LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - August 21, 2007) - 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. BARRY MANILOW: THE FIRST
TELEVISION SPECIALS will be available November 6 at all retail outlets,
www.manilow.com and
www.rhino.com for a suggested retail price of $39.99.
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
bookended 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."
For additional information regarding BARRY MANILOW: THE FIRST TELEVISION
SPECIALS, please contact Christoph Buerger in the Rhino's Media Relations
Department at (818) 238-6248 or
christoph.buerger@wmg.com or Pamela Golum
(for STILETTO New Media) at (323) 965-1990 x325 or
pgolum@lippingroup.com.
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. Déjà 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 Café
11. Evie
12. Blue (with Carmen McRae)
13. Dancin' Fool
14. Stompin' At The Savoy
15. One More Time
Contact Information: For Rhino:
Christoph Buerger
Phone: (818) 238-6248
Email:
Artwork: http://www.rhino.com/media
For Stiletto:
Pam Golum
The Lippin Group
Phone: (323) 965-1990 x 325
Email: