Tryin' to Get the Feeling [Bonus Tracks]

Performer: Barry Manilow
Engineer: Michael DeLugg
Producer: Barry Manilow; Ron Dante; Barry Manilow; Ron Dante; Al Quaglieri (Reissue)
Distributor: BMG (distributor)

Notes: This 1998 reissue contains one bonus track not included on the original release. Personnel: Barry Manilow (vocals, piano); Sid McGinnis (guitar, pedal steel guitar); Charlie Brown (guitar); Alan Axelrod (keyboards); Steve Donaghey (bass); Lee Gurst (drums, percussion); Jimmy Mauelen (congas, bongos, shaker); Debra Byrd, Ramona Brooks, Lorraine Mazzola, Ron Dante (background vocals). Recorded at Media Sound Studios, New York, New York. Digitally remastered using 24-bit technology by Robert Vosgien (1998, Tower Mastering/Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California). Personnel: Barry Manilow (piano, background vocals); Barry Manilow (vocals); Sid McGinnis, Sid McGuiness, Charlie Brown Jr., Charlie Brown (guitar); Steve Donaghey (bass guitar); Jimmy Maeulen (congas, bongos, shaker, percussion); Ramona Brooks, Debra Byrd, Lorraine "Reparata" Mazzola, Ron Dante (background vocals); Alan Axelrod (keyboards); Lee Gurst (drums, percussion). Audio Mixer: Thom Cadley. Liner Note Authors: Barry Manilow; David Wild. Recording information: Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, PA. Photographer: Lee Gurst. Arranger: T.G. Conway. For his third album, coming in the wake of massive success via MANILOW II's "Mandy," Manilow pulled in the reins a bit by working with his regular live band instead of anonymous studio cats. The result was a somewhat more individualistic sound that was still close enough to the radio-ready soft pop of MANILOW II to make for plenty of chart fodder. The title cut is a mid-tempo number that finds our boy longing for passion, ultimately finding it in the Gospel-tinged arrangement. "She's a Star" is a tribute to pal Bette Midler, for whom Manilow previously served as arranger and bandleader. The previous album's "Mandy" was (incredibly) eclipsed in popularity by "I Write The Songs," which ironically, was written not by Manilow but by former Beach Boy Bruce Johnston For his third album, coming in the wake of massive success via MANILOW II's "Mandy," Manilow pulled in the reins a bit by working with his regular live band instead of anonymous studio cats. The result was a somewhat more individualistic sound that was still close enough to the radio-ready soft pop of MANILOW II to make for plenty of chart fodder. The title cut is a mid-tempo number that finds our boy longing for passion, ultimately finding it in the Gospel-tinged arrangement. "She's a Star" is a tribute to pal Bette Midler, for whom Manilow previously served as arranger and bandleader. The previous album's "Mandy" was (incredibly) eclipsed in popularity by "I Write The Songs," which ironically, was written not by Manilow but by former Beach Boy Bruce Johnston. Barry Manilow made it to number one again during his first year as a hit artist with a rendition of Beach Boy Bruce Johnston's "I Write the Songs," beating out covers by David Cassidy and Captain & Tennille (who also released a version in Spanish). The modernized (read: no distortion) take-off on Phil Spector's Wall of Sound was what made "Mandy" so very special, and it came back to work here; Manilow sings with a seriousness on "I Write the Songs" that is as determined as his voice is on the title track, David Pomeranz' "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again." Both titles are light years beyond the rest of the album, even including Bruce Sussman and Barry's reworking of the American Bandstand theme. Like the Four Seasons before him, Barry Manilow is known for his ability to take a song up the charts; the album tracks are secondary and reserved for his most devoted followers. This quest for chart supremacy had a formidable team pooling their talents. It was co-produced by the star and Archies' lead singer Ron Dante, while Bette Midler, Miles Laurie, and Dick Fox are thanked for showing Manilow "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again." Peter Thom and Phil Galdston's "Why Don't We Live Together" is nice enough, but indicative of the near-miss compositions Manilow himself contributes -- "She's a Star," "You're Leavin' Too Soon" and "A Nice Boy Like Me" -- that might have gotten some Top 40 action due to Manilow's momentum, but didn't have the staying power of the established hits. At least the co-write with Adrienne Anderson, "As Sure as I'm Standin' Here," has a bit of a future, with the David Pomeranz/Manilow hit, "The Old Songs," something to look forward to. The problem with Barry Manilow is also his strength -- that he skillfully mixes Johnny Mathis' adult contemporary charm with Liberace's flamboyance. Both Mathis and Liberace knew how to reign in the excesses, while Barry could care less -- and he doesn't have to. By the same token, his fan base might be more prone to spinning Ultimate Manilow and avoiding the few rough spots of this album. [This edition includes two bonus tracks.] ~ Joe Viglione

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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