>> BARRY MANILOW SHINES IN FIRST EVER BOX SET BARRY MANILOW: THE FIRST TELEVISION SPECIALS

Dubbed "The Showman of Our Generation" by Rolling Stone Magazine, Barry Manilow has sold more than 75 million records since his debut more than 30 years ago. The Brooklyn-born artist was already a chart-topping singer and songwriter when he launched a series of television specials in 1977. Audiences loved the hour-long variety programs and tuned in by the millions. Rhino, in association with STILETTO New Media, gathers five of those specials for a DVD boxed set containing shows that originally aired between 1977 and 1988.

Following the triple-platinum success of Barry Manilow: Music And Passion -- released last year by Rhino -- this boxed set is the very first to spotlight Manilow's beloved television specials. The collection features The First Barry Manilow Special (1977), The Second Barry Manilow Special (1978), The Third Barry Manilow Special (1979), One Voice (1980) and Barry Manilow: Big Fun On Swing Street (1988).

"We are thrilled that STILETTO New Media is able to bring everyone great moments in television history with the release of Barry's first DVD box set, BARRY MANILOW: THE FIRST TELEVISION SPECIALS," STILETTO New Media Principal Mark C. Grove explained. "Barry's audience has grown through the years, the '70s were a magical time for Barry, and for music in general, and we are delighted that multiple generations of fans can now enjoy some of his best performances on television night after night. Perhaps this release will spark the long overdue return of superb variety programs to television."

The set opens with The First Barry Manilow Special, winner of an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Music Special" in 1977. More than 37 million people watched as Manilow and his back-up group, Lady Flash, delivered sensational live versions of the classic tracks "It's A Miracle" and "Mandy" along with " A Very Strange Medley" -- an assortment of well-known commercial jingles that Manilow was a part of. Special guest star Penny Marshall and Manilow make the rafters swing with Manilow's "Bandstand Boogie." The show also includes a moving and exciting segment of Manilow's songs of people's lives book ended by "New York City Rhythm," which was filmed on location in The Big Apple. The special ends with Manilow's first produced performance of "I Write The Songs."

The appropriately titled The Second Barry Manilow Special was taped at the celebrated Pantages Theater in Hollywood and featured Ray Charles as a special guest. Nominated for four Emmys, the program features memorable debut performances of "Daybreak," "Can't Smile Without You," "Looks Like We Made It," and "Copacabana (At The Copa)" complete with nightclub showgirls.

The late John Denver joined Manilow as a special guest for The Third Barry Manilow Special, which earned an Emmy for "Outstanding Achievement in Choreography." The show featured Manilow paying tribute to the movie musicals of the 1940's for "I Write The Songs." The hour-long show wrapped with Manilow singing "Even Now" and "Somewhere In The Night" at his trademark white grand piano.

His fourth special in as many years, One Voice was also nominated for an Emmy. Featuring Dionne Warwick as special guest, Manilow opens the special with "Who's Been Sleepin' In My Bed" before tap dancing his way through "I Don't Wanna Walk Without You" and the touching "Sunday Father." The show wraps with Manilow leading a youth choir as they sing "One Voice."

BARRY MANILOW: THE FIRST TELEVISION SPECIALS closes with Barry Manilow: Big Fun On Swing Street, which originally aired in 1988. Manilow envisioned the special as a fantasy trip down a timeless jazz street that could exist any time or any place. Combining the great sounds of big bands, hot jazz and Latin rhythms, the program featured a number of guests including Kid Creole and The Coconuts, jazz greats Carmen McRae and Gerry Mulligan, and singers Diane Schuur and Phyllis Hyman to name a few. The show includes performances of "Dancin' Fool," "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)," "Hey Mambo," and the unforgettable "When October Goes."

DISC 1 -- THE FIRST BARRY MANILOW SPECIAL (1977)
1. It's a Miracle
2. This One's for You
3. Could It Be Magic?
4. Mandy
5. Jump, Shout Boogie Medley
6. Bandstand Boogie (with Penny Marshall)
7. A Very Strange Medley
8. New York City Rhythm
9. Sandra
10. Early Morning Strangers
11. I Write the Songs

DISC 2 -- THE SECOND BARRY MANILOW SPECIAL (1978)
1. Beautiful Music
2. Daybreak
3. I Was A Fool (To Let You Go)
4. Copacabana (At The Copa)
5. One Of These Days (Ray Charles)
6. It's A Miracle (with Ray Charles)
7. Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again
8. All The Time
9. Can't Smile Without You
10. Looks Like We Made It

DISC 3 -- THE THIRD BARRY MANILOW SPECIAL (1979)
1. Ready To Take A Chance Again
2. Weekend In New England
3. (Why Don't We Try) A Slow Dance
4. I Write The Songs
5. What's On Your Mind (John Denver)
6. Everly Brothers Medley (with John Denver)
7. Copacabana (At The Copa)
8. Even Now
9. Somewhere In The Night

DISC 4 -- ONE VOICE (1980)
1. You Could Show Me
2. Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed
3. Rain
4. When I Wanted You
5. I Don't Wanna Walk Without You
6. We'll Meet Again
7. After You (Dionne Warwick)
8. Deja vu (with Dionne Warwick)
9. I'll Never Love This Way Again (with Dionne Warwick)
10. Sunday Father
11. Ships
12. One Voice

DISC 5 -- BARRY MANILOW: BIG FUN ON SWING STREET (1988)
1. Swing Street
2. Big Fun
3. Right This Way
4. Hey Mambo (with Kid Creole and The Coconuts)
5. Stardust
6. Not Another Night Of This (Phyllis Hyman)
7. It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) (with Diane Schuur)
8. When October Goes
9. Black & Blue (with Phyllis Hyman)
10. Paradise Cafe
11. Evie
12. Blue (with Carmen McRae)
13. Dancin' Fool
14. Stompin' At The Savoy
15. One More Time <<



List Price: $39.99
Amazon Price: $26.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
You Save: $13.00 (33%)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VWQDVC/?tag=imwan-20

Good timing for this set, given Barry's return to the top of the album chart. I saw him in concert about 4-5 years ago, and it was a blast. Before performing "Copa," he played a clip from one of these specials, and the audience went wild.

Cheap enough price for this set, might be worth it just for the kitsch factor.

I have a sneaky feeling I probably watched one of these specials back in the day. Then again, it was the '70s, when I thought Donny & Marie (the show) was cool!!

Didn't we all???

I'll admit it. I went to one of his shows back in '77 (it wasn't cool to admit you liked him then, especially an 18 year old guy!), but it was an entertaining show

Jeff

I saw him first row in Atlantic City on the late 80's.