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The story Barry Manilow, his friends and associates tell in the liner notes to his four-CD/one-VHS box set retrospective The Complete Collection And Then Some... is about a contemporary pop songwriter who is reluctantly transformed into an interpretive singer; becomes an easy-listening, commercial pop superstar to his surprise (and, to some extent, dismay); and, through travail, reclaims his original vision by writing and performing neo-classic pop with tinges of jazz and show music. The trouble with this story is that when you play the album, you still hear a lot of earnest, piano-based romantic ballads, the singer's own tunes virtually indistinguishable from those of others. David Martin, co-author of "Can't Smile Without You," frankly admits that he stole the song's title from a greeting card, but Manilow's own lyric collaborators don't dig much deeper. Manilow's real talents lie in arrangement -- he always puts in enough modulations, tempo shifts, and instrumental development to maintain interest -- and in his singing, which retains sincerity and some buoyancy despite the unrelieved plaintiveness of the melodies and lyrics.

Like other box sets assembled in the early '90s, The Complete Collection And Then Some... tipped the scales more toward unreleased material. There were a few newly recorded songs, and a few that had been left off Manilow's regular albums, but the bulk of the previously unreleased material consisted of live performances, demos, and alternate takes. Many of the big hits are only heard in alternate versions, meaning that this was aimed at Manilow fans for whom the original demo of "Mandy," on which the singer accidentally sang "Brandy" (the song's original title), was more valuable. The set also included an hour-long video, Barry Manilow Performances, Volume One: The Highlights, which employed footage from Manilow's television appearances of the 1970s and '80s. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

User Reviews about The Complete Collection and Then Some... (4 CD's + 1 DVD)

I absolutely love the Barry Manilow Complete Collection. I have enjoyed Manilow songs as I heard them in the grocery store or on the radio somewhere but I never knew what many of the songs were really about or why they were written. This collection comes with a booklet which speaks about the significance of nearly every song in the collection and there is an added bonus of rehearsals and recordings done even before the songs were even released. There are also duets with artists that I am very familiar with. I love this collection so much that I have ordered another collection for a good friend of mine. We have also been inspired to go see Barry in Vegas. I am now a true-blue "Fanilow"!! -- I'm a Fanilow!

Barry, I "may" be a Relatively LATE newcomer "as a fan". BUT "NOW" you HAVE me (as a fan).
I "saw" you In the Eighties; UPON the Releae of 2 A.M. Paradise Cafe.
("Then" THAT was 'a fluke". I, JUST BY CHANCE, picked up the cassette AND FELT A KINDRED SPIRIT with what you sang/felt IN THE SONGS. Otherwise, I wasn't LISTENING "to you" At That Time.)
Then the New Millenium HIT: and LIFE changed.
You have DONE "a lot of Cover Songs" IN THIS LAST Decade. Songs 'I' could Relate to; Having GROWN UP "in the 60's and 70's". SO NOW "I'm Hooked" on you. (Like Rod-Stewart- STARTED...with Clive Davis' assistance; and Other Singers have "jumped on the bandwagon" To Carry On this nostalgic ride.)
As to THIS 'Box Set'.
SOME "of the material" I listened to "in passing'; NOT really impressed. Other somgs, however, GRABBED me. Caught "my attention". (Want to know 'more' ?
FIND me; and we'll Discuss it.)
AS a box set; it was OK; WHEN it was released. SINCE then, though, you HAVE
Released "Much More Material". Necessitating A NEW BOX SET....or so 'I' think.
WISH 'I' could REALLY Sit Down with you. GET "to know you". REALLY "have" YOU as a friend. Given "my misfortunes in life", however, I Think that is being
Unrealistic ON MY PART. Wish You well "in your Golden Years (phrase courtesy
of David Bowie)."
james rasura (Glen Ellyn Illinois) -- Barry, You're GREAT.

I can't believe that they call this the complete collection and don't include his VSM (Very Strange Medley). Although you can get this on his LIVE CD, I would have expected it to be included here as well. Very dissapointing. -- What!! No VSM!!!!!!

I received my purchase quickly and in good condition. I would make a purchase again should the need arise. -- Good Merchant