Barry Manilow - Ultimate Manilow - [CD]

There's a cynical adage that argues that if you stand still long enough, history will eventually catch up with you. It's tempting to say that about Barry Manilow, an artist whose stubborn dedication to old-fashioned song craft and musical melodrama has earned him few critical praises but a loyal worldwide following in the millions. When a cult of 20something would-be lounge lizards tried to cash in on Manilow's shtick in the 90s, they distanced themselves from its emotional potency with telling dollops of irony and retro-hip cynicism--anything to keep from looking too sincere. The Ultimate serves up the high points of Manilow's long, successful career, rightly focusing on the long string of 70s hits that built both his legend and record label. They're a body of songs whose solid craftsmanship is undeniable, but it's Manilow's sincerity that crucially sells them--indeed, he didn't write "I Write the Songs" but who could doubt him? It's an odd tribute that much here--"Mandy", "Looks Like We Made It", "Copacabana" etc.--has become the palette for a popular entertainment spectrum that somehow encompasses endless hotel piano bars on the one flank and TV sketch-com parody on the other. Good to remember that kitsch, by definition, requires a deep and lasting impact on the culture. Manilow hasn't just embraced the "K" word; he's revelled in it with a smile--how could one frown through "Bandstand Boogie" and "Copa" anyway?--and elevated it to something approaching the transcendental through sheer, joyous force of will. And if his latter work has been unabashedly nostalgic, how could anyone be surprised? ?-Jerry McCulleyProduct DescriptionManilow, Barry

Track list: 1. Mandy, 2. It's a Miracle, 3. Could It Be Magic, 4. I Write the Songs, 5. Bandstand Boogie, 6. Tryin' to Get the Feeling, 7. This One's for You, 8. Weekend in New England, 9. Looks Like We Made It, 10. Daybreak, 11. Can't Smile Without You, 12. Even Now, 13. Copacabana (At the Copa), 14. Somewhere in the Night, 15. Ready to Take a Chance Again, 16. Ships, 17. I Made It Through the Rain, 18. The Old Songs, 19. When October Goes, 20. Somewhere Down the Road