Playlist: The Very Best of Barry Manilow

The intent of the Playlist series is to balance a few big hits with deeper album cuts, a practice that doesn't necessarily suit Barry Manilow, who always made a bigger impression with his singles than albums. The compilers of Playlist realize this and wind up anchoring their compilation with his biggest hits -- "Copacabana (At the Copa)," "Mandy," "Can't Smile Without You," "I Write the Songs" -- peppering the rest of the 14 tracks with strong lesser-known items and a live version of "When October Goes," winding up with a solid sampler of Manilow at his peak. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine