Even Now [Bonus Tracks]

Performer: Barry Manilow
Artist: Lee Ritenour; Paul Shaffer
Engineer: Michael DeLugg
Producer: Ron Dante; Barry Manilow; Al Quaglieri (Reissue)
Distributor: BMG (distributor)

Notes: Personnel: Barry Manilow (vocals, piano, ARP synthesizer); Jeff Mirinoff, Lee Ritenour, Jay Graydon, Mitch Holder (guitar); Paul Schaffer (electric piano); Bill Mays (keyboards); Bob Babbit, Will Lee (bass); Jimmy Young, Ronnie Zito (drums); Jimmy Maelen, Alan Estes (percussion); Ginger Blake, Linda Dillard, Laura Creamer, Ron Dante (background vocals). Recorded at A&M Studios, Hollywood, California & Media Sound Studios, New York, New York. Digitally remastered by Wally Traugott (Tower Mastering/Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California). Personnel: Barry Manilow (piano, background vocals); Jeff Mirinoff, Jay Graydon, Lee Ritenour , Mitch Holder (guitar); Paul Shaffer (electric piano); Bill Mays (keyboards); Ronnie Zito, Jimmy Young (drums); Jimmy Maelen (percussion); Ginger Blake, Linda Dillard, Laura Creamer, Ron Dante (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Thom Cadley. Liner Note Authors: Barry Manilow; David Wild. Recording information: A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA (07/1977-11/1977); Media Sound Studios, New York, NY (07/1977-11/1977). Photographer: Lee Gurst. Though it's best known for the uptempo, discofied "Copacabana," EVEN NOW is actually one of Manilow's most introspective '70s recordings. It's full of songs about failed and failing romances, occasionally lightened by a sunny tune like "Can't Smile Without You." On the title cut, Manilow looks back on a lost love to find that he still bears emotional scars. "Starting Again" details the growth of infidelity and mistrust in a relationship, to an unnerving minor-key melody. The obscure gem on EVEN NOW is "I Was A Fool (To Let You Go)," a subtle, jazzy saloon song worthy of Sinatra himself, in which Manilow castigates himself for letting a good thing go. It's arguably one of Manilow's finest moments, and well worth the price of entry in and of itself. Though it's best known for the uptempo, discofied "Copacabana," EVEN NOW is actually one of Manilow's most introspective '70s recordings. It's full of songs about failed and failing romances, occasionally lightened by a sunny tune like "Can't Smile Without You." On the title cut, Manilow looks back on a lost love to find that he still bears emotional scars. "Starting Again" details the growth of infidelity and mistrust in a relationship, to an unnerving minor-key melody. The obscure gem on EVEN NOW is "I Was A Fool (To Let You Go)," a subtle, jazzy saloon song worthy of Sinatra himself, in which Manilow castigates himself for letting a good thing go. It's arguably one of Manilow's finest moments, and well worth the price of entry in and of itself. When DJ Brian Goslow left the Willie "Loco" Alexander MCA Records sessions for Meanwhile...Back in the States in 1978, he couldn't escape Barry Manilow's "Copacabana (At the Copa)" on the radio. Like a scene out of a movie as the radio station changed, the same song came blaring out of the speaker -- showing the radio power of Barry Manilow in 1978 -- every underground radio programmer's nightmare. Manilow had injected semi-disco into his previous albums, but this was an all-out dance assault exacerbated by a 12" Spanish version, "En el Copa," also finding popularity. With a number one live album following up the previous studio disc, This One's for You, another year's worth of hits launched off of Even Now, with the title track going Top 20 after the Top Three showing of a pop masterpiece: Barry Manilow's rendition of "Can't Smile Without You." Clive Davis must have heard Engelbert Humperdinck's excellent album track from his 1976 comeback, After the Lovin', and with a little change in the original lyric a superb pop confection manifested -- a sophisticated "Jingle Jangle"/"Sugar Sugar" produced by the singer of those Archies' hits, Ron Dante, along with Manilow. The pair didn't stop there. They took Helen Reddy's 1975 Top 20 version of "Mandy," cowriter Richard Kerr's "Somewhere in the Night" Top Ten hit in early 1979 (after Manilow charted with a song from the film Foul Play in between the four-song chart run from this LP). Yes, there are still excesses on the Even Now album (one being the successful "Copacabana,") lows that go hand-in-hand with incredible highs like "Can't Smile Without You" and "Somewhere in the Night," popular music that is as timeless and effective as it gets. Marty Panzer and Manilow come up with a very impressive cocktail lounge essay, "I Was a Fool (To Let You Go)," while another Manilow cowrite, "Losing Touch," displays some progress in the songwriting department for the showman. England Dan & John Ford Coley songwriter Parker McGee lends his excellent "Where Do I Go from Here" with Jimmie Haskell orchestration to the mix and it works, bringing back that query from the previous album -- why didn't Barry Manilow cowrite with the talented songwriters who gave him some of his finest moments? [This 2006 edition of Even Now features significantly updated sound remastering, new liner notes, a lyric booklet containing rare photographs, and the previously unreleased, unfinished track "I'm Coming Home Again."] ~ Joe Viglione

CD Review Reader Consensus - Performance 9.1 / Sound 8.4

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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