This One's for You - Barry Manilow (1976) 2/11/22

The story behind today's "Great Song of the '70s" is heart-warming to say the least. At first listen, Barry Manilow's 1976 hit "This One's for You" sounds like a love song--and it IS--but not in the way you might expect. It's a song Barry wrote (with Marty Panzer) and dedicated to his grandfather. Young Barry was focused on becoming a songwriter, but his grandfather believed he could be a great singer and performer. Grandpa encouraged and pushed Barry to develop his talents. He even took Barry to a music booth in New York where Barry could practice recording--and singing--his compositions.

At first, Barry thought his singing voice was awful, but Grandpa knew otherwise, and with his help, Barry gained the confidence to not only write, but to sing. And we all know how it worked out. :-) Years later, Barry was booked at Carnegie Hall, and Grandpa was in the front row. After Barry finished his opening number, Grandpa leapt to his feet and led the crowd in a standing ovation. Is it any wonder why Barry would write and dedicate a song to his biggest cheerleader? "This One's for You" was one of Barry's biggest hits, reaching #1 on the Adult Contemporary Charts in both the US and Canada. It's definitely a "Great Song of the '70s," and a great tribute to the man behind the artist!