The Greatest Songs of the Fifties
Encyclopedia
The Greatest Songs of the Fifties is an album by veteran American singer Barry Manilow
, released in the United States
on January 31, 2006. A significant album for Barry Manilow, it finds the Brooklyn-born crooner taking on songs that were popular in his youth. The project also marked Manilow's return to his former label, Arista, with the company's founder, Clive Davis, setting the singer up with 1950s pop classics much in the way that the savvy businessman steered Rod Stewart in the direction of jazzy standards in his successful The Great American Songbook project. The album was an amazing hit in the United States. It entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1, giving him the second chart-topping album of his career. His only other No. 1 album was Barry Manilow Live
, in 1977. This is also the highest-debuting album of his career, selling over 150,000 copies in its opening week and besting the No. 3 opening of Ultimate Manilow
in 2002.
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
, released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on January 31, 2006. A significant album for Barry Manilow, it finds the Brooklyn-born crooner taking on songs that were popular in his youth. The project also marked Manilow's return to his former label, Arista, with the company's founder, Clive Davis, setting the singer up with 1950s pop classics much in the way that the savvy businessman steered Rod Stewart in the direction of jazzy standards in his successful The Great American Songbook project. The album was an amazing hit in the United States. It entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1, giving him the second chart-topping album of his career. His only other No. 1 album was Barry Manilow Live
Barry Manilow Live
Barry Manilow Live is the fifth album by the singer-songwriter Barry Manilow. The album was released in 1977, and it scored quadruple platinum....
, in 1977. This is also the highest-debuting album of his career, selling over 150,000 copies in its opening week and besting the No. 3 opening of Ultimate Manilow
Ultimate Manilow
Ultimate Manilow is a compilation of the greatest hits of Barry Manilow. Nearly every Top 20 hit is included in this collection. This compilation is best known for setting the stage for a comeback for Manilow, it debuted at #3 on the charts. While on a six week tour to promote his latest CD Here at...
in 2002.
US Version
- "Moments to RememberMoments to Remember"Moments to Remember" is a popular song published in 1955, and recorded by The Four Lads. The song was written by Robert Allen and Al Stillman.-History:...
" - 3:34 - "It's All in the Game" - 2:54
- "Unchained MelodyUnchained Melody"Unchained Melody" is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. It has become one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, by some counts having spawned over 500 versions in hundreds of different languages....
" - 3:45 - "VenusVenus (Frankie Avalon song)"Venus" is the name of a song written by Ed Marshall and Peter DeAngelis. The most successful and well-known recording of it was done by Frankie Avalon and released in 1959 . It became Avalon's first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it spent five weeks atop the survey. The song...
" - 2:26 - "It's Not for Me to SayIt's Not for Me to Say"It's Not for Me to Say" is a 1957 popular song with music by Robert Allen and lyrics by Al Stillman. It was written for the 1957 movie Lizzie , and was sung by Johnny Mathis....
" - 3:23 - "Love Is a Many Splendored ThingLove Is a Many-Splendored Thing (song)"Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" is a popular song with music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. The song was publicized first in the movie, Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing , winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song...
" - 2:42 - "Rags to RichesRags to Riches (song)"Rags to Riches" is a 1953 popular song by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The best-known version of the song was recorded by Tony Bennett and reached number one on the Billboard chart in 1953. In the same year, a version by David Whitfield reached number three in the British charts...
" - 3:21 - "Sincerely/Teach Me TonightTeach Me Tonight"Teach Me Tonight" is a popular song. The music was written by Gene De Paul, the lyrics by Sammy Cahn. The song was published in 1953.Cahn wrote a new verse for Frank Sinatra's 1984 recording on L.A...
(Medley)" (Duet with Phyllis McGuireThe McGuire SistersThe McGuire Sisters were a singing trio in American popular music. The group was composed of three sisters: Christine McGuire , Dorothy McGuire , and Phyllis McGuire...
) - 3:18 - "Are You Lonesome Tonight?Are You Lonesome Tonight? (song)"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" is a popular song with music by Lou Handman and lyrics by Roy Turk. It was written in 1926, first published in 1927 and most notably revived by Elvis Presley in 1960 ....
" - 2:57 - "Young at Heart" - 3:35
- "All I Have to Do Is DreamAll I Have to Do Is Dream"All I Have to Do Is Dream" is a popular song made famous by the Everly Brothers, written by the husband and wife songwriting team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, and published in 1958. The song is ranked No...
" - 2:48 - "What a Diff'rence a Day MadeWhat a Diff'rence a Day Made"What a Diff'rence a Day Made" is a popular song originally written in Spanish by María Méndez Grever , a Mexican composer, in 1934. Originally, the song was known as Cuando Vuelva A Tu Lado...
" - 3:03 - "Beyond the SeaBeyond the Sea (song)"Beyond the Sea" is a 1946 contemporary pop song with music taken from the song "La Mer" by Charles Trenet and lyrics by Jack Lawrence.Trenet had composed "La Mer" with French lyrics totally different and unrelated to the English language version that Lawrence composed...
" - 4:05
UK Version
- "Moments to RememberMoments to Remember"Moments to Remember" is a popular song published in 1955, and recorded by The Four Lads. The song was written by Robert Allen and Al Stillman.-History:...
" - 3:34 - "It's All in the Game" - 2:54
- "Unchained MelodyUnchained Melody"Unchained Melody" is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. It has become one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, by some counts having spawned over 500 versions in hundreds of different languages....
" - 3:45 - "VenusVenus (Frankie Avalon song)"Venus" is the name of a song written by Ed Marshall and Peter DeAngelis. The most successful and well-known recording of it was done by Frankie Avalon and released in 1959 . It became Avalon's first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it spent five weeks atop the survey. The song...
" - 2:26 - "It's Not for Me to SayIt's Not for Me to Say"It's Not for Me to Say" is a 1957 popular song with music by Robert Allen and lyrics by Al Stillman. It was written for the 1957 movie Lizzie , and was sung by Johnny Mathis....
" - 3:23 - "Love Is a Many Splendored ThingLove Is a Many-Splendored Thing (song)"Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" is a popular song with music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. The song was publicized first in the movie, Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing , winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song...
" - 2:42 - "Rags to RichesRags to Riches (song)"Rags to Riches" is a 1953 popular song by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The best-known version of the song was recorded by Tony Bennett and reached number one on the Billboard chart in 1953. In the same year, a version by David Whitfield reached number three in the British charts...
" - 3:21 - "Sincerely/Teach Me TonightTeach Me Tonight"Teach Me Tonight" is a popular song. The music was written by Gene De Paul, the lyrics by Sammy Cahn. The song was published in 1953.Cahn wrote a new verse for Frank Sinatra's 1984 recording on L.A...
(Medley)" (Duet with Phyllis McGuireThe McGuire SistersThe McGuire Sisters were a singing trio in American popular music. The group was composed of three sisters: Christine McGuire , Dorothy McGuire , and Phyllis McGuire...
) - 3:18 - "Are You Lonesome Tonight?Are You Lonesome Tonight? (song)"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" is a popular song with music by Lou Handman and lyrics by Roy Turk. It was written in 1926, first published in 1927 and most notably revived by Elvis Presley in 1960 ....
" - 2:57 - "Young At HeartYoung at Heart (song)"Young at Heart" is a pop standard, a ballad with music by Johnny Richards and lyrics by Carolyn Leigh. The song was written and published in 1953, with Leigh contributing the lyrics to what was originally a Richards instrumental called "Moonbeam." Frank Sinatra was the first performer to record...
" - 3:35 - "All I Have to Do Is DreamAll I Have to Do Is Dream"All I Have to Do Is Dream" is a popular song made famous by the Everly Brothers, written by the husband and wife songwriting team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, and published in 1958. The song is ranked No...
" - 2:48 - "What a Diff'rence a Day MadeWhat a Diff'rence a Day Made"What a Diff'rence a Day Made" is a popular song originally written in Spanish by María Méndez Grever , a Mexican composer, in 1934. Originally, the song was known as Cuando Vuelva A Tu Lado...
" - 3:03 - "Beyond the SeaBeyond the Sea (song)"Beyond the Sea" is a 1946 contemporary pop song with music taken from the song "La Mer" by Charles Trenet and lyrics by Jack Lawrence.Trenet had composed "La Mer" with French lyrics totally different and unrelated to the English language version that Lawrence composed...
" - 4:05 - "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)" - 3:49
- "As Time Goes ByAs Time Goes By (song)"As Time Goes By" is a song written by Herman Hupfeld in 1931. It became most famous in 1942 when it was sung by the character Sam in the movie Casablanca. The song was voted #2 on the AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs special, commemorating the best songs in film. It was used as a fanfare for Warner...
" - 3:45
Japanese Version
- "Moments to RememberMoments to Remember"Moments to Remember" is a popular song published in 1955, and recorded by The Four Lads. The song was written by Robert Allen and Al Stillman.-History:...
" - 3:34 - "It's All in the Game" - 2:54
- "Unchained MelodyUnchained Melody"Unchained Melody" is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. It has become one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, by some counts having spawned over 500 versions in hundreds of different languages....
" - 3:45 - "VenusVenus (Frankie Avalon song)"Venus" is the name of a song written by Ed Marshall and Peter DeAngelis. The most successful and well-known recording of it was done by Frankie Avalon and released in 1959 . It became Avalon's first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it spent five weeks atop the survey. The song...
" - 2:26 - "It's Not for Me to SayIt's Not for Me to Say"It's Not for Me to Say" is a 1957 popular song with music by Robert Allen and lyrics by Al Stillman. It was written for the 1957 movie Lizzie , and was sung by Johnny Mathis....
" - 3:23 - "Love Is a Many Splendored ThingLove Is a Many-Splendored Thing (song)"Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" is a popular song with music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. The song was publicized first in the movie, Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing , winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song...
" - 2:42 - "Rags to RichesRags to Riches (song)"Rags to Riches" is a 1953 popular song by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The best-known version of the song was recorded by Tony Bennett and reached number one on the Billboard chart in 1953. In the same year, a version by David Whitfield reached number three in the British charts...
" - 3:21 - "Sincerely/Teach Me TonightTeach Me Tonight"Teach Me Tonight" is a popular song. The music was written by Gene De Paul, the lyrics by Sammy Cahn. The song was published in 1953.Cahn wrote a new verse for Frank Sinatra's 1984 recording on L.A...
(Medley)" (Duet with Hiromi Iwasaki) - 3:18 - "Are You Lonesome Tonight?Are You Lonesome Tonight? (song)"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" is a popular song with music by Lou Handman and lyrics by Roy Turk. It was written in 1926, first published in 1927 and most notably revived by Elvis Presley in 1960 ....
" - 2:57 - "Young At HeartYoung at Heart (song)"Young at Heart" is a pop standard, a ballad with music by Johnny Richards and lyrics by Carolyn Leigh. The song was written and published in 1953, with Leigh contributing the lyrics to what was originally a Richards instrumental called "Moonbeam." Frank Sinatra was the first performer to record...
" - 3:35 - "All I Have to Do Is DreamAll I Have to Do Is Dream"All I Have to Do Is Dream" is a popular song made famous by the Everly Brothers, written by the husband and wife songwriting team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, and published in 1958. The song is ranked No...
" - 2:48 - "What a Diff'rence a Day MadeWhat a Diff'rence a Day Made"What a Diff'rence a Day Made" is a popular song originally written in Spanish by María Méndez Grever , a Mexican composer, in 1934. Originally, the song was known as Cuando Vuelva A Tu Lado...
" - 3:03 - "Beyond the SeaBeyond the Sea (song)"Beyond the Sea" is a 1946 contemporary pop song with music taken from the song "La Mer" by Charles Trenet and lyrics by Jack Lawrence.Trenet had composed "La Mer" with French lyrics totally different and unrelated to the English language version that Lawrence composed...
" - 4:05 - "Have I Told You Lately" - 4:17
Musicians
- Contractor: Joe Soldo
- Piano: Barry Manilow, Ron Pedley, Joe Melotti, Steve Welch
- Bass: Dave Carpenter, Dave Stone
- Guitar: Ken Berry, Mike Lent
- Drums: Russ McKinnon, John Robinson
- Percussion: Dan Greco
- Background Vocals: Randy Crenshaw (Contractor), Jon Joyce, Gary StockdaleGary StockdaleGary Stockdale is an American musical composer and a two-time Daytime Emmy winner. He has composed music for television shows such as Sabrina, the Teenage Witch; They Came from Outer Space; To Tell the Truth; Comedy Central’s Last Laugh; Cowboy U; Hayley Wagner, Star!; A Home for the Holidays , and...
- Heavenly Choir on "Venus": Connie Nassios
- Violins: Assa Drori (Concert Master), Barbra Porter, Dynell Weber, Yan To, Liane Mautner, Johanna Krejci, Tereza Stanislav, Alyssa Park, David Stenske, Cynthia Moussas, Ronald Folsom, Irina Voloshina, Jennifer Munday, Charlie BisharatCharlie BisharatCharlie Bisharat is a Grammy-winning violinistwho has extensively toured and/or recorded with numerous artists. He was a member of Shadowfax who won a Grammy in 1988 for Best New Age Performance for Folksongs for a Nuclear Village...
, Ron Clark, Armen Garabedian, Jennifer Walton, Shari Zippert, Mario Deleon, Margaret Wooten, Olivia Tsui, Neel Hammond, Brian Benning, Yvette Devereaux, Rebecca Bunnell, Kevin Connolly - Violas: Ken Burward-Hoy, Harry Shirinian, Caroline Buckman, Miguel Ferguson, Carrie Holzman, Sam Formicola, Ray Tischer, Kazi Pitelka, Rodney Hurtz
- Celli: Larry Corbett, Christina Soule, John Krovoza, David Speltz, Paula Hochhalter, Stephanie Fife, Vanessa F. Smith, Rowena Hammill
- Harp: Gayle Levant, Marcia Dickstein
- Saxophones / Woodwinds: Gary Foster, Dan Higgins, Gene Cipriano, Don Shelton, George Shelby, Greg Huckins
- Trumpets: Warren Leuning, Wayne Bergeron, Charlie Davis, Larry McGuire, Larry Lunetta, Chris Gray
- Trombones: Charles Loper, Chauncey Welsch, Stephen Baxter, Bryant Byers, Craig Gosnell
- French Horns: Steve Becknell, Jim Atkinson, Brad Warnaar, Paul Klintworth, Danielle Ondarza, Mark Adams
- Flute: Sheridan Stokes, Dave Shostac
- Oboe: Joe Stone, Earl Dumler
- Bassoon: John Mitchell
- Harmonica: Tommy Morgan