If I Should Love Again
Barry Manilow · 1981
39 min · 10 tracks · pop music
A lush blend of orchestral pop balladry intertwined with heartfelt narratives and soaring melodies.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Old Songs Start here — This track encapsulates the album's nostalgic theme, reflecting on past loves through a melodious yet melancholic lens that showcases Manilow’s vocal prowess.
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If I Should Love Again — The title track serves as a poignant exploration of vulnerability in relationships, highlighting Manilow's ability to convey deep emotional resonance through his lyrics.
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Somewhere Down the Road — With its hopeful undertones and reflective lyrics, this song exemplifies the essence of looking toward future possibilities while grappling with past experiences.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features strong orchestral arrangements and emotional ballads but lacks standout depth for lasting impact.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a strong single, 'The Old Songs', which features layered orchestration and a prominent vocal delivery.
- Tracks often feature lush string arrangements that create a rich backdrop for the vocal melodies, particularly in ballads like 'If I Should Love Again'.
- Several songs employ a verse-chorus structure with emotional crescendos, leading to powerful vocal climaxes.
- The final track, 'Let’s Take All Night (to Say Goodbye)', concludes the album with a reflective tone, slowing the pace significantly.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo emotional flow
- heartfelt storytelling with warmth
- for nostalgic evenings
- orchestral arrangements enhance mood
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of high-energy tracks
- prefer standalone singles format
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — The album solidified Manilow's popularity with hits like 'The Old Songs'.
- Themes
- nostalgic romance· orchestral love ballads· past heartbreak reflections
- Career context
- Released in 1981, If I Should Love Again was Barry Manilow's sixth studio album, following the commercial success of his previous record, If I Should Love Again. At this point, Manilow had firmly established himself as a leading figure in pop music, building on a series of hits that defined his signature sound.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Billy Joel· Paul Anka· Neil Diamond
Tracklist
- 1 The Old Songs Start here 4:42
- 2 Let’s Hang On 3:49
- 3 If I Should Love Again 5:26
- 4 Don’t Fall in Love With Me 3:36
- 5 Break Down the Door 3:01
- 6 Somewhere Down the Road 4:00
- 7 No Other Love 4:36
- 8 Fools Get Lucky 4:11
- 9 I Haven’t Changed the Room 2:16
- 10 Let’s Take All Night (to Say Goodbye) 3:36
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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