Barry Manilow II

Barry Manilow II
Studio album by Barry Manilow
Released	October 1, 1974 1996 (re-release) 2006 (re-release)
Studio	Hit Factory, New York City Mediasound, New York City
Genre	Pop[1] easy listening[1]
Length	38:14 (original release) 41:37 (1996 re-release) 44:23 (2006 re-release)
Label	Bell Arista (Re-release)
Producer	Barry Manilow, Ron Dante
Barry Manilow chronology
Barry Manilow (1973) Barry Manilow II (1974) Tryin' to Get the Feeling (1975)
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[2]
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.^[3] 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[edit]

Side 1[edit]

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

Side 2[edit]

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

1996 Remaster[edit]

1. "I Want To Be Somebody's Baby"
2. "Early Morning Strangers"
3. "Mandy"
4. "The Two of Us"
5. "Something's Comin' Up"
6. "It's a Miracle"
7. "Avenue C"
8. "My Baby Loves Me"
9. "Sandra"
10. "Home Again"

Bonus track:

1. "Halfway Over the Hill"

2006 Expanded Edition[edit]

1. "I Want To Be Somebody's Baby"
2. "Early Morning Strangers"
3. "Mandy"
4. "The Two of Us"
5. "Something's Comin' Up"
6. "It's a Miracle"
7. "Avenue C"
8. "My Baby Loves Me"
9. "Sandra"
10. Home Again

Bonus tracks:

1. "Good News"
2. "Halfway Over the Hill"

Charts[edit]

Personnel[edit]

• 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 (1, 2, 3, 5, 6)
• Russell George - bass (4, 8, 9, 10)
• Bob Cranshaw - bass (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[edit]

• 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[edit]

References[edit]