Barry Manilow - Barry Manilow 1 (11 tracks) +Album Reviews

One of my favorites

Cozyjo | Garnerville, New York USA | 06/14/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a child I fell in love with Barry Manilow..his music..lyrics..the way he sang a song. Although I'm now an adult and my musical tastes have broadened considerably, I still appreciate all that Barry gave and gives to his music. I've always loved his first three albums, in particular..and this one tops my list for "Could it Be Magic" alone. "One of These Days", "Oh My Lady", "Sweet Life" and "I am Your Child" are among the standouts in my opinion..as much for the heartfelt way Barry sings them as for anything else. This may have been his first album..and produced even earlier than I had realized (1972)..but it is by no means a sad effort. I recently ordered the CD version, having lost my vinyl to a flood years back..and I can't wait to hear it, again. For simple, heartfelt melodies, Barry's your man."

Not all that bad

Cozyjo | 02/28/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is the first record I ever owned - holiday gift when I was 7 years old. I love it for the memories, I suppose, but to look at it objectively I would say this: it was the man's very first recording for crying out loud, be understanding. It dates back to 1972, so if it sounds a bit funky, it probably should. I like to listen to this as a basis to see how far he has come, how he has matured over his 30 year career (quite a bit.) Really, if you're a fan and you have everything else Manilow, this is worth having as well. It is a part of his history - and sounds it. It is his beginning. It is NOT, however, a great work, nor who he is today. For a non-fan this would just sound old, outdated, and corny."

Can't get enough of that flashy lady!

Jerry McDaniel | 02/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"track 9 "Flashy Lady" is probably the most Manilow has come to having rock music on his albums {except a 1981 song called "Wild Places" on his box set that wasn't issued on any of his albums because his producer was scared at the public reaction!!}. anyway, track 9 is my favorite because it's so different from what you'd expect. "One of these Days" is my second favorite. I love it's country feel {this whole album has a country-flavor to it and that's why most people here have a hard time listening to it}. "Seven More Years" deals with a guy in prison. "Sweetwater Jones" is a sing-a-long song as is "Cloudburst". The only hit, "Could It Be Magic?", is track 7. This album came out in 1972 but was re-released in 1975 after the success of "Mandy" and 'BARRY MANILOW II"...and 'BARRY MANILOW I' as a result became as big a hit as it's follow-up...which was something rare at the time."

An Awesome Debut Album - 2nd Time Around

Jim Kelsey | 09/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My first introduction to Barry Manilow was when I was about ten years old. I was taking piano lessons and practicing Chopin's Prelude in C minor, Op. 28, No. 20. Dad came walking in saying, "So you're playing Barry Manilow, huh?" I had absolutely no clue who he was talking about - at ten years of age, I was more into Star Wars and Legos than pop music. Nevertheless, it was a tune that Dad would constantly request and Barry Manilow became a household name for me. That same year, Mom bought me a pop book that had Mandy in it - another favorite of Dad's that he continually requested.

Barry's debut album, released in 1973 by Bell Records, didn't sell very well. In fact, it wasn't until 1974, with the release of the single "Mandy," that "Barry Manilow I" was rereleased, spawning the only hit, "Could It Be Magic." Unlike Barry's followup albums, this one has an immense amount of variety, including everything from swing, to pop, to country, to driving rock - Yes! Driving rock on a Manilow album.

My favorite is "Could It Be Magic." It is this reviewer's opinion that this ballad was ten years, maybe fifteen years ahead of its time. By the end of the recording, Manilow's compiled background vocals, brass, strings, electric guitar, and a heavy drum, all driving home the climax. In fact, it's that heavy drum was wasn't immulated again until the hard rockers of the eighties began doing ballads. Compared to the original Bell recording, the only disappointment in the Arista release is that the electric guitar doesn't carry any presence. It's there, but you have to know it's there, otherwise you might miss it. I hope that the remastered version sounds truer to the original.

The best rocker on the album is "Oh My Lady." Great drive and sycopation. If you get this album, really listen to the drummer. All of the fills he adds augment the melody, making this tune as fresh today as it was in 1973. "Flashy Lady" is another one that has received great reviews, but I've never cared much for the melody or the arrangement.

Other personal favorites include the ballads "I Am Your Child," a great self-refection piece for any parent, and "Seven More Years," a song about a fellow in prison.

There isn't a Barry album quite like his debut release. As he began plugging out hits, it would appear that his fan-base began to pigeon-hole him as a crooner, demanding more ballads. Due to this reputation, the 1980's were not kind to him. Even when he'd try to break out of the mold with hits like "Let's Hang On" or "Some Kind of Friend," sales began to drop - not because he wasn't keeping up with the times, but because his name wasn't hip. It's really too bad because he produced some quality stuff - please see my review of his 1982 album "If I Should Love Again."

If you're looking for a different side to Manilow, you won't be disappointed with this album. This is where his career began.

"

Remaster?

Jim Kelsey | 11/20/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Why hasn't this album been remastered like the rest of Barry's albums?"

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	Barry Manilow Barry Manilow 1 Genres: Pop, Rock, Broadway & Vocalists Track Listings (11) - Disc #1 Sing It Sweetwater Jones Cloudburst One Of These Days Oh My Lady I Am Your Child Could It Be Magic Seven More Years Flashy Lady Friends Sweet Life
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