Ultimate Manilow

iTunes Review

Is Barry Manilow a sensitive balladeer or a consummate, crowd-rousing showman? He’s both, of course, and Ultimate Manilow offers a no-filler survey of the singer/songwriter’s Top 40 glory years, concentrating upon his mid-‘70s through early ‘80s output. What comes through here is the deep connection Barry has to the Broadway and vaudeville traditions of his native New York — the unabashed romanticism, boyish humor and twinges of pathos that run through these tracks goes all the way back to era of Berlin and Gershwin. From the aria-like “Mandy” through the classically-rooted “Could It Be Magic” and the anthemic “I Write the Songs,” Manilow stirred the emotions of millions. He occasionally made surprising song choices; the poignant “Ships,” for instance, was composed by glam-rocker Ian Hunter. “Copacabana” proved that he could shake off his lovelorn blues with a kinetic upbeat tune. The bittersweet “Somewhere Down the Road” found him scoring hits even as New Wave rock began to dominate the charts. The tunes in this collection remain classics of pop songcraft, served up with the affection and gusto that has made Manilow an enduring talent.