Excuse Me While I Kiss This Guy -

Yeah, I got it.

The last, (I HOPE) in a series of albums Barry Manilow has put out - Greatest Hits of the (decade), and the latest is the Seventies version.

To its credit, it's the nicest one of the bunch, with a decent package and so on - but. I feel like I have to hide the damn thing.

So keep that in mind -

For the most part, it shares the distinction of being a karaoke album. You want to go sing karaoke with Barry Manilow, pull out any one of these albums, go get plowed and use your imagination. It won't have to take you very far. With very few exceptions to this rule, all of these albums have this very basic issue -

It's Barry Manilow covering material that in its original incarnation, was successful because of the character of the original artists, not because they were great tunes in and of themselves.

However, it isn't without a chuckle or two. And, after all, it is Barry Manilow. You ever had to wonder what exactly was in that song, oh so long ago, wonder no longer. It's Barry - so you can hear every word. (cadhla shares this trait on her CDs - she provides lyric sheets when you can't play the CD. Because you don't need them when you're listening to the CD. And she writes wonderful lyrics.)

Hearing Barry Manilow sing about being "broke and underfed" is amusing all by itself - but the turn he does this tune is worth listening to:

Barry Manilow - 'It Never Rains In Southern California'

So THAT'S what the guy was saying all this time...

(There's a track recorded with Rosie O'Donnell covering Elton John's "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" that I will have to shell out $$$ when it appears as a bonus track somewhere in the future. In the meantime, I have to give mad props to the boy for refusing to appear with - uh - an idiot. He hasn't said a word about anything political since Bush came to office - but has been the first to step up for the troops (recording a special version of "Welcome Home" from the Mayflower Album for them, for example - there's been other things) and anyone who doesn't think my boy is a patriot, hasn't heard Let Freedom Ring, the piece he did for the re-dedication of the Statue of Liberty. The reports are frankly, tempests in teapots, but hey. He said "I strongly disagree with her views. I think she's dangerous and offensive. I will not be on the same stage as her." Atta boy.)

I think, as an apology for having to put up with the stuff that made money, he's also covered some of his own stuff from the seventies - acoustic versions. Now, one could argue that 'Mandy' was always acoustic - I did, and skipped over it - but an acoustic version of 'Copacabana' - that truly over-produced tune off the "Scores" album - acoustic?

It's intimate, quiet and a complete surprise. It took me more than three tries to listen to it, however. I'm dead tired of Copacabana. DED.

Barry Manilow - 'Copacabana' (Acoustic)

And then dive into the four track bonus CD/DVD. More acoustic versions of three more tunes - and then you hit the one track that was worth buying the whole thing for.

Could it be magic? Well, maybe. I've written on this song once before, if you have some means to search the journal before tags came into use - he did this song himself, after putting just about everything into hock to do it. (After he'd tried to get it into press with Tony Orlando's help, who made it sound like "Knock Three Times." Of course that didn't sell. His own didn't do so well, either.)

Then he covered a tune that got attention, and OH YEAH, there was this first album sitting out there.

Barry Manilow - 'Could It Be Magic" - Trevor Horn Dance Mix

Now, damn it. I'll have to make that video now.

Barry Manilow? Go back to Concord Records and go make jazz albums again. RIGHT NOW. I've been very patient. And good.

GWAN.

Excuse Me While I Kiss This Guy -

Yeah, I got it.

The last, (I HOPE) in a series of albums Barry Manilow has put out - Greatest Hits of the (decade), and the latest is the Seventies version.

To its credit, it's the nicest one of the bunch, with a decent package and so on - but. I feel like I have to hide the damn thing.

So keep that in mind -

For the most part, it shares the distinction of being a karaoke album. You want to go sing karaoke with Barry Manilow, pull out any one of these albums, go get plowed and use your imagination. It won't have to take you very far. With very few exceptions to this rule, all of these albums have this very basic issue -

It's Barry Manilow covering material that in its original incarnation, was successful because of the character of the original artists, not because they were great tunes in and of themselves.

However, it isn't without a chuckle or two. And, after all, it is Barry Manilow. You ever had to wonder what exactly was in that song, oh so long ago, wonder no longer. It's Barry - so you can hear every word. (cadhla shares this trait on her CDs - she provides lyric sheets when you can't play the CD. Because you don't need them when you're listening to the CD. And she writes wonderful lyrics.)

Hearing Barry Manilow sing about being "broke and underfed" is amusing all by itself - but the turn he does this tune is worth listening to:

Barry Manilow - 'It Never Rains In Southern California'

So THAT'S what the guy was saying all this time...

(There's a track recorded with Rosie O'Donnell covering Elton John's "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" that I will have to shell out $$$ when it appears as a bonus track somewhere in the future. In the meantime, I have to give mad props to the boy for refusing to appear with - uh - an idiot. He hasn't said a word about anything political since Bush came to office - but has been the first to step up for the troops (recording a special version of "Welcome Home" from the Mayflower Album for them, for example - there's been other things) and anyone who doesn't think my boy is a patriot, hasn't heard Let Freedom Ring, the piece he did for the re-dedication of the Statue of Liberty. The reports are frankly, tempests in teapots, but hey. He said "I strongly disagree with her views. I think she's dangerous and offensive. I will not be on the same stage as her." Atta boy.)

I think, as an apology for having to put up with the stuff that made money, he's also covered some of his own stuff from the seventies - acoustic versions. Now, one could argue that 'Mandy' was always acoustic - I did, and skipped over it - but an acoustic version of 'Copacabana' - that truly over-produced tune off the "Scores" album - acoustic?

It's intimate, quiet and a complete surprise. It took me more than three tries to listen to it, however. I'm dead tired of Copacabana. DED.

Barry Manilow - 'Copacabana' (Acoustic)

And then dive into the four track bonus CD/DVD. More acoustic versions of three more tunes - and then you hit the one track that was worth buying the whole thing for.

Could it be magic? Well, maybe. I've written on this song once before, if you have some means to search the journal before tags came into use - he did this song himself, after putting just about everything into hock to do it. (After he'd tried to get it into press with Tony Orlando's help, who made it sound like "Knock Three Times." Of course that didn't sell. His own didn't do so well, either.)

Then he covered a tune that got attention, and OH YEAH, there was this first album sitting out there.

Barry Manilow - 'Could It Be Magic" - Trevor Horn Dance Mix

Now, damn it. I'll have to make that video now.

Barry Manilow? Go back to Concord Records and go make jazz albums again. RIGHT NOW. I've been very patient. And good.

GWAN.

Excuse Me While I Kiss This Guy -

Yeah, I got it.

The last, (I HOPE) in a series of albums Barry Manilow has put out - Greatest Hits of the (decade), and the latest is the Seventies version.

To its credit, it's the nicest one of the bunch, with a decent package and so on - but. I feel like I have to hide the damn thing.

So keep that in mind -

For the most part, it shares the distinction of being a karaoke album. You want to go sing karaoke with Barry Manilow, pull out any one of these albums, go get plowed and use your imagination. It won't have to take you very far. With very few exceptions to this rule, all of these albums have this very basic issue -

It's Barry Manilow covering material that in its original incarnation, was successful because of the character of the original artists, not because they were great tunes in and of themselves.

However, it isn't without a chuckle or two. And, after all, it is Barry Manilow. You ever had to wonder what exactly was in that song, oh so long ago, wonder no longer. It's Barry - so you can hear every word. (cadhla shares this trait on her CDs - she provides lyric sheets when you can't play the CD. Because you don't need them when you're listening to the CD. And she writes wonderful lyrics.)

Hearing Barry Manilow sing about being "broke and underfed" is amusing all by itself - but the turn he does this tune is worth listening to:

Barry Manilow - 'It Never Rains In Southern California'

So THAT'S what the guy was saying all this time...

(There's a track recorded with Rosie O'Donnell covering Elton John's "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" that I will have to shell out $$$ when it appears as a bonus track somewhere in the future. In the meantime, I have to give mad props to the boy for refusing to appear with - uh - an idiot. He hasn't said a word about anything political since Bush came to office - but has been the first to step up for the troops (recording a special version of "Welcome Home" from the Mayflower Album for them, for example - there's been other things) and anyone who doesn't think my boy is a patriot, hasn't heard Let Freedom Ring, the piece he did for the re-dedication of the Statue of Liberty. The reports are frankly, tempests in teapots, but hey. He said "I strongly disagree with her views. I think she's dangerous and offensive. I will not be on the same stage as her." Atta boy.)

I think, as an apology for having to put up with the stuff that made money, he's also covered some of his own stuff from the seventies - acoustic versions. Now, one could argue that 'Mandy' was always acoustic - I did, and skipped over it - but an acoustic version of 'Copacabana' - that truly over-produced tune off the "Scores" album - acoustic?

It's intimate, quiet and a complete surprise. It took me more than three tries to listen to it, however. I'm dead tired of Copacabana. DED.

Barry Manilow - 'Copacabana' (Acoustic)

And then dive into the four track bonus CD/DVD. More acoustic versions of three more tunes - and then you hit the one track that was worth buying the whole thing for.

Could it be magic? Well, maybe. I've written on this song once before, if you have some means to search the journal before tags came into use - he did this song himself, after putting just about everything into hock to do it. (After he'd tried to get it into press with Tony Orlando's help, who made it sound like "Knock Three Times." Of course that didn't sell. His own didn't do so well, either.)

Then he covered a tune that got attention, and OH YEAH, there was this first album sitting out there.

Barry Manilow - 'Could It Be Magic" - Trevor Horn Dance Mix

Now, damn it. I'll have to make that video now.

Barry Manilow? Go back to Concord Records and go make jazz albums again. RIGHT NOW. I've been very patient. And good.

GWAN.

Dumbass Games

I promised.

This Sim's name is Misa Naora - Romance Aspiration, and he has at last count, about six full siblings - and five half sibs. (I breed Sims. That's what I do.)



These are her parents, Aya and Noa Naora:



Dad is scary - and a download from The Sims Exchange (he came with a lot with a house on it and four other Sims). I built Noa in CAS.

( There are a couple of other pictures of Misa under here )

Dumbass Games

I promised.

This Sim's name is Misa Naora - Romance Aspiration, and he has at last count, about six full siblings - and five half sibs. (I breed Sims. That's what I do.)



These are her parents, Aya and Noa Naora:



Dad is scary - and a download from The Sims Exchange (he came with a lot with a house on it and four other Sims). I built Noa in CAS.

( There are a couple of other pictures of Misa under here )

Dumbass Games

I promised.

This Sim's name is Misa Naora - Romance Aspiration, and he has at last count, about six full siblings - and five half sibs. (I breed Sims. That's what I do.)



These are her parents, Aya and Noa Naora:



Dad is scary - and a download from The Sims Exchange (he came with a lot with a house on it and four other Sims). I built Noa in CAS.

( There are a couple of other pictures of Misa under here )