RECORDING an album with high-profile living artists is prone to scheduling and artistic differences, but to extend that concept to departed artists opens a raft of other issues technically and artistically, not to mention dealing with estates and publishers.

For Barry Manilow to complete this project is a tremendous feat and the result is a magnificent musical banquet. Manilow would have known some of his guest singers, and one could have been fooled that the glorious I Believe In You And Me with Whitney Houston, The Look Of Love with Dusty Springfield and Moon River with Andy Williams were recorded in real time and kept for this release.

The involvement of Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong, Mama Cass, Frankie Lymon and Marilyn Monroe prove this was not the case. These vintage classics also sound as if they were recorded only days ago. Throughout, familiar numbers are treated to exquisite new arrangements which prove testament to the craft of all involved.