight" and 'Nights Are Forever Without You" for England Dan & John Ford Coley, contributed "Where Do I Go From Here?"  Manilow utilized his tremendous arranging and producing skills to make it seem as if it was his song.  

 

Barry released "Ready To Take A Chance Again", featured prominently in the great comedy Foul Play, starring Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase.  It made it to #4 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #11 overall in the U.S. and #4 in Canada and was nominated at the Academy Awards for Best Original Song.

 

 Manilow completed the most successful year of his career with the single "Somewhere In The Night", #4 AC and #9 Popular in the U.S. and #10 in Canada.  The song was originally recorded in 1975 by Helen Reddy.

The Third Barry Manilow Special with guest John Denver on ABC was nominated for two Emmy Awards and captured the award for Outstanding Achievement in Choreography.

Dionne Warwick called upon Manilow to produce her comeback album Dionne in 1979, her first to sell over one million copies.  Barry earned a Grammy nomination for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocals for Warwick's song "I'll Never Love This Way Again".

 

Barry followed up that album with One Voice in 1980.  This song was written and originally recorded by Ian Hunter of Mott The Hoople.  Hunter included it on his solo album You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic.  Asked later in an interview with Mojo magazine, Hunter said "That whole Manilow thing was quite amusing.  That guy's no slouch when it comes to arranging."  "Ships", about the distance between a son and his father, sailed to #4 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #9 overall.

Manilow was already in great demand in concert, selling out five shows at Royal Albert Hall.  His 10 performances at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, New York grossed $2 million, breaking a 52-year record at the famous venue.

 "When I Wanted You" gave Manilow his 10th #1 on the Adult chart.

 Manilow also starred with Warwick in the television special One Voice, which was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction at the Emmy Awards. "I Don't Want To Walk Without You" shot up to #2 on The Adult chart, the 8th consecutive Top 10 for everyone except teenagers, an incredible streak that would reach 13.

The album has now sold over two million copies in the U.S. alone.

Join us for Part Three of this beloved artist!