Barry Manilow II is the second studio album by Barry Manilow released in 1974. Propelled by the major success of its lead single "Mandy" and featuring a further international hit in "It's a Miracle", the album was a commercial breakthrough for Manilow. First issued by Bell Records, it was reissued after the company was reorganized into Arista Records. The album's success spawned a notable parody in the picture sleeve of Ray Stevens' 1979 single, "I Need Your Help Barry Manilow".
Album peaked at #29 on Canada's RPM Album Chart.
Track listing Side 1 "I Want To Be Somebody's Baby" (Barry Manilow, Enoch Anderson) - 4:18 "Early Morning Strangers" (Barry Manilow, Hal David) - 3:24 "Mandy" (Scott English, Richard Kerr) - 3:32 "The Two of Us" (Barry Manilow, Marty Panzer) - 3:05 "Something's Comin' Up" (Barry Manilow) - 2:51
Side 2 "It's a Miracle" (Barry Manilow, Marty Panzer) - 3:58 "Avenue C" (Buck Clayton, Jon Hendricks, Dave Lambert) - 2:37 "My Baby Loves Me" (Ivy Hunter, Sylvia Moy, William "Mickey" Stevenson) - 3:18 "Sandra" (Barry Manilow, Enoch Anderson) - 4:35 "Home Again" (Barry Manilow, Marty Panzer) - 5:34
1996 Remaster "I Want To Be Somebody's Baby" "Early Morning Strangers" "Mandy" "The Two of Us" "Something's Comin' Up" "It's a Miracle" "Avenue C" "My Baby Loves Me" "Sandra" "Home Again" Bonus track: "Halfway Over the Hill"
2006 Expanded Edition "I Want To Be Somebody's Baby" "Early Morning Strangers" "Mandy" "The Two of Us" "Something's Comin' Up" "It's a Miracle" "Avenue C" "My Baby Loves Me" "Sandra" "Home Again" Bonus tracks: "Good News" "Halfway Over the Hill"
Charts Chart (1974/75)PositionUnited States (Billboard 200)9Australia (Kent Music Report)66
Personnel Barry Manilow - lead vocals, backing vocals, rhythm arrangements, acoustic piano (1–6, 9, 10) Don Grolnick - acoustic piano (7) Ellen Starr - acoustic piano (8) Jon Stroll - clavinet (1), electric piano (2–6, 8, 9, 10) John Barranco - guitar (1, 6) Dick Frank - guitar (1, 6, 8, 9, 10) Bob Mann - guitar (1, 6, 10) Charlie Brown - guitar (2, 3, 10) Stuart Scharf - guitar (2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10) Sam T. Brown - guitar (7) Will Lee - bass guitar (1, 2, 3, 5, 6) Russell George - bass guitar (4, 8, 9, 10) Bob Cranshaw - bass guitar (7) Chris Parker - drums (1, 6) Jimmy Young - drums (2, 3, 5) Bill Lavorgna - drums (7) Allan Schwartzberg - drums (8, 9, 10) Lee Gurst - percussion (1, 6) Norman Pride - congas (1, 2, 5–8, 10) George Young - saxophone (2) Artie Kaplan - saxophone (6) Stanley Schwartz: saxophone (6) Jack Cortner - horn and string arrangements Ron Dante - backing vocals Melvin Kent - backing vocals (1) Ken Williams - backing vocals (1) Charlotte Crossley - backing vocals (6) Robin Grean - backing vocals (6) Sharon Redd - backing vocals (6)
Production Producers: Barry Manilow and Ron Dante Engineers: Bruce Tergesen, Harry Maslin and Michael DeLugg Recorded at The Hit Factory and Mediasound Recording Studios (New York City) Design: The Music Agency Front Cover Photo: Joel Brodsky Back Liner Photo: Linda Allen
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