Barry Manilow If I Should Love Again/Summer Of '78 CD - Import

This 1998 reissue contains one bonus track not included on the original release.

Digitally remastered using 24-bit technology by Robert Vosgien (Tower Mastering/Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California).

In the liner notes that accompanied this sonically superior reissue of Manilow's 1981 album, he tellingly reveals that he composed much of this material in an Atlantic City beach house, with his piano facing out onto the ocean. This scenario makes a lot of sense, given the panoramic, romantic vistas explored throughout IF I SHOULD LOVE AGAIN. A knack for sentimentality had always been at the heart of Manilow's sound and success, and in the wake of his '70s smashes, he felt free to indulge that tendency. To a greater extent than any of his previous efforts, IF I SHOULD LOVE AGAIN is made up of poignant love ballads that revolve around Manilow's piano and humble but effective vocals. A remake of "Let's Hang On" is a bit at odds with this mood, but provides a nice uptempo breather nonetheless.

Import only two-disc coupling of his 1981 album 'If I Should Love Again' and his '96 album, Summer of '78. The latter is out-of-print in the US. Barry Manilow decided to follow the success of singing with the big bands with an album saluting another great lost era, The Summer of '78. Even on the newly-written title song, it's never quite clear why Manilow chose to single out the summer of 1978 out of the entire decade after all, the album is comprised of songs written throughout the '70s but the exact reason doesn't matter: as much as its predecessor, this is an exercise in nostalgia, pure and simple. Of course, it's very entertaining nostalgia, as Manilow has chosen soft-rock songs (Dan Hill's 'Sometimes When We Touch', Leo Sayer's 'When I Need You', Bob Seger's 'We've Got Tonight' that perfectly suit his style. The Summer of '78 is a perfectly executed and entertaining slice of nostalgia. BMG. 2006.

Bill Champlin, Tom kelly, Richard Page (background vocals).

Recorded at United West Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California.

Personnel: Barry Manilow (vocals, piano); John Pondel, Dean Parks, Paul Jackson, Jr., Mitch Holder (guitar); Bill Page (flute, English horn); Tom Scott (saxophone); Robert Marullo (keyboards, Fender Rhodes piano, synthesizer); Victor Vanacore, Bill Mays (keyboards); Carl Sealove, Will Lee (bass); Bud Harner, Ed Greene (drums); Robert Forte, Alan Estes (percussion)