Barry Manilow II

Barry Manilow II
Barry Manilow II
Studio album by Barry Manilow
Released	October 1, 1974; 1996 (re-release); 2006 (re-release)
Studios	Hit Factory, New York City; Mediasound, New York City;
Genres	Pop; soft rock; easy listening;
Length	38:14 (original release); 41:37 (1996 re-release); 44:23 (2006 re-release)
Labels	Bell; Arista (Re-release)
Producers	Barry Manilow, Ron Dante
Barry Manilow chronology
Singles from Barry Manilow II
	"Mandy"/"Something's Comin' Up"; Released: October 7, 1974; "It's a Miracle"; Released: 1975;

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Christgau's Record Guide	C
Rolling Stone	(unfavorable) link

Barry Manilow II is the second studio album by Barry Manilow released in 1974. Propelled by the major success of its lead single "Mandy" and featuring a further international hit in "It's a Miracle", the album was a commercial breakthrough for Manilow. First issued by Bell Records, it was reissued after the company was reorganized into Arista Records. The album's success spawned a notable parody in the picture sleeve of Ray Stevens' 1979 single, "I Need Your Help Barry Manilow".

Album peaked at #29 on Canada's RPM Album Chart.

Track listing

Side 1

"I Want To Be Somebody's Baby" (Barry Manilow, Enoch Anderson) - 4:18
"Early Morning Strangers" (Barry Manilow, Hal David) - 3:24
"Mandy" (Scott English, Richard Kerr) - 3:32
"The Two of Us" (Barry Manilow, Marty Panzer) - 3:05
"Something's Comin' Up" (Barry Manilow) - 2:51

Side 2

"It's a Miracle" (Barry Manilow, Marty Panzer) - 3:58
"Avenue C" (Buck Clayton, Jon Hendricks, Dave Lambert) - 2:37
"My Baby Loves Me" (Ivy Hunter, Sylvia Moy, William "Mickey" Stevenson) - 3:18
"Sandra" (Barry Manilow, Enoch Anderson) - 4:35
"Home Again" (Barry Manilow, Marty Panzer) - 5:34

1996 Remaster

"I Want To Be Somebody's Baby"
"Early Morning Strangers"
"Mandy"
"The Two of Us"
"Something's Comin' Up"
"It's a Miracle"
"Avenue C"
"My Baby Loves Me"
"Sandra"
"Home Again"

Bonus track:

"Halfway Over the Hill"

2006 Expanded Edition

"I Want To Be Somebody's Baby"
"Early Morning Strangers"
"Mandy"
"The Two of Us"
"Something's Comin' Up"
"It's a Miracle"
"Avenue C"
"My Baby Loves Me"
"Sandra"
"Home Again"

Bonus tracks:

"Good News"
"Halfway Over the Hill"

Charts

Chart (1974/75)	Position
United States (Billboard 200)	9
Australia (Kent Music Report)	66

Personnel

Barry Manilow - lead vocals, backing vocals, rhythm arrangements, acoustic piano (1–6, 9, 10)
Don Grolnick - acoustic piano (7)
Ellen Starr - acoustic piano (8)
Jon Stroll - clavinet (1), electric piano (2–6, 8, 9, 10)
John Barranco - guitar (1, 6)
Dick Frank - guitar (1, 6, 8, 9, 10)
Bob Mann - guitar (1, 6, 10)
Charlie Brown - guitar (2, 3, 10)
Stuart Scharf - guitar (2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10)
Sam T. Brown - guitar (7)
Will Lee - bass guitar (1, 2, 3, 5, 6)
Russell George - bass guitar (4, 8, 9, 10)
Bob Cranshaw - bass guitar (7)
Chris Parker - drums (1, 6)
Jimmy Young - drums (2, 3, 5)
Bill Lavorgna - drums (7)
Allan Schwartzberg - drums (8, 9, 10)
Lee Gurst - percussion (1, 6)
Norman Pride - congas (1, 2, 5–8, 10)
George Young - saxophone (2)
Artie Kaplan - saxophone (6)
Stanley Schwartz: saxophone (6)
Jack Cortner - horn and string arrangements
Ron Dante - backing vocals
Melvin Kent - backing vocals (1)
Ken Williams - backing vocals (1)
Charlotte Crossley - backing vocals (6)
Robin Grean - backing vocals (6)
Sharon Redd - backing vocals (6)

Production

Producers: Barry Manilow and Ron Dante
Engineers: Bruce Tergesen, Harry Maslin and Michael DeLugg
Recorded at The Hit Factory and Mediasound Recording Studios (New York City)
Design: The Music Agency
Front Cover Photo: Joel Brodsky
Back Liner Photo: Linda Allen

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)	Platinum	1,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1 2 Ruhlmann, William (January 1, 1997). "Barry Manilow". In Bogdanov, Vladimir; Erlewine, Michael; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas; Unterberger, Richie; Woodstra, Chris (eds.). AllMusic Guide to Rock. San Francisco: Miller Freeman, Inc. p. 577.
↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: M". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 4, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
↑ "We began!" (PDF). Cash Box: 11. May 17, 1975. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
↑ "Birds of Fire - Mahavishnu Orchestra | Awards | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 191. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
↑ "American album certifications – Barry Manilow – Barry Manilow II". Recording Industry Association of America.

[AllMusic_Rock_1997-1] 1 2 Ruhlmann, William (January 1, 1997). "Barry Manilow". In Bogdanov, Vladimir; Erlewine, Michael; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas; Unterberger, Richie; Woodstra, Chris (eds.). AllMusic Guide to Rock. San Francisco: Miller Freeman, Inc. p. 577.

[CG-2] Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: M". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 4, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.

[began-3] "We began!" (PDF). Cash Box: 11. May 17, 1975. Retrieved February 4, 2022.

[4] "Birds of Fire - Mahavishnu Orchestra | Awards | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved January 1, 2014.

[aus-5] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 191. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[riaa-6] "American album certifications – Barry Manilow – Barry Manilow II". Recording Industry Association of America.