Daybreak - Barry Manilow (1977) 3/11/23

Almost everyone who has ever seen Barry Manilow in concert agrees that he's a dynamic performer--known for having fun with the audience and his band, while giving each song a little extra oomph."

Today's "Great Song of 1977" is a perfect case in point.

"Daybreak was originally released in 1976 as part of his "This One's For You" studio album. There certainly wasn't anything wrong with it; it was an upbeat and positive album cut...in a "Barry" sort of way.

It wasn't released as a single until it appeared as a live version from his 1977 follow-up album, "The Essential Barry Manilow."

This time, with an audience in front of him, as well as his stellar band and background vocals from Lady Flash behind him, Barry sped it up a bit, and had some fun with it.

"Daybreak" (live) broke into the Top 10 on the Adult Contemporary Charts in Canada (#4) and the US (#7)... and became another Barry Classic!

Note: Lady Flash consisted of Barry's long-time backup singers: Reparata Mazzola, Monica Pege and Debra Byrd.

Because Monica and Debra were black, and Reparata was

white and stood between the other two, Barry lovingly called them "The Oreos." :-)

"Daybreak" by Barry Manilow: a "Great Song of 1977!"

Single version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jup2sWd87Lw Original Album version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NCpD9lD3xM