Looks Like He Made It: Hard to believe, but the guy who played piano for Bette Midler in a Manhattan bathhouse and whose first claim to fame was writing the 'You Deserve a Break Today' jingle for McDonald's, became one of the best-selling music acts of the 1970s and '80s. 'Mandy' in 1974 kicked off a string of enormous hits including 'Could It Be Magic,' 'Weekend in New England,' 'Can't Smile Without You' and 'It's a Miracle.' A Greatest Hits collection released in 2002 debuted at No. 3 on the charts, a testament to the enduring popularity of the Barry Manilow catalog.

The Old Songs: Manilow's reputation is for music your mum loves, and he's still waiting for his first good review from a rock critic. But anyone old enough to remember when the Top 40 featured songs with discernible melodies and coherent lyrics might now look upon such well-crafted material as 'Tryin' to Get the Feelin' Again' with renewed appreciation. Expect a generous helping of the hits in Music and Passion, along with Manilow's covers of such swing standards as 'Moonlight Serenade.'

Ready to Take a Chance Again: Of course, most fans will be delighted if they never hear a song released after 1980, but Manilow promises a few surprises, including selections from his stage musicals 'Copacabana' and 'Harmony,' plus a new composition about Las-Vegas that he hopes will become the city's official theme. If it does replace 'Viva Las-Vegas,' the Elvis fans are going to be even more incensed.