Highlighted by a guest appearance from Phyllis McGuire of the McGuire Sisters on the medley of 1954 hits, "Teach Me Tonight/Sincerely," THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE FIFTIES is a veritable jukebox of favorites from his remake of the Four Lads "Moments To Remember" (1955) and the Everly Brothers "All I Have To Do Is Dream" (1958), to Bobby Darins "Beyond The Sea" (1959) but to hear them collected on one album is a dream come true. The project (just like the era it emulates) cuts across musical genres, from The Four Aces,"Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" (1955), to Frankie Avalons "Venus", to Johnny Mathis "It's Not For Me To Say" (1957), to Tommy Edwards "Its All In The Game" (1958), and Dinah Washingtons signature "What A Diff'rence A Day Made" (1959). Some of Americas greatest artists are evoked on songs that are forever associated with them, for example, Tony Bennett on "Rags To Riches" (1953) and the Four Aces on the motion picture title tune hit "Love Is A Many! Splendored Thing" (1955). More: the spirit of Frank Sinatra imbues "Young At Heart"(1954) and Elvis Presley is remembered with "Are You Lonesome Tonight." "Unchained Melody" (1955) remains one of the most-recorded songs in contemporary popular music.
For Manilow, THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE FIFTIES is a true labor of love.