Search - Barry Manilow :: The Greatest Songs of the Fifties

Sandra O. (rascalandmocha) from TERRYTOWN, LA
Reviewed on 1/5/2010...

A little early Christmas present for myself! I just love Barry Manilow, but I like other music, too, so it's kinda the best of both worlds to get some golden oldies from a fav like smooth crooning Barry. All but a couple songs get a 10 from me! Loved the duet with Phyllis McGuire. Great swap all round! Thanks!

Loving the 50's in 2006

Robert Welborn | Illinois/Florida | 02/07/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have always loved Barry manilow as long as I can remember. With this new CD, he has recorded some oldies that I remember my mom listening to, and they are better now than they were back then! Barry is the consumate professional and anyone who listens to this CD will love it!"

Barry Avalonio

Kathy W | Baltimore | 07/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I LOVE every song I've heard Barry perform and have never been disappointed. This album is no exception. He does an outstanding job with some great songs that bring back many memories of the '50s. There are 13 tracks of romantic "(mainly) slow" songs--great mood-music for having dinner, or dancing, with someone special.



I remember listening to "Moments to Remember, All in the Game, Unchained Melody" and many of the others. (I was just a wee bit young to dance to them when they first came out.) But these and the others on this CD are songs that have endured, well, about 50 years! They were played over and over again by musical groups at all the dances and many are still played today.



"Venus" is one of my all-time favorites and just makes you want to go ah-h-h-h. I think many of us remember Frankie Avalon doing this one. Barry does it very well. As a matter of fact, he includes it in his Vegas show and they announce him as Barry Avalonio. "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" tuggs at your heart strings, reminding us of the Burt Lancaster movie. Beyond the Sea is done as a ballad rather than the Bobby Darin version, and is quite pretty.



So many others from the GREAT 50s included! The entire album is done beautifully. Most of the songs parody the originals pretty closely, at least as I remember them. "Chances Are" sounds pretty much like Johnny Mathis to me. There's also Johnny T.'s "All I have to do is Dream"--love that song. There's also a duet between Barry and Phyllis McGuire (McGuire Sisters) "Sincerely/Teach Me Tonight" (a combination of the 2 tunes. An excellent collection of 50s music, Barry's style transcends time and is such truly beautiful music. I wish more people enjoyed the peace and love that his music provides. I sure hope to see a 2nd 50s album. There's a lotta songs out there Barry hasn't done--YET!



You can purchase this 50s CD as either CD only or as "Dual Disc". The difference is that the Dual Disc is a CD on one side and a DVD on the other side. The DVD side includes the entire album in enhanced stereo (a deep rich base sound) and a "Greatest Songs of the Fifties" in video. The video is about 15 minutes of behind-the-scenes making of this album, with commentaries by Barry and by Clive Davis. The commentary shows studio shots of how Barry worked with others, arranging the songs and working with background singers.



Of course, you need a DVD to play the DVD side of the dual disc. If you put it in on the wrong side, it won't play, so you just flip it. Nothing to fear, not even for the tekkie impaired, like me.

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