ULTIMATE MANILOW: The Hits

Manilow mixes classics, Vegas tribute for a superb show

Staff Report

When Barry Manilow announced his gig at the Hilton he promised fans something old and something new.

He delivers on that promise, leaving a packed house enthralled by a lively performance that includes such classics as "Copacabana" and "Mandy," as well as a new song, "Here's to Las Vegas."

Manilow (backed by an 11-piece band and four dynamic vocalists) is much more than a vocalist picking titles from his hefty catalog of hits; he is an entertainer who woos his fans with an engaging personality and an enthusiasm for his craft.

He opens the show with Frank Sinatra's "Luck be a Lady," a nod to Vegas' glorious past when entertainers dominated the marquees instead of production shows and steak dinners.

There are many highlights of the evening -- a number in which he and four of his band members played musical chairs with keyboards -- each rotating to a different keyboard until they ended up at their original starting point.

Manilow mugs for his fans, plays the accordion, exhibits a self-effacing sense of humor, tells stories about his career and his life, and demonstrates that his voice is as fine as ever.

A fascinating visual is that of Manilow singing "Mandy." On a video screen upstage we see him performing the song 30 years ago, and then it segues to his live performance of the song -- and he ends up singing a duet with himself.

"I'm so proud of this music," he said. "Have you been in the elevator at the Hilton? It's me, 24 hours a day -- I like it!"

And so do the fans.