Here At The Mayflower

Performer: Barry Manilow
Artist: Dave Koz
Engineer: Greg Bartheld; Bruce Sugar
Producer: Barry Manilow
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel includes: Barry Manilow (vocals, arranger, various instruments); Ken Berry (guitar); Dave Koz (alto & tenor saxophones); Bill Liston, Larry Williams (reeds); Gary Grant, Jerry Hey (trumpet); Andrew Martin (trombone); Kenny O'Brien (synthesizer, percussion); Vince Colaiuta (drums); Ron Dante, Yvonne Williams, Clydene Jackson (background vocals). Recorded at Peppertree Studios, Palm Springs; Ignited Now Studios, Woodland Hills; and O'Henry Sound Studios, Burbank, California. Dave Koz's smooth saxophone on "Do You Know Who's Livin' Next Door?" ushers us into HERE AT THE MAYFLOWER The album is Manilow's first release of original material in over 10 years, and he sounds reinvigorated, with a new sense of passion. The songs are each meant to represent different apartments at the Mayflower, with a story behind each one. The characters Diane and Ken are both starting their lives anew "Come Monday." Barry's voice sounds as powerful as ever on jazzy ballads Border Train" and "I Miss You," and upbeat party numbers "Turn The Radio Up" and "They Dance." "She Shoulda Been Mine", with it's sorrowful string section, tells of his longing for a girl who's with the wrong guy. "The Night that Tito Played" is a wonderful tribute to Mr. Puente and expresses how Barry's life was forever changed by seeing the man perform. MAYFLOWER reunites Barry with collaborators Adrienne Anderson and Marty Panzer, who were responsible for some of his biggest '70s smashes. The talented maestro touches the listener in a personal way on MAYFLOWER, an album that ranks among his best.

Q (May 2002, p.117) - 3 out of 5 stars - "...R&B flavoured pop on the scale of a Hollywood musical, plus the three-minute fix of rock'n'roll..."

To many the very embodiment of the soft rock and middle-of-the-road genres, Barry Manilow became an international superstar in the 1970s with a string of hits combining heart-on-sleeve sentiment and finely crafted songs with slick, highly orchestrated production. His ultra-showbiz image (which was likely influenced by his early days as musical director for Bette Midler), appealed to an extremely wide audience. Although Manilow has long been regarded as the antithesis of hip, there is no denying his considerable talent, and his fans are among the most loyal (some might say fanatical) in pop music.

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