Search - Barry Manilow :: Even Now (Exp)

Not my favorite, BUT

Kathy W | Baltimore | 11/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is not my favorite Barry CD. (I have a respectable collection.) This is a good CD, with 14 tracks, many I've never heard before. It has been digitally remastered from the original 1978 release. Song quality is great. Total album time is a wee bit over 48 minutes. There is a booklet included, with the words of most of the songs, so you can sing along if you want to.



There are classic versions of the Barry classics: "Copacabana" runs a tad shy of 6 minutes. The subtle-sexy "Somewhere in the Night" is included "..lovin' so warm, movin' so right, closin' our eyes, and feelin' the light.." (I LOVE that song). "Even Now" and "Can't Smile Without You" are also included in their familiar versions.



"A Linda Song" and "No Love for Jenny" are not included on many albums, but are included here. They are good songs, just sad songs. I do like the beat in "Leavin' in the Mornin'" even though that's a bit sad too. "I Was a Fool to Let You Go" is kind of almost a blues. I like "I Just Want to be the One in Your Life" a lot. The others are all good songs: "Sunrise; I'm Comin' Home Again; Where Do I Go From Here; and Losing Touch."



I love everything Barry does. With that said, the album is mainly "slow songs" and some of it is a bit sad for my taste. Not to say there is anything wrong with that. Some people need to sort of vent their own experiences through sad songs, so they can release the grief or sadness they are holding within themselves. Sad songs have a definitive purpose. You NEVER want to hold on to grief, anger, sadness, etc. They will make you ill.



With that said, for me, I prefer more upbeat songs overall, but this is still a great album."

Spoilt reissue

Matt Testifies | 06/26/2010

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This is the original LP and mixes but with one notable exception. Some complete lame brain at Arista has replaced Ron Dante's superb original mix of Copacabana with a dreadful extended disco remix. No more do we have the expansive euphoric cinematic soundscape, but a bass drum heavy mix with all the chordal harmony ruined, god awful string section eq, poor balance and uneven use of reverb. If it had to be included why not just as an extra, so we can skip it? Do yourself a favour, avoid this travesty and transfer your old vinyl to CD. Why do record companies do this to us? What a letdown."

A light Pop Masterpiece

Robert Chica | 03/31/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When my Mom bought this album brand new back in 1978, it was played all the time in our house. I would forget the mellodies of Barry Manillow over time as I got to know other great artists. It is sad that he is so dated as only a hero of the New York City sound of the 1970s, and now an old crooner who no longer is on the Bilboard charts.

The songs are beautiful and magical especially Somewhere in the Night and Even Now as well as Starting Again plus Sunrise and Where Do I Go From Here as well as Losing Touch. I love the extended version of Copacabana {At The Copa} which is better than the original version. Yes I know that the original was special for so many, but this version I never heard, and it is GREAT. The haunting Linda Song is so typical the fractured fairy tale of a songwriter and the woman who he ignores, for so many artists struggle and starve, with love being lost on the way. I was a fool to let you go is a great tribute to the Jazz of Big Band. So classic New York City Piano Bar! I Cant Smile Without You is another great song about lost love and the same with the beautifully Rock driven Leaving in the Morning.

The album cover is so romantic and special for I love New York City so much and it gives a true romantic feel and capture of that skyline at sunset or sunrise and at dusk as well as nightime.

God bless you Barry as a true symbol of a time long gone when songwriters who knew what they were doing dominated the charts."