AC Artist Spotlight: Barry Manilow
Jul 30, 2011 0:56:23 GMT -5
Post by johnm1120 on Jul 30, 2011 0:56:23 GMT -5
He wrote the songs that made the Adult Contemporary chart sing. This week in celebration of the AC chart's 50th anniversary we take a look at a man who has been cranking out AC hit for the past 5 decades, Barry Manilow.
He was born Barry Mincus on June 17th, 1943 in Brooklyn New York. Manilow, which he used professionally was actually his mother's maiden name. He began his career as a jingle-writer performing jingles for several famous brands including McDonalds, KFC, Pepsi, Band-Aid and State Farm Insurance.
In 1970, Barry began working with Bette Midler, and helped produce 2 albums for her. After getting that foot in the door, he began working on his debut self-titled album, and released it in early 1974 to little notice. It was his second album "Barry Manilow II" that gave him the breakthrough he needed. His debut single "Mandy" went to #1 on the Easy Listening Chart, as well as the Hot 100. And the fun for him was just getting started. The follow-up single "It's a Miracle" also went to #1, and resulted in the re-release of his debut album, which spawned the #4 hit "Could it Be Magic," the song that is considered one of the pioneers for the haunting power ballad and has made hits for Meatloaf, Bonnie Tyler and Celine Dion possible.
Of Barry's first 8 singles, 7 of them went to #1, and he went on to score 23 consecutive top 10 hits between 1974 and 1982, with the exception of his holiday time single "It's Just Another New Year's Eve," which failed to crack the top 30.
Barry scored his most recent #1 on the chart in 1983 with "Read 'Em And Weep." Altogether Barry has scored 13 #1 hits on the chart, putting him in 2nd place for most #1 songs on the chart overall, behind only Elton John. Between 1974 and 1989 he has scored 27 top 10 hits, his most recent being '89's "Keep Each Other Warm."
Manilow's chart success slowed down in the 90s, as he focused on cover songs from various genres including Broadway, the 1970s and a tribute album to Frank Sinatra. From those, he only made the top 30 twice, both in 1997 with I Go Crazy (#30) and I'd Really Love to See You Tonight (#26).
In the 2000s he hasn't seen too much radio success, only reaching the top 20 with Christmas songs, however he has had success in other parts. In 2002, he was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame. He produced two Bette Midler tribute albums, one of her honoring Rosemary Clooney, the other Peggy Lee. He also released his iconic "The Greatest Songs Of the..." series which saw covers from the 50s through the 80s as well as a love songs cover album. He reached the top 20 in 2006 with a cover of "Unchained Melody."
At age 68, Manilow just released his latest album "15 Minutes" which debuted in the top 10. The first single "Bring On Tomorrow" gave him his 47th overall AC hit (included extended charts). Today he has become a staple in Las Vegas, performing three successful different shows on the strip.
#1 Hits:
Mandy (1974)
It's a Miracle (1975)
I Write the Songs (1975)
Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again (1976)
This One's For You (1976)
Weekend in New England (1976)
Looks Like We Made It (1977)
Can't Smile Without You (1978)
Even Now (1978)
When I Wanted You (1979)
The Old Songs (1981)
Somewhere Down the Road (1981)
Read 'Em And Weep (1983)
Top 10s:
#2 I Don't Want To Walk Without You (1980)
#4 Could it Be Magic (1975)
#4 Somewhere In The Night (1978)
#4 Ships (1979)
#4 I Made It Through the Rain (1980)
#4 Some Kind of Friend (1983)
#5 Ready To Take A Chance Again (1978)
#6 Copacabana (1978)
#6 Let's Hang On (1982)
#6 When October Goes (1984)
#7 Daybreak (1977)
#7 Lonely Together (1981)
#7 Keep Each Other Warm (1989)
#8 Memory (1982)
The Rest of the Hits:
#11 In Search of Love (1985)
#12 Run to Me (w/Dionne Warwick) (1985)
#13 Brooklyn Blues (1988)
#16 Christmas is Just Around the Corner (2008)
#17 River (2003)
#20 Unchained Melody (2006)
#22 He Doesn't Care (But I Do) (1986)
#24 Oh Julie (1983)
#24 Paradise Cafe (1985)
#25 You're Looking Hot Tonight (1984)
#25 The One That Got Away (1989)
#25 Turn the Radio Up (2001)
#26 I'd Really Love To See You Tonight (1997)
#28 Bring on Tomorrow (2011)*
#30 I Go Crazy (1997)
#32 Love is a Many-Splendored Thing (2006)
#33 It's Just Another New Years' Eve (1977)
#33 Another Life (1992)
#38 Because It's Christmas (1991)
#41 If You Remember Me (1990)
He was born Barry Mincus on June 17th, 1943 in Brooklyn New York. Manilow, which he used professionally was actually his mother's maiden name. He began his career as a jingle-writer performing jingles for several famous brands including McDonalds, KFC, Pepsi, Band-Aid and State Farm Insurance.
In 1970, Barry began working with Bette Midler, and helped produce 2 albums for her. After getting that foot in the door, he began working on his debut self-titled album, and released it in early 1974 to little notice. It was his second album "Barry Manilow II" that gave him the breakthrough he needed. His debut single "Mandy" went to #1 on the Easy Listening Chart, as well as the Hot 100. And the fun for him was just getting started. The follow-up single "It's a Miracle" also went to #1, and resulted in the re-release of his debut album, which spawned the #4 hit "Could it Be Magic," the song that is considered one of the pioneers for the haunting power ballad and has made hits for Meatloaf, Bonnie Tyler and Celine Dion possible.
Of Barry's first 8 singles, 7 of them went to #1, and he went on to score 23 consecutive top 10 hits between 1974 and 1982, with the exception of his holiday time single "It's Just Another New Year's Eve," which failed to crack the top 30.
Barry scored his most recent #1 on the chart in 1983 with "Read 'Em And Weep." Altogether Barry has scored 13 #1 hits on the chart, putting him in 2nd place for most #1 songs on the chart overall, behind only Elton John. Between 1974 and 1989 he has scored 27 top 10 hits, his most recent being '89's "Keep Each Other Warm."
Manilow's chart success slowed down in the 90s, as he focused on cover songs from various genres including Broadway, the 1970s and a tribute album to Frank Sinatra. From those, he only made the top 30 twice, both in 1997 with I Go Crazy (#30) and I'd Really Love to See You Tonight (#26).
In the 2000s he hasn't seen too much radio success, only reaching the top 20 with Christmas songs, however he has had success in other parts. In 2002, he was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame. He produced two Bette Midler tribute albums, one of her honoring Rosemary Clooney, the other Peggy Lee. He also released his iconic "The Greatest Songs Of the..." series which saw covers from the 50s through the 80s as well as a love songs cover album. He reached the top 20 in 2006 with a cover of "Unchained Melody."
At age 68, Manilow just released his latest album "15 Minutes" which debuted in the top 10. The first single "Bring On Tomorrow" gave him his 47th overall AC hit (included extended charts). Today he has become a staple in Las Vegas, performing three successful different shows on the strip.
#1 Hits:
Mandy (1974)
It's a Miracle (1975)
I Write the Songs (1975)
Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again (1976)
This One's For You (1976)
Weekend in New England (1976)
Looks Like We Made It (1977)
Can't Smile Without You (1978)
Even Now (1978)
When I Wanted You (1979)
The Old Songs (1981)
Somewhere Down the Road (1981)
Read 'Em And Weep (1983)
Top 10s:
#2 I Don't Want To Walk Without You (1980)
#4 Could it Be Magic (1975)
#4 Somewhere In The Night (1978)
#4 Ships (1979)
#4 I Made It Through the Rain (1980)
#4 Some Kind of Friend (1983)
#5 Ready To Take A Chance Again (1978)
#6 Copacabana (1978)
#6 Let's Hang On (1982)
#6 When October Goes (1984)
#7 Daybreak (1977)
#7 Lonely Together (1981)
#7 Keep Each Other Warm (1989)
#8 Memory (1982)
The Rest of the Hits:
#11 In Search of Love (1985)
#12 Run to Me (w/Dionne Warwick) (1985)
#13 Brooklyn Blues (1988)
#16 Christmas is Just Around the Corner (2008)
#17 River (2003)
#20 Unchained Melody (2006)
#22 He Doesn't Care (But I Do) (1986)
#24 Oh Julie (1983)
#24 Paradise Cafe (1985)
#25 You're Looking Hot Tonight (1984)
#25 The One That Got Away (1989)
#25 Turn the Radio Up (2001)
#26 I'd Really Love To See You Tonight (1997)
#28 Bring on Tomorrow (2011)*
#30 I Go Crazy (1997)
#32 Love is a Many-Splendored Thing (2006)
#33 It's Just Another New Years' Eve (1977)
#33 Another Life (1992)
#38 Because It's Christmas (1991)
#41 If You Remember Me (1990)