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The Greatest Songs of the Fifties (2006)

Where the lyrics of The Greatest Songs of the Fifties take you, and where it was really made.

This Barry Manilow album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and posted the highest opening of his career, even though it is a set of 1950s songs.

Key places

Ocean Way Recording (2006)

Recording site Ocean Way Recording — Ocean Way Recording is named in the album credits as a studio where the album was recorded. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

A&M Studios (2006)

Recording site A&M Recording Studios — A&M Studios is named in the album credits as one of the studios where the album was recorded. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Bill Schnee Studios (2006)

Recording site Larrabee Sound Studios — Bill Schnee Studios is named in the credits as a recording studio, and the album was also mixed there. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Chalice Recording Studios (2006)

Recording site Chalice Recording — Chalice Recording Studios is named in the album credits as a studio where the album was recorded. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

O'Henry Sound Studios (2006)

Recording site O'Henry Sound Studios — O'Henry Sound Studios is named in the album credits as a studio where the album was recorded. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Digital Insight Recording Studios (2006)

Recording site Digital Insight — Digital Insight Recording Studios is named in the album credits as a studio where the album was recorded. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• The Greatest Songs of the Fifties: album by American singer Barry Manilow
• Released in the United States on January 31, 2006
• Covers songs that were popular in the singer's youth
• Singer is Brooklyn-born
• Considered a significant album in Manilow's career
• US version 13 tracks, UK version 15 tracks, Japanese version 14 tracks

Background

• Marks Manilow's return to his former label, Arista
• Company founder Clive Davis set the singer up with 1950s pop classics
• Approach resembles Rod Stewart's jazzy standards project, The Great American Songbook

Recording

• Produced by Barry Manilow and Clive Davis
• David Benson also credited as producer
• Bruce Botnick credited as recording engineer
• Bill Schnee credited with mixing and additional recording
• Recording credits name Ocean Way Recording, A&M Studios, Peppertree Studios, Digital Insight Recording Studios, Chalice Recording Studios, O'Henry Sound Studios and Bill Schnee Studios
• Mastered by Robert Hadley at The Mastering Lab, Hollywood, California
• Walter Afanasieff credited with keyboards, rhythm programming and arrangements on one track
• Orchestral arrangements credited to several arrangers, including Kevin Bassinson, Doug Walter, William Ross and Ken Berry
• Assa Drori credited as concertmaster

Cover

• Cover photography credited to Andrew MacPherson
• Art direction and design credited to Alexis Yraola

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

• Entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1
• Second chart-topping album of Manilow's career
• His only other No. 1 album was Barry Manilow Live, released in 1977
• Highest-debuting album of his career
• Sold over 150,000 copies in its opening week
• Its opening beat the No. 3 debut of Ultimate Manilow in 2002
• Released in the United States on January 31, 2006
• The UK version adds If You Love Me (Really Love Me) and As Time Goes By
• The Japanese version swaps the medley duet partner and adds Have I Told You Lately

Records

• Billboard 200: No. 1 at debut
• First-week sales above 150,000 copies
• Chart record: highest debut of Manilow's career
• Chart record: second No. 1 album of his career
• Certifications section in the source has no entries

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The Rod Stewart comparison: Clive Davis guided Manilow toward 1950s pop in much the same way he steered Stewart toward jazzy standards.
• The UK version adds two tracks, If You Love Me (Really Love Me) and As Time Goes By, to the US track listing.
• The Japanese version has a different duet partner on the medley and adds Have I Told You Lately.
• The US version's medley Sincerely/Teach Me Tonight is a duet with Phyllis McGuire.
• Manilow's return to Arista was framed as a return to his former label.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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