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Barry Manilow: Albums
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After the landmark Concert at Blenheim Palace in August of 1983, Manilow started to venture into a jazz-driven style, starting with the 1984 album 2:00 am -- Paradise Cafe. The album was recorded with jazz greats Sarah Vaughan, Mel Torme and Gerry Mulligan. Manilow would return to the genre in 1987, with the release of Swing Street. The techno-jazz-inspired album contained performances with Dianne Schuur, Phyllis Hyman, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, and Tom Scott.
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Manilow's career achievements include sales of more than 75 million records worldwide. In 1978, five of his albums were on the best-selling charts simultaneously, a feat equalled only by Frank Sinatra and Johnny Mathis. He has recorded a string of Billboard hit singles and multi-platinum albums that have resulted in his being named Radio & Records number one Adult Contemporary artist and winning the American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist for three consecutive years. Several well-known entertainers have given Manilow their "stamp of approval," including Sinatra, who was quoted in the 1970s regarding Manilow, "He's next." In 1988, Bob Dylan stopped Manilow at a party, hugged him and said, "Don't stop what you're doing, man. We're all inspired by you." Arsenio Hall cited Manilow as a favorite guest on The Arsenio Hall Show and admonished his audience to respect him for his work.[1]
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That goal has been the creative spark for several Manilow concept albums that have interpreted music of earlier decades. Among the titles are 1984’s groundbreaking 2:00 AM Paradise Café featuring jazz legends Sarah Vaughan, Mel Tormé and Gerry Mulligan. Swing Street (1987) featured guest appear¬ances by Stan Getz, Phyllis Hyman, Kid Creole, and Diane Schuur. Later came Showstoppers (1991), spanning nearly a century of Broadway show tunes.
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Arista Records founder Clive Davis, whom Manilow considers his mentor, developed the idea for the '50s album. Manilow thought he was crazy. But where Manilow thinks like an artist, Davis thinks like a businessman, with his pulse on public tastes and trends. "Left to my own devices, I'd go as far away from commercial as possible and do a tribute to Tom Waits," he says.
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In the 1990s, Manilow recorded a succession of "event" albums, guided by Arista's President, Clive Davis. From 1991's "Showstoppers", a collection of Broadway tunes, to a big band album [Singin' With the Big Bands, Arista, 1994], a 1970s collection [Summer of '78, Arista, 1996], the decade ended with Manilow recording a tribute to Frank Sinatra [Manilow Sings Sinatra, Arista, 1998].
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"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" was the first single released from Manilow's recent Platinum approaching Christmas album, IN THE SWING OF CHRISTMAS. IN THE SWING OF CHRISTMAS was released exclusively by Hallmark and available only at Hallmark stores in the United States.
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