Barry Manilow Live | ||||
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Live album by Barry Manilow | ||||
Released | May 1977 | |||
Recorded | December 1976, The Uris Theatre, New York City | |||
Genre |
Pop Easy listening |
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Length | 71:34 | |||
Label | Arista | |||
Producer | Barry Manilow, Ron Dante | |||
Barry Manilow chronology | ||||
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Singles from Barry Manilow Live | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | |
Robert Christgau | C− |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide |
Barry Manilow Live is the fifth album by the singer-songwriter Barry Manilow. The album was released in 1977, and it scored quadruple platinum.
Manilow also was among 1977 Special Tony Award winners Lily Tomlin, Diana Ross, National Theatre For the Deaf and Equity Library Theatre honored with the award that year. He received it for Barry Manilow on Broadway, his 12-day stay at the Uris Theatre from December 21, 1976 to January 2, 1977, where this live album was recorded.
The album is known for giving the first commercial release to Manilow's VSM ("Very Strange Medley"). Before the performance Manilow refers to this as a medley of songs that he included in his act against the values of his "artsy fartsy friends". It is a medley of commercial jingles Manilow was involved with, either as a writer or performer, before he became a chart star. The products/companies these promoted include Kentucky Fried Chicken, State Farm, Stridex, Band-Aid, Bowlene, Dr. Pepper, Pepsi and McDonald's.
When first released on compact disc, dialogue and all movements to "Beautiful Music" were omitted for it all to fit on one disc, however the 2006 compact disc re-release restores all dialogue and songs, in addition to reordering the track listing to accommodate for the added bonus tracks.