Live was
Barry Manilow's only number one album, selling over three million copies, and aside from his greatest-hits collections, it was also his most consistent. In fact,
Live was pretty close to a greatest-hits collection itself, covering most of
Manilow's biggest chart successes up to 1977 and including a few of his stronger album cuts as well (primarily from
This One's for You). The real treats for fans are a couple of medleys: one a jazz/boogie workout culminating in the theme from American Bandstand and the other a series of the high-profile advertising jingles
Manilow penned before getting his big break as a solo performer (for products like Dr. Pepper, Kentucky Fried Chicken, State Farm, McDonald's, and others).
Manilow delivers tight, professional, totally unselfconscious performances, maintaining his energy all through the double-LP set. It's arguably his strongest effort. ~ Steve Huey