Barry Manilow's toothy cheerfulness isn't really offensive -- it's actually preferable to the lachrymse self-pity that soaks through so much current "product" -- but it's lightheaded an emotionally vapid. Manilow is a gifted producer and melodist, and were the lyrics not so mercilessly stupid, Tryin' to Get the Feeling might be satisfying MOR.

Bruce Johnston's "I Write the Songs," for example, is a celebration of the songwriting profession which informs us that "music fills your heart/well thats a real fine place to start." What's distressing is that Manilow sings this slush with such histrionic conviction. He's better at upbeat kickers like "New York City Rhythm" (a predefault salute to the Apple), "A Nice Boy Like Me" and his reworking of the American Bandstand theme ("Bandstand Boogie"); in each case the momentum carries one over his puppyish mannerisms. All three will make killer singles and Barry Manilow may soon eclipse Elton John as the most successful servant of the jukebox. Like Captain Fantastic, Manilow excels in commerce, and on the evidence of this new album, he doesn't care about anything else.

- James Wolcott, Rolling Stone, 1/1/76.

Bonus Review!

- Billboard, 1975.

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