Barry Manilow
So uniformly terrific is this album—quiet, smoky, world-weary lyrics sighing into relaxed cabaret jazz—that you keep checking the label. Yes, it's that Barry Manilow, crawling way out on a long limb and ending up sitting very pretty indeed. There's a touching melancholia to his voice, an effective sense of language in his phrasing and an easygoing flow with the rhythms set up by the small but priceless group of musicians who back him up: saxophonist Gerry Mulligan, bassist George Duvivier, guitarist Mundell Lowe, drummer Shelly Manne and keyboardist Bill Mays (Manilow plays some piano himself). Mulligan seems to have been in an especially lyrical mood, and he gets plenty of solo time to exploit it. The songs were written by Manilow with a number of lyricists. They have the feel of '50s jazz to them without seeming like copies; Manilow sounds at times like Matt Monro, one of that era's most distinguished singers. There are also duets with Sarah Vaughan, who blends with Manilow gracefully on Blue, and with Mel Tormé, who comes on so strong he seems to be imitating himself on the otherwise admirable Big City Blues. The Paradise Café track sets the tone ("We'll make it feel good to feel bad") and the album follows through. It was recorded with little ex post facto overdubbing and the tracks blend into each other, lending a live quality that enhances the mood. I've Never Been So Low on Love, a Manilow-Marty Panzer tune, and Night Song, written with Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman, are highlights, but there's not really a letdown on the LP. Listen, everybody, there's a new singer in town. (Arista)
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