The Essential Barry Manilow

Personnel include: Barry Manilow (vocals); Kid Creole & The Coconuts. Even those who find Barry Manilow's music cringe-worthy are likely to know the chorus to "I Write the Songs, " or to recognize the opening bars of "Mandy. " That's because Manilow held serious sway over the pop and adult contemporary charts throughout the '70s, ratcheting up an amazing string of hits, most of which became staples of the soft rock canon. It cannot be denied that Manilow is a talented tunesmith capable of crafting powerful melodies, both melancholic and jubilant; and heparlayed this talent into a hugely successful recording and performing career lasting well into the 2000s. Arista hasfollowed up the blockbuster sales of 2002's ULTIMATE MANILOW by issuing an expanded, two-disc greatest hits compilation dubbed THE ESSENTIAL. Naturally, the mega-hits--"Mandy, " "I Write the Songs, " "Looks Like We Made It, " and the disco anthem "Copacabana"--are here, but there isplenty of fine material spread out over these 34 tracks, including energetic show stoppers from his 1977 live album. Disc two concentrates on the performer's output from the '80s, including forays into lounge jazz ("When October Goes") and swing ("Hey Mambo"). This is a whole lotof Manilow, and should satisfy anyone looking for a comprehensive overview of the singer-songwriter's best material.

Track Listing

• Disc 1
• • 1 mandy
  • 2 it's a miracle [single edit]
  • 3 could it be magic
  • 4 i write the songs [single edit]
  • 5 bandstand boogie
  • 6 tryin' to get the feeling again
  • 7 beautiful music
  • 8 this one's for you
  • 9 weekend in new england
  • 10 jump shout boogie
  • 11 looks like we made it
  • 12 daybreak [live]
  • 13 new york city rhythm [live]
  • 14 can't smile without you
  • 15 even now
  • 16 copacabana (at the copa)
  • 17 ready to take a chance again
• Disc 2
• • 1 somewhere in the night
  • 2 ships
  • 3 when i wanted you
  • 4 i don't want to walk without you
  • 5 one voice
  • 6 i made it through the rain
  • 7 lonely together
  • 8 the old songs
  • 9 somewhere down the road
  • 10 memory
  • 11 some kind of friend
  • 12 read 'em and weep
  • 13 when october goes
  • 14 i'm your man [club mix]
  • 15 brooklyn blues
  • 16 hey mambo
  • 17 i'd really love to see you tonight [upte