My favorites have to be a tie between "Tryin' To Get The Feeling" (I like a man
who puts his dog on there someplace!) and "If I Shoujld Love Again" (I always
liked that pastel drawing of him on the white background)
I think "Barry Manilow's Greatest Hits" (the first "greatest hit" collection)
has to be the worst. This is the one with the perfectly permed hair, white
shirt and the star necklace ... he is just WAY too "pretty" in this photo.
Ick.
Funny, I was just thinking about this last week when I unpacked my CD's after
moving.
My favorite covers would be Manilow Sings Sinatra (I was disappointed with the
album but I loved the photogaphy), and Manilow II, with that great electric
`70s look.
My least favorite is also the original (1978) greatest hits album. Not a
flattering picture, IMHO.
S
My favorites: "Swing Street" because it really set the mood for the
album. "Paradise Cafe" is a close second, but doesn't quite get there
because he's too airbrushed, and pretty. Needed to look a bit rougher
around the edges, IMHO, for the mood of the album. He needed to look
more like he did in the video, "The Making of Paradise Cafe" - more like
a piano player instead of a model.
My least favorites: "GH" 1978 tied with "Manilow" 1985 - both way too
airbrushed and plastic looking. They could have used Barry mannequins
for those shots. Runner up: "GH II" 1983 - Again, too airbrushed. The
original artwork for that cover reportedly was nixed by Barry at the
VERY last minute (it actually did make it into some store ads in
December 83), and the original picture was so much better than the one
they used.
My absolute favorite cover (LP/45/whatever): CD single "I Go Crazy" -
The cover alone is worth buying the CD - absolutely wonderful.
Special mention: "Barry Manilow" 1973 - Because this was before the
showbiz hurricane hit. Lots of innocense in that face.
Scooter
My favorite cover is the Showstoppers cover. It's just so perfect for the
theme of the CD. I also like the cover for Swing Street and Because It's
Christmas (very warm and cozy looking!)
My least favorites are definitely Live and Live On Broadway.
Kristina
*It's not easy having a good time...even smiling makes my face ache*
~Frank N. Furter (RHPS)
I think my favorite album cover is "Because it's Christmas" White shirt, black
jeans, in front of the fire -- then inside/back, big fluffy red turtleneck
sweater, relaxing in a black leather chair in front of a roaring fire, snowflakes
on the windowsill, loads of candles burning on the mantle. . . .could it be any
more romantic???? Sigh . . . . . .
At the risk of being stoned to death, here's a little something from the
you-know-what about that album cover:
<< The album Even Now marked not only the end of Barry's days as a New
Yorker, but also the his reconnection with Lee Gurst, with whom he hadn't
worked since they'd parted ways in April 1977. Wrapping up production of Even
Now after his return to New York, Barry was finding it difficult to get the
people at Arista to understand what he wanted for the look of the album's
cover. Barry called Lee, who was himself now living in California. "Arista
couldn't seem to get the look Barry wanted for the album's jacket," Gurst
recalls. "He said, 'they just keep showing me all this crap, here's my idea,
could you shoot it?'" Lee knew just what Barry was talking about and was on a
plane to New York within the week.
"I got off the plane like 5 o'clock in the morning at Kennedy," says Gurst,
"raced to the apartment on Central Park West so I could be there when the sun
came up, and shot the cover. Had the proofs back by 10:30, and that was it! It
was done." The result was a stunning shot of Barry, in profile in the extreme
right foreground of the photo, looking out over the city as the sun rose in
spectacular color over the skyscrapers. It was a perfect complement to the
album's collection of songs which included 'Starting Again' and 'Sunrise'.>>
>
> My favorites: "Swing Street" because it really set the mood for the
> album. "Paradise Cafe" is a close second, but doesn't quite get there
> because he's too airbrushed, and pretty. Needed to look a bit rougher
> around the edges, IMHO, for the mood of the album. He needed to look
> more like he did in the video, "The Making of Paradise Cafe" - more like
> a piano player instead of a model.
>
> My least favorites: "GH" 1978 tied with "Manilow" 1985 - both way too
> airbrushed and plastic looking. They could have used Barry mannequins
> for those shots. Runner up: "GH II" 1983 - Again, too airbrushed. The
> original artwork for that cover reportedly was nixed by Barry at the
> VERY last minute (it actually did make it into some store ads in
> December 83), and the original picture was so much better than the one
> they used.
>
> My absolute favorite cover (LP/45/whatever): CD single "I Go Crazy" -
> The cover alone is worth buying the CD - absolutely wonderful.
>
> Special mention: "Barry Manilow" 1973 - Because this was before the
> showbiz hurricane hit. Lots of innocense in that face.
>
> Scooter
>
>
My favorite covers (in order):
1. Summer of 78 (I like the natural look and the black t-shirt.)
2. Paradise Cafe (This would be my favorite if it weren't for the heavy
pancake makeup. It's a beautiful picture, just not natural enough. I
agree with Scooter, they should have used a picture from the video.)
3. Swing Street (I like the look on his face and the pose leaning against
the wall (doorway?).
My least favorite covers (in order):
1. Manilow (The eye liner and the clothes are the worst I've ever seen on
him.)
2. Greatest Hits 1978 (Much too pretty.)
3. Barry (Too much eyeliner.)
I rarely disagree with Scooter but this time I have to. :) Regarding
Greatest Hits 1983, I prefer the cover used to the one Barry nixed. I find
the original one to be too surreal. He looks like an angel, he's dressed
all in white and his eyes are so blue, too blue, that they're piercing.
I find he looks more human on the cover used. JMHO. :)
Gayle
I agree with you. It is my favorite too.
"De Russy68" <deru...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010906120624...@mb-cj.aol.com...
> << The result was a stunning shot of Barry, in profile in the extreme
> right foreground of the photo, looking out over the city as the sun rose in
> spectacular color over the skyscrapers. It was a perfect complement to the
> album's collection of songs which included 'Starting Again' and 'Sunrise'.>>
There's another shot from that same photo shoot in the 1978 tourbook.
It's from a slightly different angle, and shows Barry from the hips up.
You can see the balcony railing and lots of the water below, plus the
window opened out, and the sun is a bit higher in the sky. Very nice
shot.
Scooter
Just a small correction, lest folks think Lee Gurst is a real braggart: the
"stunning shot", etc. verbiage was mine.
>I like Even Now with the profile against the New York skyline. Also One Voice
>with the black and white photo fits the mood of that album except the hair is
>too fluffy.
Those are my 2 faves too. One Voice being my first choice.
~*~*~*~ Tin@ ~*~*~*~
Swing Street
Here Comes the Night
Even Now
Least favorite(s)
One Voice (ick! cold sore and all!) ;)
Manilow (what was up with the straw hat?)
> My favorites have to be a tie between "Tryin' To Get The Feeling" (I like a man
> who puts his dog on there someplace!) and "If I Should Love Again" (I always
> liked that pastel drawing of him on the white background)
I'm with you on the drawing of Barry for "If I Should Love Again."
That was a great cover. So great, it inspired me to explore colored
pencil during a phase in college. For some reason, I thought I had
heard that a fan had created it and he liked it enough to put it on an
album cover? Is that one true? Same gal also sketched Air Supply for
one of their albums too, I think.
Also like back cover with the Bagel. Gosh, that is a classic.
Least favorite? Hmmm. The RCA Manilow album ranks right up there. I
dunno. Barry and yellow .... nope.
Jackie
I'd have to say my favorite album cover was "Barry Manilow" (the purple
one). "Eiola - The Love Songs" comes in as a close second.