Barry Manilow - This Is My Town (Decca Records)

Apparently this new album is his love letter to the Big Apple: New York. The album is a mix of standards and his own songs.

If you liked the La La Land film and soundtrack, chances are you will like this album. Towards the end he even gets on a jazz vibe. You could imagine Michael Buble performing some of these songs.

This Is My Town is a Manilow original, but he makes it sound like an old standard. New York City Rhythm is another Manilow track but he manages to link the song up to On Broadway.

Coney Island is a jazzy affair. It is a shame that this album might not get heard beyond his mainly female fan base as it might be appreciated by a wider audience who, if they cast their prejudices aside, could find themselves liking the album. I could imagine Jamie Cullen performing Coney Island if he came from America and not the UK.

Lonely Town from the 1949 musical On The Town sounds to have been one of his favourites.

On the Roof is another original that is a smokey, late night jazz infused track. If this is a new direction for him then I can only say it is a good one.

I Dig New York would sound great live in a small jazz club, even better if he could perform the track at one of the many jazz festivals around Europe this summer, say outside on a hot summer night.

A huge surprise.

3 out of 5