Yes, this is the album that made me a Barry Manilow fan waaaay back in Junior High. Go ahead, roll your eyes, and cringe in the memory of shmaltzy melodies, too many key changes, and "Copacabana". You would be well within your rights.

But this disc contains one highly overlooked song that, IMHO, is one of the best Manilow ever recorded, and one of the finest ballads ever written: the often-overloked "Lay Me Down". Here's an understated performance of a fantastic melody. Wonderful lyrics. A great tune.

Of course, the rest of the album is fine, too, but "Lay Me Down" deserves a place in your CD collection. For that, and that alone, this one gets 5 stars.

By now you realize that I can't really be objective about Barry. This is number 14 in my new CD Replacement and Discovery collection. Number One Discovery being "Singin' With the Big Bands". Number One Replacement being "2am Paradise Cafe".

I remember this cover, and I remember wishing that there was a picture of Barry on it instead (now I kinda like the kitchy piano man) but I got a big smile when I opened the CD case and found a picture of Barry with Bagel (the beagle) and wearing his "I Love Beagles" t-shirt. For me, worth the price of the CD!

But what about the music, you ask? In every Barry CD, there are one or two songs that are Greatness. Those are "As Sure As I'm Standing Here", and "Lay Me Down". I'm also adding "Marry Me A Little", a bonus track Barry had originally recorded for this album, and then left it out. It has all the promise of what lay ahead musically for Barry. It's like that magical first kiss at the end of a great date.

So... will you be hearing from me again? Sure! I just got "Showstoppers"! And if it's true Barry has 30 CD's on Amazon alone, I've still got 16 to go.
Really love ya, Barry!
(You all know he's cool again, right?)

Barry is first and foremost a songwriter,and this album epitomizes the very gift that is so much an integral part of him.Someone else usually does the lyrics.But can you listen if the MUSIC doesn't first capture the attention?That is precisely my point. It's the SOUND that pulls you in,that you actually HEAR,and then you listen to the lyrics.This album is another of Barry's in which he tells us a story and we are yet again captured....

CLASSIC BARRY MANILOW. I'M A FAN OF BARRY'S SOFTER PIANO PLAYING BALLADS, LIKE "AS SURE AS I'M STANDING HERE" AND "LAY ME DOWN". THANK YOU ARISTA FOR FINALLY RE-RELEASING THIS ALBUM ON CD, AND WITH A BONUS TRACK!

I just purchased this new version of this Barry old Jewel. As soon as I put the CD on the player I ran to the new track #12. And to my surprise I found Barry "Marvelously" singing a Sondheim tune as I had never heard. So if this CD was excellent on its first issue, this new masters makes it EVEN BETTER!! If you like him DON'T miss it!