In January of 1975, a little-known singer/songwriter released a new album. Melissa Manchester was discovered singing in clubs in Manhattan by Barry Manilow and Bette Midler, becoming one of Midler's Harlettes on tour. Manchester was a New Yorker, raised in the Bronx, her father a bassoonist with the New York Metropolitan Opera, and her mother a fashion designer. Manchester had her hand in writing eight of the ten songs, co-writing four with Carole Bayer Sager. It was one of those four that captured the attention of many, when the sultry "Midnight Blue" went to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for two weeks.
After that first hit, Arista followed it up with "Just Too Many People", an uplifting song co-written with Producer Vini Poncia. The soulful uptempo song was a tribute to brighter days to come, even if somebody told Melissa "there are just too many people in this world who are undecided" - seemingly perfect for this political season. The song did well, going to #30 on the Billboard Hot 100.
While some might have thought Manchester might be a one-hit-wonder, there was no cause for worry. Not only would she have two more songs make it into the Top 10, her biggest hit was yet to come. In fact, she had seven songs make it into the Billboard Top 40. But more about those some other time. You can purchase 'Melissa' album from iTunes and Amazon. For more about what Melissa Manchester is up to these days, visit her official website.
I LOVED her when I was a kid! What ever happened to her? At one time I thought I heard that she and CBS were lovers.....
ReplyDeleteGeorge, she split time between music and acting, but eventually took time off to raise two children. I don't remember hearing anything her and CBS, although both seem to spend much time with men, with MM married twice, and CBS 3 times.
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