Barry Manilow Songs Ranked

Barry Manilow (born Barry Alan Pincus, June 17, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, musician, producer, and actor, with a career that has spanned more than 50 years. His hit recordings include “Could It Be Magic”, “Mandy”, “I Write the Songs”, “Can’t Smile Without You” and “Copacabana (At the Copa)”. He recorded and released 51 Top 40 singles on the Adult Contemporary Chart, including 13 that hit number one, 28 appeared within the top ten, and 36 in the top twenty. Manilow has released 13 platinum and six multi-platinum albums. Although not a favorite artist of music critics, Manilow has been praised by entertainers including Frank Sinatra, who was quoted in the 1970s as saying, “He’s next.” In 1988, Bob Dylan stopped Manilow at a party, hugged him, and said, “Don’t stop what you’re doing, man. We’re all inspired by you.” Here are all of Barry Manilow songs ranked.

Don’t miss out on the music of Barry Manilow below! Click to find out why he is one of the most recognizable voices!

20. Ships (One Voice, 1979)

“Great song, great sound quality! I find myself getting hopelessly addicted to it. I have to listen to it at least once a day, if not more. It has definitely become one of my favorite.”

19. Could It Be Magic (Barry Manilow, 2008)

“This is one drop-dead gorgeous song! Jesus! I love it! Don’t get me wrong, I love all of Barry’s music, but this one is superb! “

18. Hey Mambo (Swing Street, 1987)

“This is an excellent song with a very atmospheric feel to it. This is Barry at his best and showcases his versatility as a singer songwriter.”

17. The Old Songs (If I Should Love Again, 1981)

“It’s different from Barry’s normal ballads, but enjoyable all the same. I’m always amazed at the different types of music Barry goes to to give us a great treat while still staying the same sweet Barry.”

See more: Barry Manilow Albums Ranked

16. Some Kind of Friend (Here Comes the Night, 1982)

“Barry Manilow is one of the most talented artists ever. I love the ballads as well as the upbeat tunes. When this song came out, I was thrilled to hear Barry do an upbeat, fun album.”

15. Oh Julie! (Here Comes the Night, 1982)

“Another peppy song. Makes you want to twist, Charleston, or bop. Most people either love Manilow or hate him. I personally love him and every song he’s ever done. He has recorded a variety of styles over the years and sounds great on all of them!

14. I Made It Through the Rain (Barry, 1980)

“Like Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing”, this wonderful song certainly saved lots of lives throughout the years. If you’re feeling depressed, listen to the lyrics and soothing music of one of Barry Manilow’s most heartfelt tunes and simply try to survive.”

13. Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again (Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again, 1976)

“Barry Manilow never lets me down….takes me right back down Memory Lane to my youth with all the good times and heartaches that came along with it!!!!”

12. This One’s for You (This One’s for You, 1976)

” A masterpiece, I can’t put it any better than that! One of the best “lost love” songs ever put out! When you need to just relax, put this into a walkman and plug in, you won’t be disappointed.”

11. Somewhere in the Night (Even Now, 1978)

” love this song! It’s one of my very favorites of Barry Manilow…his voice and the lyrics and the beautiful music. Barry Manilow is a class act all the way!”

10. It’s a Miracle (Barry Manilow II, 1974)

“Melodramatic number where Barry reflects on what a schmuck he was with his woman. It lays it on pretty thick, but I fall for it like a dog falls for the fake throw, every single time. The closing strings seal the deal for me.”

9. Daybreak (This One’s for You, 1978)

“This man has the entire package.   This song is full of hope, love, angst, passion, and just fun.  A classic.  If you don’t have it, secure it before it is too late.”

8. Read ‘Em and Weep (Greatest Hits Vol. II, 1983)

“I like the basic idea of the song. It’s a half-goodbye, half-fuck-you to a former lover, with a fair chunk of mixed emotions. “I could tell you ‘goodbye’ or maybe ‘see you around’ with just a touch of sarcastic ‘thanks’” sort of sets the mood.”

7. Weekend In New England (This One’s for You, 1976)

“Nothing inherently different about this Barry Manilow ballad, but in my mind, it’s a lot better than most. Something about the quiet reflection of the opening, and the near-Broadway Esque final chorus really appeal to me. (Yep – another example of Community Theater Pop.) I’m not really much of a Barry fan but I’ll definitely go to bat for this one”

See more: Thompson Twins Albums Ranked

6. Even Now (Even Now,1978)

“The silhouette of Barry overlooking the city (New York?) skyline is as haunting as the song “Even Now.” As for the music, hey, what can I say? It’s Barry Manilow. His music is shallow yet poignant at the same time, if that makes any sense.”

5. Looks Like We Made It (This One’s for You, 1976)

” “Looks Like We Made It” is the musical equivalent of an awkward meeting of two exes discussing just how much better off they are with their new partners. There’s no pain, misery, or regret anywhere within these lyrics: the only real sentiment is blithe self-satisfaction.”

4. Copacabana (At the Copa) (Even Now, 1978)

“Barry reveals his theatrical roots on this one, as it sounds like the theme from a Broadway musical. Well, other than the fact that it gives away the entire plot all in one number. A true Broadway number would have the last verse as a “reprise”, played in a contrasting style at a slower tempo.”

3. Can’t Smile Without You (Even Now, 1978)

“It’s just a nice, sweet song. Sure, you can join in for the high-kicks in the latter choruses if you want to, but not every song has to be drenched in angst and misery. It’s a relief to tune in to Barry occasionally and simply get swept along with a good melody.”

2. Mandy (Barry Manilow II, 1974)

“Attempting to reason why this succeeds so much is hard, but I have a theory: this still has some sort of a musical feel not completely unlike the singer/songwriter wave from the preceding few years – some steroids thrown in certainly, but there’s still some ‘organic’ in the music.”

1. I Write the Songs (Tryin’ to Get the Feeling, 1979)

“If there is any one song that highlights Barry Manilow’s smug, treacly songwriting, this is the one. The performance is remarkably thin and patently insincere: no one can sing material like this and actually compel the audience.”