An interesting side effect to mom buying KISS ralbums for me is that she felt compelled by fairness to also purchase records for my sisters. I’m not certain what factors guided my sisters tastes in records. We all started on the same batch of Scratchy 45’s. I’ll have to ask them how it happened. All I know is that while I was Shouting It Out Loud, Barb had gotten into Barry Manilow. I have to include Barry her because even though I wasn’t actively listening to his music, I could hear it in our house enough to become familiar with the man who writes the songs.
I suppose it would be expected that a guy who was into KISS and later a much wider vein of heavy metal would scoff at Barry Manilow. The truth is, I like his music like I like so much other music. I appreciate his talents and I recall hearing my sister Barb play one of his live records where he did a medley of songs that he had written for commercials. I was surprised to learn that I knew so much of his music. A few years ago I picked up a version of his Greatest Hits just as a sentimental nod to those old days when Barb would play Barry Manilow in her room.
Barry Manilow – Bandstand Boogie
Barry Manilow – I Write The Songs
Barry Manilow – Can’t Smile Without You
Barry Manilow – Ready To Take A Chance Again
Barry Manilow – Weekend In New England
Barry Manilow – Could It Be Magic
Barry Manilow – Copacabana
Listening to these now, I think i like them now more than ever. I’m sure that Barry Manilow has his critics and folks who are too cool to let themselves enjoy this stuff. The guy had a pretty big string of hits and a pretty energetic live performance.