One Voice (Remaster) Review

07/13/2005 3:58 AM, AMG


Barry Manilow covering Ian Hunter in 1974 was as likely as British Lions -- the ex-Mott the Hoople -- backing up Helen Reddy, or Helen Reddy produced by Kim Fowley, for that matter. Well, Fowley did produce Helen in 1977, and they went Top 20, but the pairing of Hunter and Manilow in 1979 was even more successful, resulting in the Top 10 "Ships." It was Barry Manilow's 15th Top 30 hit, charting higher than any of the next ten Top 40 entries which followed. The successful production team of Cuff Links' lead singer Ron Dante and Barry Manilow is still intact, and they spawned an additional two hits from this disc, Gino Cunico's "When I Wanted You" (a "Ready to Take a Chance Again" rewrite), as well as a remake of Harry James 1942 hit, "I Don't Want to Walk Without You." The "standard" type feel of the title from decades before shows the direction Barry was heading in, and works better than the plethora of Manilow originals which bog the album down. "Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed" is totally unnecessary, another dreadfully corny Marty Panzer/Barry Manilow attempt at songwriting making one wonder why the singer didn't go further back into Mott the Hoople history and maybe cover "You Are One of Us," or another strong composition. For the brilliant mind which helped create The Divine Miss M for Bette Midler to show so much indulgence is amazing in retrospect. Adrienne Anderson co-writes "Rain" with Barry and, no, though it doesn't come close to the Lennon/McCartney song of the same name, it is nonetheless a decent attempt at rewriting Ann Peebles and Eruption's hit, "I Can't Stand the Rain." At this point in time, Manilow and Dante were co-producing Dionne Warwick's Top Five "I'll Never Love This Way Again," along with her Top 15 "Deja Vu" -- both titles potentially nice fits for this effort. Even the great Richard Kerr misfires with "Where Are They Now" -- a cowrite with John Bettis -- but that is far more enjoyable than the "Copacabana" rewrite that is "Bobbie Lee (What's the Difference, I Gotta Live)." How can we be kind about that title: had Barry Manilow sent this to A&R around the world, he would surely have failed to get a recording contract. So why force something this bad on an album with something as brilliant as "Ships"? A duet with Bette Midler on "Do You Wanna Dance" would have really filled out this set nicely, but when an artist is as successful as Barry Manilow they get to -- stretch. One Voice has its moments, great moments, but it also makes one thankful that the Ultimate Manilow collection exists. ~ Joe Viglione, All Music Guide