Barry Manilow - Barry Manilow II

Barry Manilow II proves a more focused affair than his debut album; he's refined the hallmarks of his style, the arrangements aren't so busy, and he's not trying so hard to show all the genres that he's mastered. "The Two of Us" shows how fast Manilow matured since the debut album; the stripped-down, intimate production suits his lovelorn lyrics. In fact, nearly all the songs cover affairs of the heart, giving the album a thematic unity that it might otherwise lack. "I Want to Be Somebody's Baby" and "Somethin's Comin' Up" glow with the sunny optimism for which Manilow is so rightly known (and viciously lampooned at times, too). Burt Bacharach's lyricist, Hal David, proffers his usual incisive contributions to "Early Morning Strangers" ("It's hard to make small talk when there's nothing to say"); the bright horns and bouncy tempo effectively contrast the mood. "Avenue C"'s giddy '40s-era swing forecasts Manilow's later moves into torch songs and jazz standards, but the most remarkable songs are two largely solo piano ballads that follow each other near the end. "Sandra" takes the voice of a lonely housewife looking back at missed opportunities, while "Home Again" looks at a couple who've fallen apart -- and want to make up for lost time. Both songs reflect yet another quality that endears Manilow to audiences -- the ability to connect with life's underdogs and give life to their feelings. "It's a Miracle" and "Mandy" are rightly the best-known songs, but listeners will find no shortage of rewards to divert them here. ~ Ralph Heibutzki, All Music Guide

Name Credits Allan Schwartzberg Drums Artie Kaplan Saxophone Barry Manilow Voices, Arranger, Vocals (Background), Piano, Producer Bill Lavorgna Drums Bob Cranshaw Bass Bob Mann Guitar Bruce Tergesen Engineer Charlie Brown Guitar Charlotte Crossley Vocals (Background) Chris Parker Drums Clive Davis ? Dick Frank Guitar Don Grolnick Piano Ellen Starr Piano George Young Saxophone Gerald Alters Arranger Harry Maslin Engineer Jack Cortner Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements Jimmy Young Drums Joe Renzetti String Arrangements, Horn Arrangements Joel Brodsky Photography John Barranco Guitar Jon Stroll Piano (Electric), Clavinet Ken Williams Vocals (Background) Lee Gurst Percussion Linda Allen Photography Melvin Kent Vocals (Background) Michael Delugg Engineer Norman Pride Conga, Percussion Robin Grean Vocals (Background) Ron Dante Vocals (Background), Producer Russell George Bass Sam T. Brown Guitar Stanley Schwartz Saxophone Stuart Scharf Guitar Susan Mendola Design Wally Traugott Remastering Will Lee Bass