Manilow's Modems 2004 Newsletter page 2

The whole experience has left me speechless. Me at a loss for words? Hard to believe isn't it? After 30+ years as a fan I finally attended a convention. Boy, did I pick a doozey.

The concert was a feast for the eyes as well as the ears. It kinda made this old gal's heart swell with pride to see nearly every seat in that joint filled. I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like for the performers to look into that sea of faces.

The stage was an interesting - if somewhat treacherous bit of engineering, a little like a square wedding cake. Total size - 44 X 44 ft x 8ft high, the second tier was 22ft x 22 ft which slid apart for a piano to raise (magically) into the center. The round stage that held the piano did rotate ever so slowly. Which was nice for us. Not so sure what it was like for him, though.

The show was jam packed with energy. And opened with the cast of Could It Be Magic - or at least much of the cast. Byron was wearing what looked like something from Gosdpell - best described as a coat of many colors. Debra, Monica and - I'm sorry I can't remember the name of the last woman, I only that she is from Chicago - were dressed in black, variations of the same dress but suited to their individual figures. The shoes they wore were fantastic....leave it to me to notice the shoes - Debra's were pink and looked like Jimmy Choo. There were two other 'boy' singers dressed in black tuxedos (I think...who can look at anyone else when Barry is involved).

I thought Barry sounded better than he has in ages...but you know that is a very subjective opinion. Barry's fans all have different ideas as to when his voice sounds like gold when it sounds like manure. For me he was spot-on that night.

His wardrobe? Wellllllllllllll, that was for sure new and different. The red suit only lasted through the first two songs, by the third one he was in something a little more subdued. The second act tuxedo was marvelous - knee length jacket with big sequined appliqué on the lower right front, and an organdy looking scarf, sort of half cape thingy filled with sequins over his left shoulder. LOL.....looked like he might have raided Liberace's closet. It was perfect for a Vegas show.

Music? Oh my, the music was splendid. An emotion melting version of Lay Me Down that was beyond compare. Brought me back to the days when he would sit on the edge of the stage and croon that one. Ahhhhhhh, the memories. He played the living daylights out of Weekend in New England, had me thinking less that wholesome thoughts during Looks Like We Made it.....he has improved the thigh rub...Oh I hope Jane got pictures of that. ( is it getting hot in here?) I do remember Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed....oh those hips! So subtle yet so moving....LOL Oh, there were two phantom duets - one with Babs, and one with Bette. Both times singing with disembodied voices. The Babs duet was pretty straight ahead, but the one with Bette - he played to an empty stool. It was precious. Ya know, he really does have a flair for comedy. I hope he keeps that bit in the act when he hits the road in during October/November.

The cast of Harmony were out of this world. Their voices, and their energy. I'm tellin' ya they are going to take Broadway by storm. Those six men are remarkable together. They sang the opening number, rushing around the stage like the Marx Brothers, and moving in unison to rival the Rockettes. These guys are ready to be seen by one and all. Barry did sing with them but (don't anyone shoot me) thankfully he sorta stayed in the background and let them own the stage.

He and Brian d'Arcy James stood back to back on the revolving stage and sang 'Every Single Day'. It was marvelous. Truly marvelous. Gave me shivers. I am so looking forward to seeing that show open.

Jumping ahead to the Midnight thing...five of the cast & Barry closed the night (I should say morning cuz by then it was 2am or darned close) with Stars in the Night. Those fantastic voices coming from six guys standing around mics with their hands in their pockets as if they were on the street corner doing a little doo-wop. There are no words to describe how wonderful that moment was. I feel privileged to have been in the room when it happened.

Midnight with Manilow. Aptly billed by the way. Shortly before he arrived Garry escorted - through the rear door what he termed 'about 200 civilians'. Well, not exactly Garry, I wouldn't call Bruce Sussman, Marty Panzer, Nick Anderson, Debra Byrd and the rest of the nights cast...plus Barry's boyhood friend Larry, and a boat load of record exec's as "Civilians". Then again, the group also included folks like Robert Goulet and wife...so I guess civilians was the best term he could use.

Barry had prepared a collection of interesting and some of them downright hysterical bits from his musical past to share with us. And Bruce, Marty, Nick, Debra, even Larry added memories of their own from the back of the room. The logistics of that was a little strange - Barry was sitting on a small stage at the West end of the room - in front of him were 90 tables of adoring fans - at the East end of the room were Barry's friends and invited guests. So Barry would talk about a particular bit of music...like the song he and Bruce wrote called "Oh Sylvie", then he would say something like, 'do you remember that Bruce" and from behind us we'd hear Bruce's memories of the incident, then Barry would hit the play button on his IPod and the room would be filled with music. "Oh Sylvie" is a tongue in cheek story song with lyrics that only Bruce could write about a guy in love with a stripper. The bump and grind music that Barry put to the lyrics is too perfect. I'm telling ya - in a different time and place Barry and Bruce would be writing for vaudeville or sketch TV like Milton Berle or Sonny & Cher. Their collaborations are too good to be only heard, they really should be seen.

Speaking of tongue in cheek - there is a song in Barry's personal archives called 'Sometimes I Really Do Write the Songs'. A piece of comedy writing all about how to write a pop song. It outlines the steps with irreverence. Oh what I wouldn't pay for a copy of that one.

Other bits he shared:
A full length recording from when he was 6 years old. Complete with key changes, and modulation. This tiny squeaky voice sang the entire up-tempo song never missing a beat. I have no idea as to the title...somebody - anybody know what the song was?

There was the early song that he and Larry sang into his tape recorder lo those many years ago "ain't got a nickel, ain't got dime, ain't got a penny too....cuz I spent all my money on you".

Debra told her story of how she got the job as his back-up singer.

Barry did answer some of the questions that had been sent in. But most of the time he shared his archival music with us. All in all Midnight with Manilow was the ultimate in intimate moments. Well, as intimate as one can get when part of a group of 900. It was almost an evening of musical This Is Your Life - without the cheesy bits from high school music teachers and other odd ball stuff that show used to bring out. I mean we were even introduced to best-friend Larry. And let me tell you folks, if there was ever any debate as to Barry age, all you had to do was see and hear his school chums.

Oh, and let us not forget the rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday", lead by Barry's best pal, Suzanne Somers.

Well, after nearly 21 years, Barry was back at Blenheim. Something that I believe everyone had spoke about but never really believed would happen.

Barry at Blenheim – 27 August 1983 was a once in a lifetime experience, and even more special for me as this would be my very first time at seeing Barry live in concert after adoring him since I first heard "Mandy" and then seeing the man himself on "Parkinson" that first time. It was a perfect day – the weather was behaving like we all felt, bright, happy, and absolutely wonderful to say the least. It was a long time ago now but the memories are all still there … the huge stage looked dwarfed amidst the surrounding area of fields and trees with Blenheim Palace seeming far in the distance, the sun bleached fields were full of happy smiling people who just never seemed to stop streaming into the concert area all day long. Barry had organised various performers of all different musical styles to perform on stage during the afternoon and early evening and I just remember everything going by so quickly. When Barry came on that evening it was bliss … a warm summer evening and so much love floating around a huge area which all of a sudden seemed to become very small and intimate as Barry reached out to us all. It was an evening which you could only understand by being there … it was so very very special, so to hear Barry was actually coming back to do Blenheim again – WOW – unbelievable, but it could never be the same!?

So Barry back at Blenheim – 4 July 2004. The weather in the UK had been very unpredictable, even more so than usual, and the forecast was BAD - storms, so we were all very worried that we would all be ending up looking like drowned rats by the end of the day. Still, we knew that no matter what we would have a great time and that Barry would be worth it!

This time it was not the one off huge concert that Barry had done there previously, but the wonderful finale of the Blenheim Music Festival, and on arriving into the grounds around lunch time, it was a beautiful sight to see the stage and seating set out in what I have always believed to be the front entrance to Blenheim Palace. It was an amazing sight. The weather however was not as kind to us as it had been previously, with intermittent heavy showers throughout the day, but amazingly I don’t think I got wet once (thanks to some wonderful friends who had contacted the Palace and had permission to erect a small gazebo alongside their car in the car park, where we spent a happy time getting together with friends, old and new). I saw Barry after he had arrived at the Palace and went out into the Palace Courtyard to greet a number of people there and then, during the afternoon, he rehearsed at various times, even whilst we were sheltering from the rain in our gazebo – but we still left to cheer and applaud after every song – LOL!!!! When it was time to enter the Courtyard for the beginning of the show the rain had stopped and the sun was out – Manilow Magic again! It turned into quite a beautiful evening although a little chilly at times. First on was Bradley Walsh a British Comedian who is also now in one of the top UK soaps, and he was really quite good, then before Barry a singer called Elkie Brookes did a few numbers – then it was SHOWTIME!!!!!! The man came on to a 10,000 standing ovation – BARRY WAS BACK!!!! He wore a satin-look plumb coloured suit and was in fine form as always. He reminisced about the last time he was at Blenheim and asked where the concert was last time, to which we pointed far away to the fields yonder. Throughout the evening at times there were film clips leading into different stages … starting with Clive Davis introducing the young new singer Barry Manilow singing "Mandy". It was great to have a friend "Viv" chosen as the CSWY girl for that special evening … huh all the backchat that she had given us beforehand as to what she would do and what she would say "if" she got picked, and there she was as stunned and quiet as a little church mouse – ha!!!! She did a great job though and Barry loved her! Plus, as we had heard, Barry also had Lorna Luft on, as she was here in the UK about to open a new musical in the West End "The Songs My Mother Taught Me", and they did a few songs together. All too soon the show was over … how is it that time goes so slow when you are waiting for something special like seeing Barry, and yet as soon as he takes one step out onto that stage the clock hands whiz around, it is just not fair!?

It was a strange feeling after Blenheim, as that is the only time in 21 years that I have seen Barry for only ONE show, so after the concert had finished and we were meeting up with all our friends again to say our farewells, it seemed after such a high that there was now this dreadful low, as normally, that would have been the "start" for us, but there it was all over – sigh!!

I however was lucky, as I had been fortunate enough to get a ticket into the BBC for the filming of a TV Special that Barry was doing two days later, 6 July 2004, so at least I had Barry to look forward to "one last time" so to speak. That was all very confusing though, as I knew of very few fans who had managed to get into tickets and, even so, having tickets did not guarantee you getting in as they give out more tickets to these shows than they have seat to ensure getting a full house. On the tickets it stated "Glamorous Dress Please", so after feeling a prize nutcase travelling on the tube all dressed up during the early afternoon I arrived at the BBC TV Studios to join a queue of about 20+ plus. The day was beautiful – hot and sunny – and as well as knowing the majority of people in line already I made friends with some other lovely ladies who were just in front of me, so with my good friends Angie and Nina turning up shortly after to join us, apart from the standing around, all in all it was a pleasant time. The doors opened and we went through security into the BBC at about 6.00 pm where we were shown into a large room where we had time to have a sit down, get and drink and freshen up before the announcement came to go into the studio. Although we had been fairly close to the front of the queue outside the announcement came that "Priority" ticket holders would be allowed in first and then us – well, the "Priority" ticket holders must have been the whole of the BBC staff, their family and friends as the constant stream of them going in past us seemed endless AND most of them were dressed in jeans and t-shirts (so much for the "Glamorous" dress then!?). Finally, we were led in to what we soon found to be a very small and intimate studio, so we were happy. They had a warm up guy on first laughing and joking around (including getting someone up to do CSWY with him (which was nearly my friend Angie until she told him that she had already done it with the "real" thing!!!) which was funny) and letting us know the order of things and what to expect etc, and I suppose about 7.30 – 7.45 pm (I didn’t look) a screen came down in the middle of the stage and they started showing Clive's introduction of Barry's first TV appearance, and then a little way on into "Mandy" the screen shot up and there was Barry sitting at the piano continuing the song – WOW!!! I was 10th row at Blenheim, but here he was so much closer, and to me he seemed so much more relaxed, although, boy was there a difference of temperature between Blenheim and the BBC – here it was hot hot hot! I think it was soon evident to Barry where the fans were, and he looked out and commented how "dressed up" we were (definitely not talking to the front section, apart from the few celebs who had turned up) and he even said that he could see "cleavage" – ha!!! Barry chatted to us between songs whilst they checked the filming and the sound etc and it was just SO NICE!!! Barry made little or no mistakes, unfortunately, as we said that he sounded awful and really needed to do the WHOLE thing again, LOL, and he finally waved and went off at 9.30 pm, although two more songs were done again after this, with Barry's male backing singer doing his part, for the camera crew to get shots of the band. We finally left the studios about 9.50 pm – absolutely over the moon and feeling very very fortunate to have been able to see Barry again, and so decided to wait a little while to see if Barry was about to leave. We only waited a short while really and then Barry came out driven by our Bill, waving and smiling and looking extremely happy as the car sat waiting to get out into the traffic – so my very last memory of Barry is a very beautiful smiling face, bless him!

BECAUSE OF YOU

Your cards and letters came for three weeks and because of you, Trevor’s 18^th birthday was his happiest ever. There were postcards, birthday cards, letters, Barry photos, flower seeds, Chinese ‘lucky money’, and fun pictures drawn by some of your kids.

When I sent the email out asking for your help, little did I expect such an overwhelming response from so many people. Thank you for taking the time to send Trevor your birthday greetings.

Jennie Hill – Exeter, England

Lynn Allison-MacMahon – Noblesville, IN

Iain McQuillen – Camarillo, CA

Jan Marshall – Simi Valley, CA

Louise Moy – Helendale, CA

Kim Robinson – Churchville, NY

Jim & Dianne Pendergrass & Jacob – Somis, CA

Marie & Bill McCrae – Scotland

Lewis Galleries – Simi Valley, CA

Mary Ann Lewis – Simi Valley, CA

Sue – England

Bev Garrisi – San Francisco, CA

Laura Lee Curtis – Alaska

Gary, Crystal, Tom, Steve & Mike Hill – Ravenna, OH

May, Liana & Greg Yam – San Jose, CA

Annette Brown – Santa Monica, CA

Jane – Oxnard, CA

Miss Sierra Nyokka – Eugene, OR

Jill Prince – Kingsport, TN

Steve & Rosemary Murphey – Tucson, AZ

David McCrae – Vienna, VA

Loretta Balter – Helotes, TX

Fay Landi – Brooklyn, NY

Fran – Los Angeles, CA

Sue Chambliss – Greensboro, NC

Sharon Lopatka –Thousand Oaks, CA

Shelley Jacobs – Valley Stream, NY

Sharon Petka – San Diego, CA

Michele Markham – Meridian, ID

Becky Bizon - Allen Park, MI

Dianne Littlejohn – Tyler, TX

Marcia Goss – Akron, OH

Louise – Adelaide, Australia

Grady Breukel – The Netherlands

Monica Wesoloski – Cleveland, OH

Marcy Rose – London, England

Chris Peters – Cedar Falls, IA

Joyce Lewellyn, England

Cindy Lily – Moorpark, CA

Keiko Sakai – Tokyo, Japan

Candice Jones – Simi Valley, CA

Susan Prevost - Rochester, NY

Sue, Aaron & Caroline, Sims – Sumter, SC

Inge Morse – Canton, OH

Karen Urbanchek – Harleysville, PA

G.K.Reed – Rochester, NY

June & Rebecca Connor – Scotland

Janet Fink – New Port Richey, FL

Courtney, Lori, Zachary & Hudson Kennedy – Sacramento, CA

Larry & Linda Duca – Akron, OH

Mr. & Mrs. N. McCrae – Scotland

Leah & Tyler Rexhepi - Simi Valley, CA

Victoria – Oxnard, CA

James & Megan – Akron, OH

Don Marsh and the gang at VFW Post 9845, Heidelberg Germany