Here at the Mayflower [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Japanese edition of 2001 album includes two bonus tracks, 'I Don't Wanna Know' (UK/Japan Bonus Track) & 'Shadow Man' (Japanese Only Bonus Track). 18 tracks in all.

Tracks:

Elevator Operator: Do You Know Who's Livin' Next Door
Apts. 3B and 5N: Come Monday
Apartment 3E: Border Train
Apartment 2H: Turn the Radio Up
Apartment 2G: I Hear Her Playing Music
Apartment 4J: Talk to Me
Apartment 6C: Not What You See
Elevator Operator: Freddie Said
Apartment 1A: Some Bar By The Harbor
Apartment 2H: Say Goodbye
Elevator Operator: She Should'a Been Mine
Apartment 4G: The Night That Tito Played
Apartment 5F: I'm Comin' Back
Apartment 6C: I Miss You
Elevator Operator: They Dance!
Apartment 3E: Welcome Home

Amazon.com

Following up Barry Manilow's Copacabana, the musical based on the jingle master pop schmaltz sensation's early hit "At the Copa," Manilow's back on the high-concept train with Here at the Mayflower. Each of the 16 piano-driven numbers correlates with an apartment located in the legendary Mayflower, and with the man in the know: the Elevator Operator. At the top of his narrative and melodic game, Manilow spins a goldplate of cheese with the earnestness of songs like "Welcome Home" and the record's high-energy first single, "Turn Up the Radio." "Come Monday," on which the Neil Sedaka/Neil Diamond peer employs vocal gating much like that on recent outings of Cher and Blondie, throws modernity into the base mix of Manilow's long-unwavering formula. All in good fun, Here at the Mayflower will never pass for high art, but that's never been a requisite for fans of this piano man. --Paige La Grone

Album Description

His Concord Records debut of all new material.

Customer Reviews:

Do You Know Who's Livin' Next Door?.......2006-11-19

Different than the usual BM CD, and great! Really an awesome album and an extremely creative project, evidence again that the genius of Manilow once again rears its pretty head and prevails.

This CD is the personal stories, dreams, and hopes of people in different apartments in the Mayflower Hotel. It's almost like a beautiful play, in song, as you listen to one person tell you the story of a girl who plays her radio late at night. She's obviously lonely and the guy in the other apartment wonders about her, dreams about her, and longs to be with her--but she is caught up in being alone. He wonders why. Barry even adds to the lyrics, "And I heard her playing Dave Koz, in her room alone at night." Cute. (In case you don't know it, Dave Koz plays or did play sax for Barry. Dave recently released his own album "At The Movies".)

There are many other stories. All of them are done so well, but the story-in-song that heartfully affects me the most is Esther and Joe, the oldest couple at the Mayflower. As Joe tells his new young friend, "no one is what they look like," I think of how truly inaccurate and morally wrong it is to judge others. "Not What You See" is about an aging couple in their 80s. Kind of sad. Joe is telling you how they [were]so much more [when they were younger], so, in other words, they are so much more inside than the old [beat-up] people you "see". It is very profound because NOBODY is what you think you "see". It's also sad because people are judging this old couple based on what they THINK they "see"--instead of the beauty that is forever within them. (Your eyes will deceive you.) Anyway, it's a great song, cause it has profound meaning and pretty music. Joes still sees Esther as that beautiful young girl that she was when they were married, with the "waist as big as your neck" and legs to die for (even though she's 80 now and he has to push her around in a wheelchair)-- sad but beautiful, and very realistic--but don't get me started about how society treats old people. Cultures used to respect the elderly, for their wisdom and knowledge and used to do everything to keep them comfortable and happy. Now, they slap them away into a nursing home so they don't have to spend prescious time taking care of them--but DON'T GET ME STARTED, I SAID!)

The elevator operator is included in the stories, who, (guess what?) runs the elevator. The songs/stories are unique, interesting, and heart-warming. They are also very enjoyable. Some are up-tempo. This album/record/CD also includes a song booklet with all the words, so you can sing along with Mr. B. (I have trouble typing the word "CD", because they USED to be records or albums!) There are 16 tracks, ranging from a little over 2 minutes to about 5 1/4 minutes. Total time is a wee bit over 1 hour.

My other favorite on this CD is "Turn the Radio Up." For some reason, I don't see this song on many of B's CDs and I love it. Of course, people want to slap me when I sing it. (And whatever you do, don't be too happy in an elevator in the morning!) "Turn the radio up.. ..turn reality down.. .. too much talk about blues.. ..out with the negative, you find the positive way.. .." Catchy tune and lyrics! I love this song so much, I sing it in my sleep! (Sometimes I even wake myself up.)

"She Should'a Been Mine" is also another of my favorites. Pretty music and a little sad. It's about a guy who wishes this girl was his girl, instead of someone else's girl. Gives you the impression he would treat her better and love her more.

"They Dance" is on here too. It rocks! It is performed on the Manilow Vegas DVD that is very popular.

On a side note, I was in Manhattan recently and looked for the Mayflower, only to find it had been bulldozed in the name of progress.

Anyway, great album--I mean CD! (CDCDCD!!!) Once again, I think it points out Barry's brilliance and versatility. If you love Manilow music and want something of his that's a tad different, here it is, for a little less than 20 bucks. On a scale of 1 to 5, I gotta give it at least a 20, maybe more for creativity and social value (and another 20 for the music!). I LOVE it!

Interesting project--noteworthy songs.......2006-11-11

Manilow provides a "voice" for several of the tenants in the Mayflower building, providing insight into the human condition. A variety of topics and musical styles are represented here, all linked by proximity, but not necessarily anything else. Together, the songs reflect the experience of living in an apartment building, and explores the surreality of living so close to people you don't know very well or at all. Some tenants are lonely, some determined to make change, some tell intense love stories, and some are just melancholy, but each song gains depth from being on the album with the others. It's worth a listen, and some songs are very special.

good listening and dance music.......2006-07-10

Unable to find this cd at my local stores, Amazon.com came thru. Its a good mix of tempo's and tunes and if you are a Barry Manilow fan, I hope you will enjoy it as I much as I am.

MAYFLOWER.......2006-05-11

I was unfamiliar with this cd and decided to give it a try after watching "Music and Passion". This is one beautiful cd. It's like a story being sung to you. I was in tears by the end of it. Kudos again to Mr Manilow. He is one truly gifted man...and I hope he continues to share that gift with us for many years to come.

More Than Enjoyable.......2006-03-31

I've always appreciated Barry Manilow's songwriting, singing, and showmanship. This CD is unique in that it has a theme and takes you into the lives of several people at the Mayflower Hotel. If you like Broadway show tunes, you'll appreciate the story-telling aspect of many of these numbers. As always, his ballads are the best and there are several good ones. The song "I Miss You" is my favorite; very tender and heartbreaking. Barry's voice seems to break in a couple of places, suggesting he too is carried away by the sentiment of this song.

If you like Barry, you'll appreciate this CD. If you like songwriting, you'll appreciate what he has done here. And the arrangements, by the way, are at times unique and exquisite. In a couple of songs he has violins, cello, reminiscent of McCartney's "Yesterday."

Average customer rating:

Here at the Mayflower
Barry Manilow
Manufacturer: Jvc Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Broadway & Vocalists | Imports | Stores | Music

Pop | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Here at the Mayflower
The Greatest Songs of the Seventies (deluxe edition)

ASIN: B00005S7I0
Release Date: 2001-12-19

Tracks:

Elevator Operator: Do You Know Who's Livin' Next Door?
Apartments 3B and 5N: Come Monday
Apartment 3E: Border Train
Apartment 2H: Turn the Radio Up (Laura's Song)
Apartment 2G: I Hear Her Playing Music
Apartment 4J: Talk to Me
Apartment 6C: Not What You See
Elevator Operater: Freddie Said
Apartment 1A: Some Bar by the Harbor
Apartment 2H: Say Goodbye
Elevator Operator: She Should'a Be Mine
Apartment 4G: The Night That Tito Played
Apartment 5F: I'm Comin' Back
Apartment 6C: I Miss You
Elevator Operator: They Dance!
Apartment 3E: Welcome Home
Apartment 5F: I Don't Wanna Know [*]
Apartment 1A: Shadow Man [*]

Album Description

Japanese edition of 2001 album includes two bonus tracks, 'I Don't Wanna Know' (UK/Japan Bonus Track) & 'Shadow Man' (Japanese Only Bonus Track). 18 tracks in all.

Album Details

Manilow's First Album Not Released by the Bmg Family of Labels, but on Concord Jazz. This Special Japanese Edition features Two Bonus Tracks Not Found on the USA Version: 'i Don't Wanna Know', and ' Shadow Man'

Average customer rating:

Here at the Mayflower
Barry Manilow
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Broadway & Vocalists | Imports | Stores | Music

Pop | Imports | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Here at the Mayflower

ASIN: B000063KFU
Release Date: 2003-08-19

Tracks:

Doyou Know Whos Livin Next Door
Come Monday
Border Train
Turn The Radio Up
I Hear Her Playing Music
Talk To Me
Not What You See
Freddie Said
Some Bar By The Harbor
Say Goodbye
She Shoulda Been Mine
Th Night That Tito Played
Im Comin Back
I Miss You
They Dance
Welcome Home
Life Has Its Ups And Downs (Bonus Track)
I Dont Wanna Know (Bonus Track)

Album Description

First studio album in 13 years 'Here At The Mayflower' is a concept album using the metaphor of an apartment block to explore loneliness, restlessness, enduring love, old age and other human experiences and frailties so that the listener feels they are eavesdropping on other people's lives. This UK version includes two bonus tracks 'Life Has It's Ups & Downs' (UK only) & 'I Don't Wanna Know' (UK/Japan only). 2002.

Average customer rating:

Here at the Mayflower

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000A2GEEO
Release Date: 2004-07-27

Music:

Music

Music