Barry Manilow, This One’s For You
Barry Manilow
THIS ONE'S
FOR YOU.
Barry Manilow's fourth studio album sits right in the middle of his 1970s hit-making run, but its credits reveal a surprisingly deep New York studio cast behind the polished surface.
Album artwork shown for commentary and historical reference. Image source: Cover Art Archive / MusicBrainz.
SEVEN THINGS
WORTH KNOWING.
Behind the ballads is a dense network of arrangers, session players and studio specialists, many of them familiar names from other major records of the era.
This One's for You was released on August 1, 1976, and the original album contains 11 songs running about 38 minutes.
Barry Manilow and Ron Dante produced the album, with Michael DeLugg credited as recording engineer.
The album was recorded and mixed at Mediasound Studios in New York.
Manilow composed the title track, Marty Panzer wrote the lyrics, and Manilow handled piano and lead vocals on the recording.
The record includes "Weekend in New England" and "Looks Like We Made It," both songs later listed in Manilow's official biography among his run of 25 consecutive Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hits.
The session credits include players such as Will Lee, David Spinozza and Paul Shaffer, along with vocal group Lady Flash on selected tracks.
The orchestral work was divided among several arrangers, including Gerald Alters, Charlie Calello, Van McCoy, Barry Manilow and Dick Behrke.
WHY THIS
ALBUM MATTERS.
This One's for You is a reminder that polished 1970s pop was often a highly collaborative studio form. Manilow sits at the center as singer, pianist, composer and arranger, but the album's sound also depends on an unusually broad cast of New York musicians and orchestrators.
THE
NUMBERS.
ORIGINAL TRACKS
The original 1976 album contains eleven songs.
MINUTES
The original edition runs about 38 minutes.
TOP 40 STREAK
Manilow's official biography places songs from this album inside his run of 25 consecutive Hot 100 Top 40 hits.
THE
PHYSICAL OBJECT.
The sleeve keeps the presentation simple and personal, matching the title's direct address to the listener. That intimacy contrasts with the large studio team hidden inside the credits.
RESEARCH SOURCES
Facts are checked against artist, label, award, chart and detailed recording-credit sources before publication.
KEEP
DIGGING.
More recording stories, strange credits, cover art, chart numbers and details hiding inside the records.