Barry Manilow Live

Untitled

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Robert Christgau	C−
The Rolling Stone Album Guide

Barry Manilow Live is the fifth album by the singer-songwriter Barry Manilow. The album was released in 1977, and it scored quadruple platinum.

Manilow also was among 1977 Special Tony Award winners Lily Tomlin, Diana Ross, National Theatre For the Deaf and Equity Library Theatre honored with the award that year. He received it for Barry Manilow on Broadway, his 12-day stay at the Uris Theatre from December 21, 1976 to January 2, 1977, where this live album was recorded.

The album is known for giving the first commercial release to Manilow's VSM ("Very Strange Medley"). Before the performance Manilow refers to this as a medley of songs that he included in his act against the values of his "artsy fartsy friends". It is a medley of commercial jingles Manilow was involved with, either as a writer or performer, before he became a chart star. The products/companies these promoted include Kentucky Fried Chicken, State Farm, Stridex, Band-Aid, Bowlene, Dr. Pepper, Pepsi and McDonalds.

When first released on compact disc, dialogue and all movements to "Beautiful Music" were omitted for it all to fit on one disc, however the 2006 compact disc re-release restores all dialogue and songs, in addition to reordering the track listing to accommodate for the added bonus tracks.

Track listing

Original LP Release

Side 1

1. "Riders To The Stars" - 4:48
2. "Why Don't We Live Together" - 3:45
3. "Looks Like We Made It" - 4:00
4. "New York City Rhythm" - 5:12

Side 2

1. "A Very Strange Medley" - 6:10
2. "Jump Shout Boogie Medley" - 8:16
3. "This One's For You" - 4:14

Side 3

1. "Beautiful Music" (Part I) - 2:02
2. "Daybreak" - 4:17
3. "Lay Me Down" - 4:41
4. "Weekend In New England" - 4:16
5. "Studio Musician" - 4:15

Side 4

1. "Beautiful Music (Part II)" - 1:15
2. "Could It Be Magic/Mandy" - 8:00
3. "It's A Miracle" - 5:14
4. "It's Just Another New Year's Eve" - 4:21
5. "I Write The Songs" - 4:31
6. "Beautiful Music (Part III)" - 2:21

CD Release

1. "Riders To The Stars" - 4:48
2. "Why Don't We Live Together" - 3:45
3. "Looks Like We Made It" - 4:00
4. "New York City Rhythm" - 5:12
5. "A Very Strange Medley" - 6:10
6. "Jump Shout Boogie Medley" - 8:16
7. "This One's For You" - 4:14
8. "Daybreak" - 4:17
9. "Lay Me Down" - 4:41
10. "Weekend In New England" - 4:16
11. "Studio Musician" - 4:15
12. "Could It Be Magic/Mandy" - 8:00
13. "It's A Miracle" - 5:14
14. "It's Just Another New Year's Eve" - 4:21
15. "I Write The Songs" - 4:31

Deluxe Legacy Edition

Disc 1

1. "Riders To The Stars" - 4:48
2. "Why Don't We Live Together" - 3:45
3. "Looks Like We Made It" - 4:00
4. "Let Me Go" - 4:00
5. "A Very Strange Medley" - 6:10
6. "I Am Your Child" - 2:37
7. "Jump Shout Boogie Medley" - 8:16
8. "This One's For You" - 4:14
9. "Lay Me Down" - 4:41
10. "Weekend In New England" - 4:16
11. "Studio Musician" - 4:15
12. "New York City Rhythm" - 5:12

Disc 2

1. "Beautiful Music" (Part I) - 2:02
2. "Daybreak" - 4:17
3. "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again"
4. "Lady Flash Medley" - 5:37
5. "Beautiful Music (Part II)" - 1:15
6. "One of These Days" - 2:56
7. "Could It Be Magic/Mandy" - 8:00
8. "It's A Miracle" - 5:14
9. "It's Just Another New Year's Eve" - 4:21
10. "I Write The Songs" - 4:31
11. "Beautiful Music (Part III)" - 2:21

Personnel

• Barry Manilow - vocals, piano
• Keith Loving, Sid McGinnis - guitar
• Steven Donaghey - bass
• Alan Axelrod - keyboards
• Lee Gurst - drums
• Harold "Ricardo" Alexander - percussion
• Lady Flash (Debra Byrd, Monica Burruss, Raparata) - background vocals