By admin The full video is at the end of the article.
Introduction
BARRY MANILOW’S UNFILTERED RETURN: Inside the Emotional, Genre-Bending Masterpiece That Left Him in Tears
For the first time in 15 years, music icon Barry Manilow is stripping away the filters and laying his soul bare. In an exclusive, deeply emotional sneak preview of his upcoming album, What A Time, dropping June 5th, the legendary singer-songwriter gave fans a track-by-track journey into what he considers his most profound original work since 2:00 AM Paradise Cafe. This isn’t just another record; it’s a sweeping audio-biography loaded with unexpected genre pivots, hidden history, and raw nostalgia.
The Song That Made Him Cry (and a Whitney Houston Secret)
The emotional epicenter of the album is the title track, “What a Time,” featuring lyrics by the brilliant John Bettis. “This song makes me cry,” Manilow admitted, describing it as a devastatingly beautiful reflection on survival, love, and the bittersweet passage of time.
But perhaps the most stunning revelation from the preview is “Touched by an Angel.” Manilow revealed that he and Bruce Susman originally wrote this powerhouse gospel track for Whitney Houston. After it narrowly missed making her final album, Manilow stepped up to the microphone himself, backing his soaring lead vocals with a massive, chill-inducing gospel choir.
Breaking His Own Rules: Rock Ballads, Calypso, and Dance
Think you know the definitive Manilow sound? Think again. What A Time deliberately shatters expectations with jaw-dropping stylistic shifts:
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“Another Life”: Manilow delivers his first-ever “bonafide rock ballad,” a heavy, haunting track written by Preston Sturgis and Andrew Hill about moving past the ghosts of yesterday.
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“Don’t Trouble the Water”: Shifting gears entirely, Manilow dives into a sun-soaked calypso beat—a total first for his discography—featuring an impossibly deep vocal baseline by Randy Crenshaw.
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“Nobody Knows My Song”: Teaming up with producer Michael Lloyd, Manilow transforms a fierce anthem of artistic independence into a driving, club-ready dance record.
A Star-Studded Victory Lap
The collaborative depth of this album reads like a music industry masterclass. For “Look at Me Now,” Manilow teamed up with multi-Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb and jazz icon Dave Koz on saxophone, resulting in a track so flawless that Cobb texted Manilow in awe after the session.
Nostalgia hits its peak on “When Somebody Says Goodbye,” a country-tinged ballad featuring Muffy Hendris, Barry’s dear friend who has been by his side since his very first concert in 1974. The record closes with the bittersweet “Once Before I Go,” written by the late Peter Allen and Dean Pitchford. Originally brought to Barry by Clive Davis, the track was produced by the legendary Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, serving as a cinematic curtain call on a life lived with zero regrets.
How to Claim Your Piece of Music History
With What A Time dropping on June 5th, fans are already racing to lock in exclusive editions. The CD format packs an exclusive bonus duet, “Reunited,” featuring Melanie Taylor. Meanwhile, vinyl lovers score a massive 24×36 collectible poster and the exclusive bonus track “Party to the Top.”