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Barry Manilow II (1974)

Where the lyrics of Barry Manilow II take you, and where it was really made.

A 1974 album that became Manilow's commercial breakthrough was later parodied on the picture sleeve of a 1979 Ray Stevens single.

Key places

Recorded at The Hit Factory (1974)

Recording site The Hit Factory — The album was recorded at The Hit Factory and Mediasound Recording Studios in New York City. The Hit Factory is one of the two recording locations listed for the album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Mediasound Recording Studios (1974)

Recording site Mediasound Studios — The album was recorded at Mediasound Recording Studios and The Hit Factory in New York City. Mediasound is one of the two recording locations listed for the album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Barry Manilow II: second studio album by Barry Manilow, released 1974
• Lead single Mandy drove the album's major success
• It's a Miracle became a further international hit
• The album was a commercial breakthrough for Manilow
• Ten tracks in total, five on each side of the original release

Background

• First issued by Bell Records
• Reissued after Bell was reorganized into Arista Records
• The album's success spawned a notable parody on the picture sleeve of Ray Stevens' 1979 single I Need Your Help Barry Manilow

Recording

• Produced by Barry Manilow and Ron Dante
• Engineers: Bruce Tergesen, Harry Maslin and Michael DeLugg
• Recorded at The Hit Factory and Mediasound Recording Studios in New York City
• Manilow sings lead and backing vocals and plays acoustic piano on several tracks
• Session players include Will Lee on bass, Allan Schwartzberg on drums and Don Grolnick on acoustic piano
• Jack Cortner arranged the horn and string parts

Cover

• Front cover photo by Joel Brodsky
• Back liner photo by Linda Allen
• Design by The Music Agency

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Career

• Born Barry Alan Pincus on June 17, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York City.
• Began as a commercial jingle writer and singer in the 1960s, writing and singing TV jingles for brands such as Band-Aid and State Farm.
• Signed by Columbia/CBS Music vice-president Tony Orlando, and recorded as Featherbed on Bell Records.
• Bette Midler chose him as her pianist and producer in the early 1970s.
• Breakthrough hit "Mandy" (1974), the start of a long string of hit singles and albums.
• Hits include "Could It Be Magic", "I Write the Songs", "Copacabana (At the Copa)", and "Can't Smile Without You".
• Has released 51 Top 40 singles on the Adult Contemporary chart, including 13 number ones.
• Has sold more than 85 million records as a solo artist worldwide.
• Nominated for a Grammy Award 15 times from 1973 to 2015, winning once.
• Performed a long Las Vegas residency at the Las Vegas Hilton and the Paris Hotel.

Members

• Solo artist; Featherbed was a studio group name used in the early 1970s.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Second studio album by Barry Manilow, released in 1974 by Bell Records
• Lead single Mandy carried the album's major success
• It's a Miracle became a further international hit
• Described as a commercial breakthrough for Manilow
• Side 1 opens with I Want To Be Somebody's Baby and includes Mandy and Something's Comin' Up
• Side 2 includes It's a Miracle, Avenue C and Home Again, the longest track at 5:34
• Reissued after Bell Records was reorganized into Arista Records

Reappraisal

• The album's success spawned a notable parody on the picture sleeve of Ray Stevens' 1979 single I Need Your Help Barry Manilow
• The parody stands as a later reference point for the album

Records

• Canada: peaked at number 29 on the RPM Album Chart
• Recognized as the album that gave Manilow his commercial breakthrough

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Ray Stevens' 1979 single I Need Your Help Barry Manilow used a picture sleeve that parodied this album.
• The album's success is the reason the parody was made.
• Manilow and Ron Dante shared production duties.
• The album was reissued after Bell Records was reorganized into Arista Records.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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