Barry Manilow

This was a soso CD. A few good songs... have I told you lately I love you..the best..

The rest nothing special.. Barry should let someoneelse pru=oduce his songs(like dave Koz) did on his CD.

Time for a Duets cd.

Following on from the successful 50's, 60's & 70's CD's this is a wonderful and excellent addition to the series. Having heard Islands In The Stream at Barry's O2 concert in London this was a great taster of what was to come. Hard to pick any highlights as they all shine in their own way. Suffice to say I am looking forward to the 90's :-)

I always enjoy listening to other people's versions of classic songs. Manilow accomplishes keeping the song familiar but adding enough changes to make it sound new again. Definitely worth the listen.

The Greatest Songs of Eighties by Barry Manilow will surely fascinate you.
All the songs in this album are lovely and Barry's soft voice makes you relax and enchanted.

Barry is back to his usual spine-tingling standard on this CD. His selection of songs bring back great memories of the '80s. Look forward to some more greats of the '90s!!

After just writing a review for "The Essential Collection" and referencing this collection many times within that review, I figured I should write a quick one singing the praises of this CD.

I rate this CD 5 stars because it sounds the best of all of the Barry Manilow Collections I own ("The Essential Collection", "Greatest Hits", "Greatest Hits Vol. 2" and "The Complete Collection And Then Some")

There are quite a few tracks that I would include on an "Ultimate" collection that are missing here (New York City Rhythm, All The Time, Beautiful Music to name a few) but the record company can't give us everything we want on one collection, or we'd just buy that one. For the casual fan who wants a good starter CD, this one is perfect.

Sounds great, good cross-section of hits, there's not a bad track or bad version of a hit on this collection.

I know Barry Manilow is a great singer. But somehow the songs just didn't move me.

he writes, arranges, plays, produces his music and does it for others. He actually has a voice and is geninuely a nice man from what I gather and have seen over the years and his music is distint and timeless. Keep it up Barry and thank you for all the wonderful songs.

I would never, in a million years, voluntarily listen to Barry Manilow!!!

I hated him when his music was popular, back in the 70's, and the intervening years have done nothing to enhance his appeal.

However, one of my friends actually enjoys his music, so, for her 60th birthday, I bought a couple of his c.d.'s for her. There is no accounting for taste, obviously!

A little disappointed in the quality of the CD. The music is a bit off and too slow. I owned a Barry Manilow CD before and this one seems slow and dragging.

Lightning fast delevery! Item was in excellent condition. I was extremely pleased with this purchase. I highly recommend this seller, A++++!

I didn't think I'd like this CD. I mean, come on--the same old songs of Manilow's again? But wow! What a delight to hear new versions of his greatest hits. And here's the kicker: I have never liked Copacabana, even though I have been a fan of the Barry for...well, forever. This version of Copa with guitars is simply amazing. In fact, I like all of his remade hits better than the songs of other artists. Who'da thunk?

His voice and rendition of all these songs is like wine that has aged to golden perfection. Gave this as a gift to "Un-Fan-ilows" and they loved his rendition of the 70's songs and his own classics. Can't go wrong with this one.

for over 20 years I have been a fan, you were such a talented man, but your looks are gone, your voice is too, you are not the same man who sung "THIS ONE'S FOR YOU". This album is weak which is sad, with all the good records that you have had. If you can no longer make good records on your own, find someone who can, or pack it up and go home

Some of the songs chosen have been heard quite a few times before.
Would have appreciatred a better selection from the Seventies!

Did not enjoy the song selection on this CD. Only like 2 of the songs. His 70's CD is much better.

Another great album by Barry Manilow. Good selection of songs, all done
exceptionally well.

I've listened to this album yesterday and I'm keeping it very close to my preferred CDs to keep on listening to it in the near future. I love the way he sings and recreated this album but also consider (as another review writer before) that he is a very good writer of new songs and I hope he will write new songs for a new album not only new versions of oldies but ... this is a very good album either.

I think BM did great justice to these songs and I enjoyed his singing as always and the traditional arrangements by such a wonderfully talented man and one I have enjoyed since I first heard him in the 70's with his beautiful piano playing a wide ranging voice. Keep it up Barry and thanks for your originals and these tributes to some of your favorite songs of the various decades.

Barry Manilow, The Greatest Songs of the Sixties. I purchased this with Songs of the Seventies and found them great, easy to listen to songs. Barry has great voice and good diction.

I'm a long-time fan of Barry Manilow and was delighted to receive this CD as a gift. That is, until I listened to it! I think it's one of the worst Christmas albums I've ever had. Because, you see, it IS Christmas and I want to hear about Christmas. Many of the songs gave just a brief instrumental intro (Silent Night, The First Noel, Joy to the World, Carol of the Bells, We Wish you a Merry Christmas) and then went to his singing something else like When the Meadow was Blooming (Huh?????) or It's Just Another New Year's Eve.

The only redeeming portion is the one track when he sings an excerpt from Handel's Messiah. I would have loved an entire CD of his singing portions of the Messiah.

I HAD THIS ALBUM YEARS AGO BUT LOST IT. IT WAS SO NICE TO BE ABLE TO EASILY FIND IT AGAIN. IT BRINGS BACK GOOD MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS.

this is one of my favorite Christmas CD's ever, interesting arrangements, a few unconventional songs and all beautifully sung. I listen to this CD throught the enter holiday season. Not to be missed

This was an ok CD for me but I have better ones recorded earlier in his career. I am a great fan but I also like to be honest...

By this point in his career he had two distinct music personalities: the soft & sappy and the blue & jazzy. His blue & jazzy numbers, particularly "I guess there ain't no Santa Claus" and his rendition of "Baby It's Cold Outside" are untouchable, 5-star classics. The other side, represented by "Christmas is for the children" is cringe-inducing.

Now it's 2006 and I have not heard his last Christmas outing, but I have one question. What the Holy Heck did he do to his face???????????

-Mark

A great CD! ,the songs by Barry Manilow are picked especially for the title "Ballads and Love songs." The orchestration with his voice is a wonderful extra bonus for these songs! This makes a addition to anyones collection.

This CD has got to be one of the BEST CD'S that MR. Manilow has ever
done. His version of "WHERE OR WHEN" was just awesome. and his version
of "IF" was just beatiful!!!!! This man can do no wrong in my book. He
is the most talented entertainers that GOD put on this earth. He is
true SHOWMENSHIP!!!!!!!! I just hope and pray that some day I will be
able to see him in person and get to talk to him. This my DREAM!!!!!!!
THANK YOU, BARRY, FOR MAKING ME SO HAPPY WITH YOUR MUSIC!!!!! GOD BLESS
YOU!!!!!!!!!

all of his cds are wonderful. He is by far the greatest entertainer and performer that I have ever heard. I have all of his cds and dvds. Is he going to put out any more this year. I would love for him to put out one of his concerts. I saw part of one on PBS a little while ago

In the last few years, there has been a Manilow resurgence and Barry is riding the waves of success. He has had 3 Greatest Songs of The 50's, 60's & 70's. He included bonus tracks on the non US Imports in various versions. There is a QTV special edition of the 70's disc. There is another unofficial 3rd Christmas CD relased by Hallmark (which is his best holiday CD, by the way). There has been numourous collections as well. This is yet another. They all sold well! What will make me buy this collection over the others? Not much really. It does cover a greater span of time than the previous collections. Does it include any of the bonus tracks not available here like his awesome rendition of the beautiful ballad Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? Nope, nothing different here that I don't already have. Oh, maybe The Best Of Me? I know it was released on his box set a decade ago, but maybe not every Manilow fan has that?

Though the songs are great, I gave this CD 4 stars, I will not purchase this CD. I guess I will wait a few weeks to see what the next BM project will be.
Stay tuned!

Holy Moly, Batperson! Look what I found in my mailbox yesterday! I could hardly contain myself. As a matter of fact, I couldn't contain myself. I jumped right out of my container and started playing this CD. Yes, this is a beautiful collection of 14 songs, lasting about an hour.

Barry classic "Could It Be Magic' is here and lasts 6.50 minutes! Other beautiful Barry classics are "Weekend in New England," and the oh-so-sexy "Somewhere in the Night" (". . .somewhere in the night we will know, everything lovers should know. . . "-Lord, I LOVE that line! From his 50s CD, and reincarnated from the movie "Ghost" is the haunting "Unchained Melody". (Oh Geeze! When ghost Patrick Swayze dances with Demi Moore while that song is playing--there ain't a dry eye in the house!) From his `60s CD is "Can't Take My Eyes Off You".

One of my all-time Barry favorites is "I Don't Want to Walk Without You." I could just sit and sway with my little green Manilow glow stick for hours on that song! (They usually give Manilow glow sticks out at the concerts, if you didn't know that--so you can sway. There is nuthin as purdy as 20,000 green glow sticks waving in a dark concert hall.)

"No Other Love" is a gorgeous slow song on some of my other albums. You may remember "Stardust" from the old days, and also from Barry's "Swingstreet" album.
"Where or When" is another beautiful old song, reproduced on Barry's "Showstoppers" CD. "Angels Eyes" is from Barry's tribute to Sinatra album. "I Should Care" is from his "Singing With The Big Bands" CD, featuring big band music from the late 30s to mid 40s. "If" is from the 70s CD and you would probably recognize it better if the title was "If A Picture Paints A Thousand Words, Then Why Can't I Paint You"--absolutely beautiful. "My Baby Loves Me" is from the "Barry Manilow II" CD and I think that's the only place I've heard it.

I have heard Barry say that "The Best of Me" is a very special and very emotional song for him. A beautiful song! You don't hear it a lot, but it is on a few of his later DVDs and it is on "The Complete Collection and Then Some" CD package (an awesome collection of Barry tracks).

All the songs on this CD are from other Barry albums, and it is a great collection from a wide range of his albums, just released in 2008 for YOU (and me, too).

Beautiful Barry Tunes - PRICELESS!

I know that a lot of people don't like his style, musical pieces and voice. I noticed many negative opinions and everyone has the right to have different points of view and preferences, but, Amazon friends, he knows how to sing and perform. Besides he's also a very competent conductor. This is a romantic and soothing CD, you feel in a good mood listening to it. If you don't like the style, refrain from having it. And by the way, no-one has the righs to forbid you to sing 50' songs in karaokes, why should'nt a wonderful artist like Barry sing songs from that period?

Good price and fast service. My wife loves Barry and plays his CDs all the time. Will shop again and would recomment to anyone.

The Greatest Songs of the Fifties (Manilow) is my favorite CD. Listen to it everyday. Brings back many great memories.

Barry has chosen some great songs from the fifties and sung them perfectly. I don't think I can ask for more. This is the second same CD I have bought. My friend listened and liked it so much that I felt obliged to give it to her as a gift.

Barry is good at Barry; leave the 50's to the people that did the original recordings.

This CD came quickly and in great condition. I would definitely do business with you again! Thanks, and Merry Christmas!

Barry...what can you say...GREAT GREAT GREAT! Gave this cd as a gift and it is so very much loved! Makes a great addition to your Christmas music collection. This is a MUST HAVE if you're a BARRYHOLIC!

We enjoyed this CD and Mr. Manilow's voice, but were a tiny bit put off by the smattering of smarmy glitz present. Though we've never been to Las Vegas, nor do we want to visit, the influence of that cursory destination is highly evident in Barry's arrangements.

Well, it was 103 degrees last night in Baltimore, but I had the car windows open, air off, singing Dixieland-style "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" with Barry. OK, I'm nuts, but whaddoicare! There are only 11 songs here, but they are super, high-power big band arrangements. I love Christmas songs anyway, so much peace and love. Why only at Christmas?

These are lively arrangements of the old favorites, that make you think of the family around the tree. But, oh my, "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" really rocks! I LOVE that arrangement! I blast that bad boy on the car radio at 60 mph and sing, LOUD! Revs me up for work for hours. There are also 2 absolutely beautiful songs I never heard before, "River" and "A Gift of Love," the latter written by Barry.

Other pretty tracks are: Winter Wonderland, Happy Holiday/White Christmas,Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays, I'll Be Home For Christmas, My Favorite Things, The Christmas Waltz, and What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

A beautiful collection of songs from 2002 and a treat for any Manilownian. So hey, get outside the box and listen to it all year long. By the way, it's great to hear somebody still say, and sing, the word "Christmas".

the thing that one has to remember is that Barry Manilow is NOT "pop" anymore. since the late '80s he's dabbled in jazz, swing, and big-band to a point where by the mid '90s he was being played on big-band radio stations! no joke! i heard Barry on a pop standards station a few months ago. Dean Martin was singing "Volarè" and then Barry came on with "Ships", followed by a song by Patti Page! Manilow has certainly grouped himself with perfect company...accidentally or on purpose...and his music has ALWAYS had more class and feel to it than his contemporaries and maybe that's why there was a resistance from the rock generation to embrace Manilow the way the AC market did. This Christmas album, his first since 1990, is done in the style he's now famous for: big band. i don't mind the short running time. i don't want to hear an hour or more worth of songs by anyone in one sitting...especially holiday songs. But this holiday album serves it's purpose. It doesn't drag on and on like a classical song might do...we're treated to holiday songs in a jazzy environment. An A&E special was aired to help promote the album...it didn't have to happen because the CD would've hit GOLD with or without massive promotion because we're ALL in those checkout lines or on-line whenever we get word that Manilow is out with something new...out of the 11 songs on here, only a few are genuine classics. the others are holiday-themed songs like "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve", "River", "The Christmas Waltz", "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm", or "A Gift of Love". Manilow also brings us the Bing Crosby style "Santa Claus IS Coming To Town". The only song that comes across as a novelty {and i LOVE comedy/novelty songs} is "My Favorite Things" which i've always described as a Christmas version of the Phil Harris classic "That's What I Like About the South". The only drawback, since Manilow is now sub-merged in jazz and swing music, is it lacks a "modern" pop feel and that might scare off teenyboppers and younger adults who don't like the sounds of their grandparents style of music because it's seen as un-cool and "safe", whatever that means. it's a great holiday CD...not too long and not too short

Andrew sings the music, the lyrics, and vitally, the deeper meaning of the songs. I listen to him time and again because his singing brings me joy and peace. It's a pleasure to realize that he's made himself an instrument of the composer, not overlaying his performance with inappropriate sensuality or quirky vocal techniques. He shines in his vocal purity, something altogether uncommon and therefore making him quite extraordinary. You will finish his CD hoping that he comes to America on tour so that you can listen to him in person.

THE FIRST TIME I SAW THIS YOUNG MAN SING "PIE JESU," I DID SO WITH TEARS STREAMING DOWN MY FACE. THE ONLY OTHER TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WAS WHEN I HEARD ANDRE BOCELLI. IF EVER THERE WAS A GOD-GIVEN VOICE, ANDREW JOHNSTON HAS IT. HIS VOICE IS LIKE AN ANGEL. EVERY SONG HE SINGS ON THIS ALBUM IS TRULY INSPIRING. "MAKE ME A CHANNEL OF YOUR PEACE" WITH THE ORCHESTRA IS ESPECIALLY AMAZING WITH THE 37-PIECE ORCHESTRA IN THE BACKGROUND. LET THE WORLD GET READY, ANDREW JOHNSTON HAS ARRIVED.

Andrew has done an outstanding job bringing his voice and musicianship to this record. The album as a whole suffers a little from song choices meant to appeal to a wide audience, rather than to dial in the best repertoire for a cohesive album of songs.

The production value of the recordings is also outstanding, and some nice arrangements, too. But Andrew's performances are the star.

Although the album isn't perfect, I still think it warrants five stars, because it is such an unusual treat to hear Pie Jesus, and some of the other classical selections.

Andrew has an incredible voice. I love every song on the CD! I hope he does a holiday CD.

Sit back and listen to the pure tones from this youngster and let yourself be transported to other realms of consciousness. A gifted lad whose voice has been trained since 6 yrs of age by choirmasters. This is an ancient British and European tradition in Church Music, embracing Gregorian Chants and Plainsong. Andrew Jackson has obviously worked extremely hard to become head choirboy of Cardiff Cathedral in Wales. Yes, do bring out the handkerchiefs to wipe away your tears as his crystal tones pierce you to your being and your soul memories are stirred to remember, yes, there is a God.

I purchased this collection several years ago from another company when it first came out and it came with a VHS tape. For the true Barry Manilow fan, this is a MUST HAVE collection. There are original recordings on here and behind the scenes performances and information that a die hard Barry fan would be enthralled and enchanted with. This collection is worth every penny you pay for it. Go ahead and buy it - you won't be sorry!

Let's go back to the fall of '75. I was staying with my dad and my step-mom, who listened to nothing but country. I had some previous exposure to pop, but not much. Just enough to get familiar with the Archies. I did have a crush on Tanya Tucker, but other than that I wasn't a real fan of any artist.

That changed in art class my junior year of high school. During class, the teacher played some pop music, including "Band On The Run", "Mind Games", and the relaxing "Led Zepellin IV". But the one that got my attention was "Barry Manilow II". (I heard "Mandy" in context with the album before I ever heard it on the radio.)

This collection was great at bringing back the memories I had. This four CD set not only covers the hits, but also some of the album cuts. It missed my all-time favorite "Something's Coming Up", but it includes several of my other favorites, such as a live version of "I Want To Be Somebody's Baby" (the lead off song from "Barry Manilow II"), "All The Time", "As Sure As I'm Standing Here", "Beautiful Music", and the melancholy ballad "Sandra".

Even better: this includes versions that differed from the original hits. It includes the Featherbed recording of "Could It Be Magic" and a segment of Scott English's song "Brandy", which is better known by the title of Barry's cover of it, "Mandy". It has the album versions of "Could It Be Magic" and "It's A Miracle", demos of "Mandy" and "At The Copa", a live version of "Looks Like We Made It" as a medley with "Send In The Clowns", and alternate versions of "This One's For You", "Trying To Get The Feeling Again", and "Can't Smile Without You" (which includes a tap dancing segment -- who said Barry Manilow wasn't radical?).

Besides the four CD's, you have a book with notes on certain songs from Barry and his musical collaborators, including Adreinne Anderson and Enoch Anderson (the latter of which is one of my favorite lyrists). You can read, for example, what Scott English and Richard Kerr thought of Barry's recording of their song "Mandy". The only thing I missed: no comments from Barry's long time producer Ron Dante (who was the lead voice for a little known song called "Sugar, Sugar").

If that's not enough, there's also a video tape with a lot of gems, starting off with a segment of him playing piano for Bette Midler and part of his "Very Strange Medley" (commercial jingles he either wrote or sang). It includes several of his classics, including playing "Mandy" on Midnight Special. His humor shows up in segments of the tape. It also includes his acceptance speech for best variety show.

If you want a collection of the singles, this is not quite it: as stated above, the versions of many of the hits here are not the ones played on the radio. But if you love Barry Manilow's music like I do, you will find this a welcome bit of nostalgia. It was for me.

I bought this collection for my mom at Christmas. I find that I'm stealing it away from her to listen to it. It's a wonderful collection. The packaging is beautiful too, right down to the retrospective booklet included. If you're a Manilow fan, you'll want to get this collection. It includes remastered songs, live tracks, conversations, and a DVD.

I bought this as a gift for someone who just loves Barry, not my choice as a musician but for the person who likes him, they will adore this set. Was an excellent gift for the price.

Fantastic collection of his hits many I knew about and many more that I had no idea that they had ever been recorded or existed. A great buy and one I have enjoyed very much in addition to the DVD which included some great clips of some classic performances