Barry Manilow’s 25 Top 40 Hits, Ranked From Worst to Best: Critic’s Picks

Barry Manilow had one of the most impressive hit streaks of the 1970s and early ’80s. Of his 26 commercially-released singles between “Mandy” in late 1974 and “Read ‘Em and Weep” in late 1983, 25 made the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.

If you’re a young pop fan, 25 top 40 hits may not sound all that impressive to you. Artists can amass that many top 40 hits with just a couple of albums these days, thanks to big, streaming-sparked debut weeks. But, back in the day, artists had to earn every hit one by one, single by single. If fans or radio didn’t care for a song, your streak was interrupted. (That happened to Manilow just once in his heyday, when “Lonely Together” stalled at No. 45 in April 1980.)

For those of us who were Manilow fans from the first time we heard “Mandy” on the radio in the fall of 1974, it’s hard to imagine that he is turning 80 on Saturday (June 17). (This doesn’t mean we’re aging too, does it?!).

Just as impressive as Manilow’s hit streak is the fact that he has sustained his stardom and drawing power decades after his last top 40 hit. Part of the reason for that is that he gained a reputation as a strong live performer.

Surviving in this business is a feat to celebrate. So, whether you’re a Fanilow from way back or you just want to understand why your mom always tears up when she hears “Mandy,” here are Manilow’s 25 top 40 hits on the Hot 100 – ranked from worst to best.