I've been a Barry Manilow fan since 'Mandy'; I've seen him in concert several times. I love his songs, his voice and he really puts his all to the songs as he sings them - the easy listening love songs. When he switched to Jazz, he lost this fan and I hadn't heard or purchased anything by him for years. Then I heard he was doing this 50's album. I knew they had to be love songs; I had to have it. It was well worth the wait. It's fantastic! He's now doing songs of the 60's (that's my time) and I can hardly wait until this fall when it's released. I chose to purchase it on eBay because of the convenience and price. Even with shipping it was cheaper than I could get it locally.
There is little more enjoyable than watching some of the great singers of the past enjoy (or at least attempt) a renaissance. Since Barry Manilow's The Greatest Songs of hte Fifties came out 8 weeks ago - he's spent 8 weeks atop the charts. He's also sold out to the major networks and used (or abused - depends on your POV) popular TV to reach new, younger viewers. He performed on Dancing with the Stars and then spent a week with American Idol. While he looks creepy as can be (too much surgery and weird hair) - he still has a strong voice and the 50s songs do suite it. I think he's lost some of his past magic - but he's chosen good songs and this album is wildly popular.
I bought this CD as a gift for my wife. She is a Manilow maniac and wanted to get the latest from her greatest. We listened to it last night, and we were both a little disappointed. There are some great song selections here, the arrangements and production is good, and Barry sounds smooth and clear. However, we wish the song selection was a little more varied. Barry picked almost all slow and sleepy tunes for this album, and we wish some of the songs were a bit more lively. All in all though, a Manilow fan will enjoy the disc and the fact that it is also a dual disc - there is a DVD of kind of the story of this album that is included on one side, while the other is a straight CD. Enjoy!
I never was a big fan of Barry Manilow, until I bought his album of "Singing with the Big Bands" which I really enjoyed. "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties", is another of his great vocal talent recordings, which I really enjoy. It includes some great songs, which still remain in my heart and done just in the right quality which you can enjoy.
Great CD almost every song is wonderful, you'll want to play it over and over!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I love the songs from the fifties, and I love Barry manilows singing. He is very talented, and this was a great chice of songs. This shows he has great versitality with different types of music. This is a must have for those of you who like the 2 things I like above.
Barry does classics very well, you can actually make out the lyrics and he has some soul when singing (regardless of the anti-Barry soul issue some people seem to take with him). In this CD he throws some new life into older classics and for the most part hits them about right. I wouldn't have picked some of those songs to re-do, but he did and he does them respectfully well.
I love this CD all wonderful songs by wonderful singer
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This CD is Manilow's attempt to recharge his career by capturing the young crowd probably won't work. The songs he chose from the fifties are more reminiscent of the forties to me. Although he chose great tunes they tend to drag into each other and Beyond the Sea seems to go on forever. He could have had more variety in the CD. When you think of the fifties you think of rock and roll. Still the CD is worth listening as Manilow makes each song his own.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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