LOS ANGELES, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Rhino Records) - The year was 1978.
Barry Manilow was playing outdoor amphitheaters around the U.S. and getting ready to head overseas. The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles asked if Manilow would play not one, but two straight weeks for more than 72,000 fans. Being new on the scene and anxious to compete with the major networks, HBO got involved and created its first two-hour musical special, "Manilow: Live at the Greek Theatre." The powerhouse performance garnered a huge viewing audience, becoming the first cable special to beat the networks in ratings.
Thirty years later, Manilow's HBO special makes its long-awaited DVD debut with "BARRY MANILOW: IN CONCERT - THE LEGENDARY 1978 CONCERT AT THE GREEK THEATRE." The digitally restored and re-mastered DVD will be available in time for Mother's Day from Rhino Records, in association with STILETTO New Media, exclusively at www.manilow.com. As an added bonus, each DVD will be accompanied by the 28-page 1978 Summer Tour Program. This limited edition package is available May 5.
"BARRY MANILOW: IN CONCERT - THE LEGENDARY 1978 CONCERT AT THE GREEK THEATRE" captures the momentous occasion at the outset of his distinguished career which led him to perform before millions of people around the world for the next 30 years and continues today. The nearly two-hour concert spotlights pop hits, lushly arranged romantic ballads, as well as a medley of '40s boogie tunes that includes a cover of Louis Jordan's "Jumpin' And Jivin'" and Manilow's own "Avenue C."
"People were literally sitting in the trees," Manilow recalls fondly. "Words simply cannot describe the energy and incredible magic in the air that night."
The concert was recorded near the end of Manilow's In Concert tour for "Even Now," his fourth multi-platinum album in a row. On the charts for a year, the album included the hits "Can't Smile Without You" and the title track, both of which Manilow performed at The Greek Theatre. For "Copacabana (At The Copa)," another huge hit from the album, the stage is transformed into a period set by the show's magnificent art director Ed Flesh. Shortly after the special was aired, Manilow received a Grammy for that song.
Much of the Greek Theatre concert is drawn from songs that first appeared on Manilow's back-to-back, triple-platinum albums - "Trying To Get That Feeling" (1975) and "This One's For You" (1976). Manilow revisits those albums, delivering memorable performances of "Weekend In New England" and "Looks Like We Made It," plus his No 1 pop smash, "I Write The Songs." "BARRY MANILOW: IN CONCERT - THE LEGENDARY 1978 CONCERT AT THE GREEK THEATRE" also features Manilow's emotional performance of "Mandy," the artist's first No 1 single.
For further information regarding "BARRY MANILOW: IN CONCERT - THE LEGENDARY 1978 CONCERT AT THE GREEK THEATRE," please contact Christoph Buerger in the Rhino Records Media Relations Department at (818) 238-6248 or [email protected].
BARRY MANILOW: IN CONCERT - THE LEGENDARY 1978 CONCERT AT THE GREEK THEATRE Track Listing:
ACT 1
1. "Here We Go Again"
2. "New York City Rhythm"
3. "Daybreak"
4. "Even Now"
5. Jump Shout Boogie Medley
a. "Jump Shout Boogie"
b. "Avenue C"
c. "Jumpin' At The Woodside"
d. "Cloudburst"
e. "Bandstand Boogie"
6. "Ready To Take A Chance Again"
7. "Weekend In New England"
8. "Looks Like We Made It"
ACT 2
9. "Beautiful Music (Part I)"
10. "I Was A Fool (To Let You Go)"
11. "All The Time"
12. "Copacabana (At The Copa)"
13. "Beautiful Music (Part II)"
14. Hits Medley
a. "Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again"
b. "This One's For You"
c. "Could It Be Magic / Mandy"
15. "It's A Miracle"
16. "Can't Smile Without You"
17. "I Write The Songs"
18. "Beautiful Music (Part III)"
