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Manilow DVD Delivers on The '70s Cheese Factor |
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Written by ANDY ARGYRAKIS
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Wednesday, 27 February 2008 |
For a man that writes the songs that make the whole world sing, Barry Manilow sure does like to cover other artists these days. Similar to Rod Stewart, Cyndi Lauper and Bette Midler albums of recent years, he’s leaning on classics from other acts to find a mid-life career surge, though rather than focusing on standards, he’s found favor with pop songs from the fifties, sixties and now seventies. In an aptly titled DVD (that was also a PBS special), the celebrated and often times schmaltzy piano man pounds through power ballads of all associations, smiling, swaying and shine, shine, shining all around the world (or rather, Brooklyn’s old Navy Yard stage).
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Barry Manilow: Songs from the Seventies
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 Entertainment
 Art
 Special Features
Directed by David Mallet
Studio: Rhino Records
Not Rated
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The up close and personal concert starts with an undeniable sing-a-long in the form of Manilow’s very first smash “Mandy,” but rather than the glitz of his current Las Vegas spectacle, it’s a stripped down affair with just a grand piano and sparse instrumental accompaniment. It’s a tasteful start that paves the way for the full band, mini orchestra and background singer attack of the equally memorable easy listening staples “New York City Rhythm” and “I Am Your Child,” though the mood is quickly killed with a kitschy melody of commercials. Though it’s no secret that Manilow was a long time jingle writer, he’s recycled the same jokes for decades and doesn’t earn any additional respect for kooky clips that hawk Band-Aids, State Farm Insurance, McDonald’s or Vicks.
He finds some redemption through a mega-medley of familiar favorites (including “Even Now,” “I Made It Through the Rain” and “I Write the Songs”), though the segment is likely to incite a chuckle considering they all sound so similar to one another. Yet there’s no confusing a diverse swath of covers in this collection, which range from true to form takes on Frankie Valli’s “My Eyes Adored You,” Albert Hammond’s “It Never Rains in Southern California” and the Hollies’ “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother.” No matter what the material, Manilow remains a consummate entertainer, even if his sincerity is questionable during the seemingly scripted dialogues and canned comedy.
Still the concert’s set list is fairly generous and rounded out with a disc of bonus material, featuring additional outtake performances from the same session. Though not particularly revolutionary, his take on Barbra Streisand’s “The Way We Were” is pleasant and re-branded as a melody that includes touches of the aforementioned “It Never Rains in Southern California” and Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend.” In that regard, it’s probably enough for die-hard fans to devour, even if they’ve already taped the slightly shorter television special. Casual observers could also consider Songs from the Seventies to be a cheaper and still somewhat enjoyable alternative to taking a trip to Sin City for a similar show pumped up on steroids. Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
