New York City opened its arms, welcomed me in, introduced me to dearhearts and sent me back home to Canada. I was immediately going to post a review upon my return home ~ I had a 12 hour train ride to compose it... and I couldn't. I couldn't find the words to break down the magic of the previous evening. The elements of the performance which made me grateful that Barry Manilow sometime early on in his life, decided to share his music and talent. So here it is the Sunday after the show & I now can humbly offer you the following: ~

There will never--ever be another performance which Barry could possibly *gift* to me which will exceed the thrill of what I have just experienced by attending the Supper Club. Until November 11, 1998 that evening only existed while I've been asleep. The reality of having my dream performance come true has left me completely and emotionally exhausted.



The room was decorated in incredible hues of blue and the seating in the middle was set up with rows of chairs (theatre style). Small cocktail tables dotted each side of the centre section. When we entered, most people were filling up the centre area and my girlfriend Lynn, opted instead to go to one of the little cafe tables about third back from stage left. This type of seating made all the difference for me. This wasn't going to be a Manilow concert. I found myself in a lounge club atmosphere reminiscent for me of my years living in Montreal, Quebec when I frequented the nightclubs "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning." The stage itself was only about 3 feet off the floor and when the orchestra took its place, we had the violins on our side of the stage. We were ready. It was the first day of the release of the "Manilow Sings Sinatra" album and this audience was going to be the first to hear Barry perform it live.

Clive Davis first took the stage and spoke quite endearingly of Barry from the time that Mandy rocketed onto the charts through the years which followed. He also welcomed/spotlighted Liza Minelli & Star Jones from "The View" who were in the audience.

Barry took center stage donned in a black suit with the obligatory vest we are accustomed to seeing. His jacket was knee-length and his hair is frosted with grey ~ handsome, debonair & classic (very in keeping with the music he would be presenting that evening) and the music began...

For over an hour Barry knocked-off each song on the CD. Throughout the evening I continuously was reminded that I was definitely watching the consumate entertainer. Here was a man who was so ill [recovering from bronchitis] yet he was bound & determined to not allow his audience to see it and he gave out beyond a 100% for each selection. Whether it was adrenalin, will power and passion or proper doctor care which got him through the evening.. I will always be amazed. The only time I noticed any sign of less than perfect health was later on in the setlist he put his hand up a couple of times to rub his temple.

Set List for the Evening
Come Fly With Me/Come Dance With Me	Summer Wind
I've Got the World on a String	That's Life
The Second Time Around	Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night in the Week)
You Make Me Feel So Young	Angel Eyes
All The Way	My Kind of Town (Chicago Is)
Strangers in the Night	Put Your Dreams Away
In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning	Here's to The Man

Two instances worth notable mention, which you might find interesting: ~
During the song "Strangers In The Night", Barry stepped back from the mic to let the orchestra take over the instrumentals and he closed his eyes while he swayed listening to the guitar solo. Steve Welsh had to raise his finger in an attempt to get Barry's attention. It worked because when Barry opened his eyes and saw Steve and realized he was supposed to have come back in singing. He had to quickly jump over to the music stand, readjust the music sheets and scrambled to find his place to commence singing. The animation on his face while this was going on was wonderful. It gave us a little insight of how Barry gets wrapped up in & enjoys this gendre of music as much as we do. Secondly,

I would be remiss to not mention the bonus which Barry shared with the Supper Club audience. He told us of one track which they had considered for the CD however had dropped it from the final release as they were concerned it might come across as too *karioke*. He continued on by stating that since he had already bought the rights to it, he was going to perform it that evening. He treated us to "That's Life." Now let me tell ya ~ obviously to not include it on the CD has been based on sound business decision experience and made with all good intentions and perhaps the song works better watching it done in a live performance... but having now seen him perform this with the moves, his facial expressions and the heart he threw into it -- if Barry ever decides to replace the dance version of CIBM.... let THIS be its replacement. The applause and standing ovation he received went on so long that Barry looked up to where Clive was sitting, pointed his finger and kept repeating "who knew??!!.. who would have known??!!"
[Side Note ~ Barry has incorporated this song into his 1999 Manilow Live Tour to the delight of audience reviews. I had a chance to hear it again in Detroit, Michigan on August 13th. He has perfected its delivery, has dropped the reference to his karioke song and is one of the highlights during his Sinatra segment of the show. I feel so fortunate in having seen him introduce this number in its debut, unrehearsed version and then been able to watch it after his transition of smoothing the choreography for the Tour.]

Was Barry pleased with the evening? He had to have been. I don't know which came first--the smile which radiated on his face throughout the entire evening or the constant applause and smiles on our faces. What a wonderful Tribute he pays to Frank Sinatra. He never attempted a "copycat version" of Frank's music; however, it is perfectly clear that he honours it through his own incredible arrangements of those beautiful songs. Barry's version of Summer Wind with its bossa nova flair is one of my highlights.

I can't begin to imagine how any other Barry Manilow-related performance could ever surpass my evening spent at the Supper Club. Perhaps having Barry singing & playing on a baby grand piano in the middle of my living room might do it. But lets be realistic folks.... how in god's creation would I ever fit a baby grand in my living room!! ;) Oh what the heck, lets give it a try... Barry cu-mon cu-mon fly with me, I'll just roll in my keyboard... try to top Supper Club ~ make my day!!

So what other aspects of my two days in New York City can I possibly share with you. For those of you who don't understand why I need to speak to you of friendships, please continue onwards with your Internet journey and thanks for stopping in.

Many of you have talked before of meeting and revisiting friends when you tour from place-to-place with Barry and as much as I have always smiled due to your enthusiasm and quietly uttered "awwws" at your heartfelt encounters, I never in the past fully appreciated the impact--until now. You have to understand ~ many of us living in Canada feel privledged when Manilow even makes it across to Canada or at least within a driving distance of its borders. So time and time again, having a chance to meet up with people from previous tours had always been slim for us [I do see this trend changing with the advent of the Internet where introductions now bring friendships closer]. Going to a Barry Manilow concert for me had always been a one-on-one personal experience. When the music built and Barry took center stage, he was the only other person who existed in the room regardless of its size. Granted, I've always felt the presence of others around me, but they weren't there to add to my pleasure of the evening. I was there soley to listen to a man who gave me such great joy in hearing his music... the rest was just background noise.

Well this time was different. I have made friendships over this vehicle we call the internet.. some as old as the 4 years I have been posting the the NG and AOL and some as late as November 11/98 while standing in line at "The View." I don't have a CD to thank everyone who was responsible for turning my short visit to New York City into a memory which will last forever, so I consider this my one-time chance at liner notes....

To Lynn, Fay (and your family), Donna J., Carolyn, Joanie, Kelly, Meryle, Fran, Carol, June, Barbara and Yvette ~ My goodness; for all our laughter, the fun, the stories and the memories we now have to build on, I cherish your smiles... Thanks for dancing & flying with me.