Mark Simone here, 710 W-O-R, and just like that, it's Memorial Day, and this is our very special Memorial Day show.

Well, Barry Manilow, of course, one of the greatest names in music.

Now, listen, he's got a new album out.

This is My Town, Songs of New York.

This is not a regular album.

I thought it was just going to be you know

here's 12 songs about new york this is a musical masterpiece an amazing work of art and he's

on the line with us right now barry mannolo how you doing well you know i you know when they do

songs of the 50s the guy usually usually sings, here's 12 songs,

but this thing was amazing, the arranging, the selection, the way you strung some of those

things together in these magnificent medleys.

How did this all begin?

You know, when I make albums these days, I like to have an idea behind the album.

You know, one was songs of the big band era, then one was showstoppers of Broadway songs,

and I always like to have an idea.

And one of the ideas I had years ago was to do an album about New York.

And this year was the year I tackled it.

It took about a year and a half to complete this album,

because as you say, it's more complicated than just 10, three-minute songs.

I went further than that.

Now it's magnificent.

And who did these arrangements?

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