"Barry Manilow is in a mellow mood," or so begins this Billboard.com article detailing the "Copacabana" crooner's upcoming The Greatest Songs Of The Seventies, due September 18. For Manilow—who apparently has moods other than mellow—this is his third volume of decade-driven cover songs after the first two cleared more than 1.7 million copies (!) combined. Along with eight acoustic versions of his own singles, Manilow tackles "contemplative fare" like Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," The Carpenters' "(They Long To Be) Close To You," and Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were." The article then matter-of-factly adds:
"Rosie O'Donnell is featured on an interpretation of Elton John's 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart.'"
Isn't it nice how they just slip that in there? Sort of like saying, "Hey, on your way home, could you go ahead and refill the gas tank? Thanks. Oh, and your Mom just died."
By the way, anyone want to start placing bets on what Manilow will do for the inevitable Greatest Songs Of The Eighties? "Electric Avenue" is at 5:1 right now.