''Barry Manilow II'' is the second studio album by

Barry Manilow Barry Manilow (born Barry Alan Pincus; June 17, 1943) is an American singer and songwriter with a career that spans seven decades. His hit recordings include "Could It Be Magic", " Somewhere Down the Road", " Mandy", "I Write the Songs", " Can ...

released in 1974. Propelled by the major success of its lead single " Mandy" and featuring a further international hit in " It's a Miracle", the album was a commercial breakthrough for Manilow. First issued by

Bell Records Bell Records was an American record label founded in 1952 in New York City by Arthur Shimkin, the owner of the children's record label Golden Records, and initially a unit of Pocket Books, after the rights to the name were acquired from Benny ...

, it was reissued after the company was reorganized into

Arista Records Arista Records () is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was previously handled by BMG Entertain ...

. The album's success spawned a notable parody in the picture sleeve of

Ray Stevens Harold Ray Ragsdale (born January 24, 1939), known professionally as Ray Stevens, is an American country and pop singer-songwriter and comedian, known for his Grammy-winning recordings "Everything Is Beautiful" and "Misty", as well as novelty ...

' 1979 single, " I Need Your Help Barry Manilow".

Track listing

Side 1

#"I Want To Be Somebody's Baby" (Barry Manilow, Enoch Anderson) - 4:18 #"Early Morning Strangers" (Barry Manilow,

Hal David Harold Lane David (May 25, 1921 – September 1, 2012) was an American lyricist. He grew up in New York City. He was best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach and his association with Dionne Warwick. Early life David ...

) - 3:24 #" Mandy" (

Scott English Sheldon David "Scott" English (January 10, 1937 – November 16, 2018) was an American songwriter, arranger and record producer. He is best known as the co-writer of " Brandy" which he wrote with Richard Kerr. This song became a No. 1 hit f ...

, Richard Kerr) - 3:32 #"The Two of Us" (Barry Manilow, Marty Panzer) - 3:05 #"Something's Comin' Up" (Barry Manilow) - 2:51

Side 2

#" It's a Miracle" (Barry Manilow, Marty Panzer) - 3:58 #"Avenue C" (

Buck Clayton Wilbur Dorsey "Buck" Clayton (November 12, 1911 – December 8, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter who was a member of Count Basie's orchestra. His principal influence was Louis Armstrong, first hearing the record "Confessin' That I Love You" ...

, Jon Hendricks, Dave Lambert) - 2:37 #" My Baby Loves Me" ( Ivy Hunter, Sylvia Moy, William "Mickey" Stevenson) - 3:18 #" Sandra" (Barry Manilow, Enoch Anderson) - 4:35 #"Home Again" (Barry Manilow, Marty Panzer) - 5:34

1996 Remaster

#"I Want To Be Somebody's Baby" #"Early Morning Strangers" #"Mandy" #"The Two of Us" #"Something's Comin' Up" #"It's a Miracle" #"Avenue C" #"My Baby Loves Me" #"Sandra" #"Home Again" Bonus track: #"Halfway Over the Hill"

2006 Expanded Edition

#"I Want To Be Somebody's Baby" #"Early Morning Strangers" #"Mandy" #"The Two of Us" #"Something's Comin' Up" #"It's a Miracle" #"Avenue C" #"My Baby Loves Me" #"Sandra" #Home Again Bonus tracks: #"Good News" #"Halfway Over the Hill"

Charts

Personnel

* Barry Manilow - lead vocals, backing vocals, rhythm arrangements, acoustic piano (1-6, 9, 10) *

Don Grolnick Don Grolnick (September 23, 1947 – June 1, 1996) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and record producer. He was a member of the groups Steps Ahead and Dreams, both with Michael Brecker, and played often with the Brecker Brothers. As a ses ...

- acoustic piano (7) * Ellen Starr - acoustic piano (8) * Jon Stroll - clavinet (1), electric piano (2-6, 8, 9, 10) * John Barranco - guitar (1, 6) * Dick Frank - guitar (1, 6, 8, 9, 10) * Bob Mann - guitar (1, 6, 10) * Charlie Brown - guitar (2, 3, 10) * Stuart Scharf - guitar (2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10) * Sam T. Brown - guitar (7) * Will Lee - bass (1, 2, 3, 5, 6) * Russell George - bass (4, 8, 9, 10) * Bob Cranshaw - bass (7) * Chris Parker - drums (1, 6) * Jimmy Young - drums (2, 3, 5) * Bill Lavorgna - drums (7) *

Allan Schwartzberg Allan Schwartzberg (born December 28, 1942) is an American musician and record producer. He has been a member of the rock band Mountain, Peter Gabriel's first solo band, toured with Brecker Brothers' Dreams, B.J. Thomas, Linda Rondstadt, Stan Get ...

- drums (8, 9, 10) * Lee Gurst - percussion (1, 6) * Norman Pride - congas (1, 2, 5-8, 10) * George Young - saxophone (2) *

Artie Kaplan Artie Kaplan is an American recording artist, songwriter and a session musician. He has also been a music contractor where he was hired to musicians for sessions. In the 1960s, he was casting musicians for sessions for Aldon Music. When musicia ...

- saxophone (6) * Stanley Schwartz: saxophone (6) * Jack Cortner - horn and string arrangements * Ron Dante - backing vocals * Melvin Kent - backing vocals (1) * Ken Williams - backing vocals (1) * Charlotte Crossley - backing vocals (6) * Robin Grean - backing vocals (6) *

Sharon Redd Sharon Redd (October 19, 1945 – May 1, 1992) was an American singer from New York City. She was the half sister of Snap! singer Penny Ford. Life and career Sharon Redd was born on October 19, 1945 in Norfolk, Virginia, to Gene and Katherine ...

- backing vocals (6)

Production

* Producers: Barry Manilow and Ron Dante * Engineers: Bruce Tergesen, Harry Maslin and Michael DeLugg * Recorded at The Hit Factory and Mediasound Recording Studios (New York City) * Design: The Music Agency * Front Cover Photo: Joel Brodsky * Back Liner Photo: Linda Allen

Certifications

References

{{Authority control 1974 albums Barry Manilow albums Bell Records albums Arista Records albums Albums produced by Ron Dante Albums with cover art by Joel Brodsky