Both The Greatest Hits of the Fifties and The Greatest Hits of the Sixties were loaded with straightforward pop classics heavily focused on simple, strong melody lines instead of the vocal skills of the singer. In this context, Barry Manilow's genial delivery shines. This time around the songs are significantly more challenging and overwhelm Manilow's vocal talents. However, his reworked versions of his own classic pop hits are not to be missed.
Barry Manilow's Vocal Limitations on Display
The Greatest Songs of the Seventies kicks off with a gimmicky, singing in the distance, opening for "The Way We Were" and goes a bit downhill from there. Barry Manilow's simple singing in a somewhat restricted range only makes the listener long for the stunning fullness of Barbra Streisand's singing of the original. Songs such as "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" featured 2 of the top pop vocal stylists of the decade in the original versions (Barry Gibb in the first and Art Garfunkel in the latter). Manilow's stripped down approach only makes his limitations more obvious. "Bridge Over Troubled Water," in particular, sounds a bit like a small town talent show version of the song.
A version of "You've Got a Friend" featuring Melissa Manchester deserves special mention. Her voice is one that has been missing for too long in mainstream pop circles. The warmth of Manchester's vocals blend with Barry Manilow for a thoroughly charming version of this classic.
Top Tracks From The Greatest Songs of the Sixties
- You've Got a Friend w/ Melissa Manchester
- Weekend in New England
- Copacabana (At the Copa)
- I Write the Songs
Elegant Remakes of Barry Manilow's Own Seventies Classics
A common feature of all 3 of Barry Manilow's Greatest Songs collections have been tasteful musical arrangements that do away with the orchestral bombast that characterized many of his own hit songs from the 70's and 80's. This time, in addition to the cover versions of songs originally by other artists, Barry Manilow included reworked approaches to 6 of his own classic songs. They are easily the highlight of this album.
With the overpowering orchestras tamed, melody becomes the prime feature of such classics as "Weekend In New England" and "I Write the Songs." As always with his top hits, you will soon find yourself singing along and smiling as this master entertainer pulls you into his unique and familiar approach to pop music via songs that fit his vocal talents like a glove.
