Legendary songwriter, performer and internationally renowned superstar Barry Manilow, who to date has sold over 75 million albums worldwide, is back with his third volume of decade-driven covers albums. Following on from the successful Fifties and Sixties albums, Barry returns to the decade which launched his golden career, the 70s.
The 18-song single CD package of ‘The Greatest Songs Of The Seventies’ set for release on the 17th September 2007, presents Manilow’s versions of 10 timeless cover songs from the ’70s, plus for the first time ever, 8 stripped-down acoustic versions of his own classic titles including “Mandy”, “I Write The Songs”, “Could It Be Magic?” and the unforgettable “Copacabana”.
The deluxe version contains a special dual disc (CD & DVD) with new versions of 14 classic non-Manilow songs from the ’70s as well as ‘The Making Of The Album’ video with Barry reflecting on the great music and decade. Also included is a bonus CD containing stripped down acoustic versions of 9 original Manilow titles.
This album is a fan’s dream wish-list of favourites 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 on Carole King’s “You’ve Got A Friend” with Melissa Manchester, and on Elton John’s “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” with Rosie O’Donnell.
Manilow’s tributes are flawlessly performed and arranged, starting with an homage to Barbra Streisand’s “The Way We Were”, and Frankie Valli’s “My Eyes Adored You”, to the seminal hits of The Carpenters’ “(They Long To Be) Close To You” and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”.
‘The Greatest Songs Of The Seventies’ continues the productive and successful reunion between Barry Manilow and Clive Davis, Arista founder and BMG U.S. Chairman & CEO. Davis has been Barry Manilow’s hitmaking collaborator on virtually all his recordings, since they first worked together on “Mandy”, his debut No. 1 single as the first artist signed to Arista by Clive Davis in 1974, the first year of the label’s existence.
“No one can reinvent the great classics better than Barry Manilow”, comments Clive Davis. “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”.
On the tracklisting, 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 favourites.” The results, he reports, were very similar to the selections that he and label boss Clive Davis had in mind.
Manilow also commented on the inclusion of the new stripped back versions of his own hits, “There was this idea of, how could I possibly leave them out? So I’m redoing them with a small, intimate band.”
Barry Manilow’s ‘The Greatest Songs Of The Seventies’ tracklisting:
“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,” (1977)
“(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)
Acoustic songs:
“Mandy” (1974)
“Looks Like We Made It” (1978)
“Even Now” (1978)
“Weekend in New England” (1976-1977)
“Somewhere in the Night” (1978-1979)
“Can’t Smile Without You”(1978)
“Copacabana” (1978)
“This One’s for You” (1976)
“I Write the Songs” (1975)
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