Barry Manilow on his new album

The ‘Can’t Smile Without You’ hitmaker talks about his latest album.

LOS ANGELES:

Barry Manilow, the piano man who didn’t write his big hits despite proclaiming otherwise in “I Write the Songs,” is back in stores with his first album of original material in a decade.

15 Minutes, a guitar-driven concept album he co-wrote with lyricist Enoch Anderson, details the rise, fall and possible redemption of a young musician. There are traces of Manilow in the storyline, but he says it can apply to anyone trying to make it in their chosen field.

The album debuted in the top 10 of the US pop album chart last month and will be released in Europe in September.

This record indicates to me that you’re a closeted rocker?

I wouldn’t call me a closeted rocker. I would say that I’m crazy about all sorts of styles of music. My only weak spot is singing them because I don’t consider myself a singer. I’ve sort of fooled the public into thinking that I really could sing. I was able to get through because I can act the lyric. I can perform a song

What parts of you do you recognise in the character?

I didn’t start off wanting to write an autobiographical story, but I had gone through just about every experience in almost every song.

What’s the closest you’ve come to derailing?

Not very successful albums, some singles that were released that didn’t make it, shows that didn’t sell out. They really affect you when you’re flying high. This fame thing is a rollercoaster. And I’ll tell you something, if you do it for the fame you are asking for trouble. For me, I never did it for the fame, I did it for the music.

To what extent do you keep a hands-on approach to the Barry Manilow business?

I must say that I don’t pay attention to the money as much as I should, because I did go bankrupt twice. I should have taken responsibility for that. I just don’t. It doesn’t mean anything
to me, it really doesn’t. I’ll miss it when it’s gone.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2011.