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!