The Greatest Songs of the Sixties

After the success of his comeback album The Greatest Songs of the Fifties, it was only a matter of time before the next decade would be pursued. Manilow is an entertainer whose artistic sense is in great part shaped by the desires of his audience. He aims to please. He doesn’t reinterpret the material that’s chosen, but delivers it with the solid professionalism for which he’s known, and this collection of lite-FM ‘60s hits is a natural fit for him. Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Fallng In Love With You,” The Beatles’ “And I Love Her” and The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” are obvious blockbusters with time-tested melodies that easily configure with the laid-back orchestration provided here. In fact these tracks could just as easily have come from that ‘60s era themselves. The Association even join Manilow for a medley of their hits, “Cherish / Windy,” adding a touch of authenticity. Throughout, Manilow never overpowers the material. As a result, he neither sabotages the tunes nor claims them as his own.  Now, the wait is on for Manilow’s take on the ‘70s, a decade he’s more than a little familiar with.