Personnel: Barry Manilow (vocals, piano); Mundell Lowe (guitar); Gerry Mulligan (baritone saxophone); Billy Mays (piano, Fender Rhodes); George Duviver (bass); Shelly Manne (drums).

Principally recorded live at Westlake Studio "C", Los Angeles, California. Includes liner notes by Barry Manilow.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

In the liner notes to 2:00 AM Paradise Caf‚, Barry Manilow confessed that the record's concept came to him in a dream and that it's the album for which he'd most like to be remembered. That's some top-shelf comment about an album that seems like a pretty calculated move toward long-term success as a vocal talent, like Mel Torm‚ or Sarah Vaughan, both of whom duet with him on 2:00 AM. That said, the album does lay down a dusty, late-night groove. Vocally, Manilow is able to sell the concept that this is all taking place in the wee hours inside a half-empty basement cabaret. The shuffling percussion of Shelly Manne is spot on, as are the cool tones of baritone sax man Gerry Mulligan -- you can just picture the blinking neon from the hotel across the street reflecting in the gold of his horn. Mundell Lowe's electric guitar adds a burst of attitude to the otherwise straightforward "Big City Blues," and Manilow and Bill Mays' piano playing is solid throughout. There's a bit of a problem though, since most every arrangement sounds essentially the same. After about half the record, it begins to seem like it's all happening in slow motion, or at least someone's just going through them. It's refreshing to hear stripped-down arrangements and Manilow experimenting a bit with his delivery to suggest he's singing after the streets have rolled up. All of this means that, while 2:00 AM Paradise Caf‚ is as pleasant as a nightcap, it's not the fine wine Manilow's dreams told him it would be. ~ Johnny Loftus

Taking a brief sidetrack from his career as champion of the dramatic pop ballad, Barry Manilow transforms himself into an impressive jazz vocalist on 2:00 AM PARADISE CAFE. As the title suggests, Manilow assumes the role of the smoky lounge balladeer in the wee small hours of the morning, gracefully crooning blue-tinged tales of heartbreak for the few remaining customers. Not only is the singer's buttery tenor well suited for the sultry ballads on this disc, but his choice of sidemen and duet partners is nothing short of genius.

A sextet including bari-sax master Gerry Mulligan, legendary drummer Shelly Manne and stylish guitarist Mundell Lowe tastefully supports Manilow with grace and expressive virtuosity. The first of two duets pairs him with the divine Sarah Vaughan for "Blue," a beautiful melody that displays each vocalist's strengths admirably. The second is with the superb Mel Torme, who steals the show on the swinging "Big City Blues." Other excellent selections on this unique collection include the melancholy "Where Have You Gone," the dramatic "When October Goes" and the graceful "I've Never Been So Low On Love." This is a side of Manilow that the world should hear more often.