Another highlight of the concert was the medley of some of Manilow's hits. Included are the songs "Can't Smile Without You," "It's A Miracle," "I Made it through the Rain," and "I Write the Songs." This part of the concert was Manilow at his best, sitting behind a grand piano and delivering heartfelt songs. Not that the times he stepped away and walked the stage weren't entertaining, but serenading a crowd while playing the beautiful instrument is, without a doubt, Manilow at his finest.
It should be noted the main disc is the PBS special without any changes or added features. While the cutaway requests for pledge donations are missing, the editing is such that you see exactly where they were. This distracts some, because the mood is broken with each fade to black and long pause. It's not enough to make or break a purchase, but is something that could have been easily remedied in production of the DVD.
A bonus second disc is included which contains performances not included in the televised version of the concert. There are three tracks: "The Way We Were Medley," "All the Time," and "Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed." Both discs are offered in Dolby digital sound.
Barry Manilow: Songs From The Seventies is distributed by Rhino entertainment, and for those who enjoy the music of the seventies, and especially Barry Manilow's songs and charismatic delivery, it is one you will want to add to your collection.
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