In the summer ’75, Manilow was completing his third album.  364 days after “Mandy” first hit the chart, he logged his fourth hit single in the space of one year.  The #1 gold “I Write the Songs” came from the pen of the Beach Boys’ Bruce Johnston (formerly of the legendary Columbia duo Bruce & Terry – Doris Day’s son, producer Terry Melcher – they doubled as the Rip-Chords).  This fourth hit in 12 months ushered in the new LP, TRYIN’ TO GET THE FEELING, which raised the ante to double-platinum when the title tune (written by New York singer-songwriter David Pomeranz, an Arista artist) hit the singles charts in the spring of 1976. 

In addition to new co-writes with Enoch Anderson (“She’s A Star,” “A Nice Boy Like Me”), Barry once again utilized the album as a tableau for a wide range of material, including “Lay Me Down” (by Larry Weiss, of “Rhinestone Cowboy” renown), “Why Don’t We Live Together” (by the American Gypsies duo of Galdston & Thom), and his immortal vocal update of Les & Larry Elgart’s Columbia big band classic, “Bandstand Boogie” (aka the theme of Dick Clark’s American Bandstand).

“Marry Me A Little” from the original album sessions, a Stephen Sondheim composition (from the Broadway musical Company, which Barry claims to have seen 17 times from the SRO section!) has been added here as well as “I’ll Make You Music,” co-written with lyricist Adrienne Anderson, who co-wrote one of the original LP tracks with Barry, “As Sure As I’m Standin’ Here.”

(Arista/Legacy 82876 81235 2, originally issued October 1975, as Arista 4060)  

1. New York City Rhythm 
2. Tryin’ To Get The Feeling Again (#10 Pop, #1 AC) 
3. Why Don’t We Live Together 
4. Bandstand Boogie 
5. You’re Leavin’ Too Soon 
6. She’s A Star 
7. I Write The Songs (#1 Pop, #2 AC) 
8. As Sure As I’m Standin’ Here
9. A Nice Boy Like Me 
10. Lay Me Down 
11. Beautiful Music
12. I’ll Make You Music (previously unreleased bonus track) 
13. Marry Me A Little