Great singer, great songs

Barry Manilow has a new album. It is called The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time and every cut can certainly lay claim to the title. OK, it does not include As Time Goes By but I think Barry has already done it either in his Greatest Hits series or in another one of his earlier releases. Forget that and you will find lots to like about this CD.

One is that this set is a better collection than any of his previous ones. This is not just because of the line-up but of the way these are presented. Barry, who played the piano in some cuts, helped arrange all the songs. And then he sings with the big orchestra with lots of strings which sounds just like in the motion picture scores of old.

This is how we have always thought that these songs should be performed for maximum effect, like in a movie. And Barry got the atmosphere, so right. Now if you want to indulge in some romantic daydreaming this Valentine’s Day weekend at home, this is the album for you. So bring out the popcorn and curl up on the couch.

Another thing is the material Barry chose to include. There are the usual oldie stuff of love songs albums like Love Is Here To Stay, I Only Have Eyes For You and Where Do I Begin? (The theme from Love Story). But there are also some seldom-heard beauties like Nevertheless, It Could Happen To You and How Deep Is The Ocean.

All of these songs are classic examples of the finest songwriting efforts of the past 100 years. Think of the brothers George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Francis Lai, Dorothy Fields, Harry Warren, Kalmar and Ruby, Jimmy Van Heusen, Paul Williams and others. They are all represented here.

 Then there is the reason why I said songwriting of the past 100 years. This is because for the first time in years, there is an album that includes the barbershop quartet favorite When You Were Sweet Sixteen. It was written by James Thornton in 1898. That means it is now 112 years old.

I remember listening as a child to the Norman Luboff Choir version of this song along with I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen and Down By The Old Millstream. I also heard one by Perry Como. It is really old but thanks to the power of a beautiful song, I am sure you will agree that When You Were Sweet Sixteen here does not sound any older than the other cuts. Besides, can you think of anything more romantic than being loved as when you were only sweet 16.

And then there is Barry. I wonder if you ever these past few years imagined you could hear Barry sounding better than ever. After all, the guy is over 60 years old and has been singing since the ‘70s. He should be singing the downhill way by this time, so says the law of averages. But he is not and he is simply great in this album. I first thought that it must be the songs. These, after all, are what I have always believed he was born to sing. Maybe the arrangements or the orchestra helped or the mix.

But all that happens again and again is I come down to the bottom line. The fact is Barry is in top form vocally. That is the only reason there is. This must be because of all the singing he has been doing in Las Vegas lately, which is also the reason why he has not gone on tour and returned to the Philippines. I’d love to have him in town singing these old songs. But whatever the reason, the fact is this CD is not only about The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time but also about Barry Manilow, great singer.

Also featured as great love songs in the album are The Look Of Love, I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, The Twelfth Of Never, We’ve Only Just Begun, Love Me Tender, and You Made Me Love You.

And don’t you forget it, a love song is a Valentine all the time. Enjoy your weekend.