Maps of Music

Showstoppers (1991)

Where the lyrics of Showstoppers take you, and where it was really made.

Showstoppers was Barry Manilow's first album with no original music. Every track is a song written by someone else.

Key places

Recorded at Rumbo Recorders (1991)

Recording site Rumbo Recorders — The album's recording session is credited to Rumbo Recorders in Canoga Park, California. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Smoketree Ranch (1991)

Recording site Cornerstone Studios — Smoketree Ranch in Chatsworth, California is credited as a recording location for the album. The point is placed at the city centre of Chatsworth. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Showstoppers: album by singer-songwriter Barry Manilow, released in 1991
• Released 24 September 1991
• Record company: Bertelsmann Music Group
• 16 tracks, most of them credited as songs from stage musicals and shows
• Producers: Barry Manilow and Eddie Arkin
• First Manilow album with no original music

Background

• Repertoire built from Broadway and musical theatre songs
• Sources named on the track list include Guys and Dolls, Gypsy, Little Me, Babes in Arms, Finian's Rainbow, Where's Charley?, The Band Wagon, Merrily We Roll Along and Les Misérables
• Several tracks feature guest singers: Barbara Cook on "Look to the Rainbow" and Michael Crawford with Hinton Battle on "Fugue for Tinhorns"

Recording

• Recording and mixing credited to Don Murray
• Recording locations listed: Rumbo Recorders in Canoga Park and Smoketree Ranch in Chatsworth, California
• Digital editing by Robert Vosgien at CMS Digital in Pasadena, California
• Mastering by Wally Traugott at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, California
• Band tracks use acoustic piano by Randy Kerber and drums by Carlos Vega; orchestral tracks use players from a larger ensemble
• Orchestra arrangements by Billy Byers; Barry Manilow and Eddie Arkin credited with many arrangements

Cover

• Photography by Randee St. Nicholas
• Art direction and design by Carolyn Quan
• Set design by Ron Oates
• Wardrobe styling by Deborah Waknin

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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

• Released in 1991, Showstoppers was the first Barry Manilow album to not feature any original music
• The album is built entirely on songs written by other composers and lyricists, several of them stage writers
• Barbara Cook sings a duet with Manilow on "Look to the Rainbow", taken from Finian's Rainbow
• Michael Crawford and Hinton Battle join Manilow on a trio version of "Fugue for Tinhorns" from Guys and Dolls
• Vocal parts include backing singers Beth Anderson, Susan Boyd, Jon Joyce and Joe Pizzulo, plus a chorus of thirteen named singers on several tracks
• Tracks 2–4, 6, 7, 11, 13 and 17 use a full orchestra, with Billy Byers as orchestra arranger and conductor on several of them
• Tracks 1, 5, 8–10, 12, 14–16 and 18 use a studio band led by Randy Kerber on acoustic piano
• Producers Barry Manilow and Eddie Arkin credited with the production of the whole album
• Recording and mixing by Don Murray, with assistant engineers Shawn Berman and Squeak Stone
• Mastering done at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, California
• Digital editing done at CMS Digital in Pasadena, California

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album is built on songs taken from stage musicals and other shows, which makes it a collection of covers rather than new work.
• "Look to the Rainbow" is listed as a duet with Barbara Cook.
• "Fugue for Tinhorns" is a trio with Michael Crawford and Hinton Battle, which is the only track where two other named singers share the lead.
• The recording and mixing credit goes to Don Murray, while Randy Kerber's piano appears on most of the band tracks.
• The cover photograph is credited to Randee St. Nicholas, with art direction by Carolyn Quan.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Maps of Ages ↗ (mapsofages.com)

Privacy · Contact