Barry Manilow: Songs From The Seventies
by David Mallet
List Price:
Our Price: $14.59
You Save: $5.40 (27%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $4.99 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Barry ManilowDirector: David Mallet
Brand: WEA DES Moines Video
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: DVD, NTSC
Running Time: 74 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-01-29
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Rhino Records
Movie Reviews of Barry Manilow: Songs From The Seventies
Movie Review: Barry!
Summary: 5 Stars
Got out my Bose over-the-ear headphones and potable DVD player for this one. This was a stinky week at work and I cannot think of a better way to spend early Saturday morning than with Barry, a cup of decaf, and a cranberry muffin. I generally write a review as I'm watching or listening for the FIRST time, so you get my first impressions of a product. I believe that is probably the most helpful assessment I can give you. That's why I am using both a potable DVD player and a PC.
This 2-disc DVD opens with Barry at his white Yamaha digital piano, playing and singing "Mandy," lookin' mighty spiffy in a classic dark suit with a blue shirt to set off those baby blue eyes. (I could have gone to this taping for PBS in Brooklyn in September 2007, but I didn't because I had been off work so much in September and was afraid to take off another couple of days. I am still kicking myself. Ouch!)
DISC 1 (50 minutes)
"New York City Rhythm" is next This song is hot! "I Am Your Child" of course, is a beautiful song that the fans have heard many times. I think it reminds of how important it is to try to teach our children the right things and do the best we can with them. (Anyway, they say, "Be good to your children. They will select your nursing home.")
Barry talks about and performs "The Commercials (Again!)" (Band-Aids, State Farm Insurance, McDonald's, Vicks), which has previously been referred to as "Very Special Melodies" (VSM). Based on a Chopan prelude, the beautiful "Could It Be Magic?" is next, followed by the acoustical version of "Copacabana (At The Copa)" from Barry's 70 CD. I love this version, kinda salsa-sounding. The audience claps along as he walks among them around an elevated walkway singing it. He steps down for a minute and dances with them. Frank Valli's "My Eyes Adored You" follows. Oh sure, just make me melt right here into the keyboard!--Beautifully done!!! "Looks Like We Made It" is next, another Barry classic. Barry begins "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" telling us about its relationship to a 1941 photo of a boy carrying his polo-stricken brother on his shoulders. What a beautiful song about helping each other, and in a deeper spiritual sense, about our inter-connectedness to each other. (It's no wonder that Barry sings this song with so much passion, because he has and continues to help so many people in so many ways.)
A snippet of "The Way We Were" follows, the beautiful song previously done by Barbra Streisand in the 70s. He briefly talks about the 70s and mentions the clothes he wore back then and how he went from bouncing checks at the A & P one day to bouncing to the top of the charts the next! Another of my favorites--I love the Barritized version of "It Never Rains in Southern California" also from his 70s CD. I heard Barry do this song on QVC in early September 2007. I was waiting for my CD to come while I was at a conference in San Diego (Southern California). There was a bad storm coming from Vancouver and the sky was black everywhere I went that week. All I could hear was this song playing in my head, and although it rained all around me, not one drop of rain touched me while I was in Southern California. I got to go everywhere I wanted to go.
"The Old Songs (Intro)" is followed by the "Seventies Hits Medley (Can't Smile Without You, Even Now, It's a Miracle, I Made It Through the Rain, Daybreak, This One's for You, I Write the Songs"). "One Voice" ends this CD. It is done by Barry, without musical accompaniment, in an empty studio, and it sounds absolutely fantastic! I'll be right back. I need another cup of decaf for disc 2.
DISC 2 (Extra Special Outtakes) (20 minutes)
"Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed?" is soooo hot! I love this song and he doesn't do it very often, mainly for the London audiences I think. After the song, Barry kibitzes with the audience as he realizes he is talking into his water bottle and starts laughing.
"The Way We Were Medley" follows with "The Way We Were, It Never Rains in Southern California, You've Got a Friend", and ending with "The Way We Were". I especially LOVE "You've Got a Friend" on this outtake. It is soooo uplifting and moving! Oh, the love-energy in it is just phenomenal! "All The Time" completes Disc 2. He begins, telling us how many letters he received about this song because it's about feeling like a misfit. (Apparently, lots of people associate with this song and it tells them you are really OK and you are not alone.)
The packaging consists of a clear plastic dual-disc holder with a Barry paper photo insert and the outer photo paper pix that you see. No additional material this time.
Great DVDs, visually very clear and with excellent sound quality. This is certainly an excellent addition to my collection and I am quite pleased with it. If you don't know it already, Barry does every song fresh. He does not lip sync. He continues to be warm, friendly, uplifting, and appreciative of his fans. He reaches out and touches them, with his hands and his heart as he moves among them, Barry has worked hard to get where he is today and is admired and respected by millions. This DVD is CURRENT Barry, doing some classics from the 70s as well as some songs from his 2007-released Greatest Songs of the 70s CD. I highly recommend it. On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it at least a 10.
Update July 2008: This TV Special was recently nominated for Outstanding Music Direction for the 2008 Emmy Awards! Way to go, Barry!
Summary of Barry Manilow: Songs From The Seventies
SONGS FROM THE SEVENTIES - DVD MovieSimilar DVD Movies
Barry Manilow - The Greatest Songs of the SixtiesBaker & Taylor; Release date: 2006-10-31; Music CD
Best price: $2.97
Price in other shops:
The Yule Log DVD: Barry Manilowe - A Christmas Gift of LoveSony; Release date: 2010-10-19; DVD
Best price: $6.22
Price in other shops:
Barry Manilow - DuetsRelease date: 2011-05-03; Music CD
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops:
Barry Manilow: One Night on BroadwayRelease date: 2009-01-06; DVD
Best price: $17.46
Price in other shops:
Happy Holiday!WEA DES Moines Video; Release date: 2009-11-03; DVD
Best price: $5.77
Price in other shops:
Barry Manilow- Ultimate Manilow!: Live from the Kodak TheatreSony; Release date: 2004-04-06; DVD
Best price: $29.95
Barry Manilow - Barry Manilow - First and FarewellWEA DES Moines Video; Release date: 2006-10-31; DVD
Best price: $6.90
Price in other shops:
Barry Manilow: Manilow Live!Image Entertainment; Release date: 2000-09-26; DVD
Best price: $44.90
Barry Manilow - Greatest Hits...& Then SomeBMG; Release date: 2000-02-22; DVD
Best price: $9.07
Price in other shops:
Barry Manilow - Live From Las VegasWEA DES Moines Video; Release date: 2006-03-28; DVD
Best price: $12.99
Price in other shops: