2:00 AM Paradise Cafe

2:00 AM Paradise Cafe
Studio album by Barry Manilow
Released	November 15, 1984
Genre	Jazz pop[1][2] traditional pop[1] lounge[2]
Length	49:15
Label	Arista
Producer	Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow chronology
Greatest Hits Vol. II (1983) 2:00 AM Paradise Cafe (1984) Copacabana: Soundtrack (1985)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[4]

2:00 AM Paradise Cafe is the tenth studio album by singer-songwriter Barry Manilow, released in 1984 on Arista Records. The album peaked at No. 28 on the Billboard 200 and went Gold in the United States.^[5]

Background

Johnny Mercer's widow, Ginger, entrusted Manilow with a cache of Mercer's lyrics that had never been set to music, although Manilow used only Mercer's "When October Goes" for the project. He recruited veteran jazz musicians Bill Mays, Gerry Mulligan, Shelly Manne, Mundell Lowe, and George Duvivier for the album. Also enlisted for vocal duets were Mel Tormé and Sarah Vaughan. The entire album was rehearsed for three days, then recorded entirely live (in one take) without overdubs at Westlake Studio 'C' in Los Angeles, California.

Track listing

All music is composed by Barry Manilow

Side one

No.	Title	Lyrics	Length
1.	"Paradise Cafe"	Bruce Sussman, Jack Feldman	5:23
2.	"Where Have You Gone"	Adrienne Anderson	4:35
3.	"Say No More"	Adrienne Anderson	4:06
4.	"Blue" (with Sarah Vaughan)	Bruce Sussman, Jack Feldman	4:16
5.	"When October Goes"	Johnny Mercer	4:04

Side two

No.	Title	Lyrics	Length
1.	"What Am I Doin' Here"	Marty Panzer	3:17
2.	"Goodbye My Love"	Adrienne Anderson	4:25
3.	"Big City Blues" (with Mel Tormé)	Adrienne Anderson	4:14
4.	"When Love Is Gone"	Lisa Sennett	4:17
5.	"I've Never Been So Low on Love"	Marty Panzer	4:26
6.	"Night Song"	Bruce Sussman, Jack Feldman	4:28

Charts

Chart (1984/85)	Position
United States (Billboard 200)	28
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6]	100
United Kingdom (Official Charts Company)	28

Personnel

• Barry Manilow – vocals, acoustic piano
• Bill Mays – acoustic piano, Rhodes electric piano
• Mundell Lowe – guitar
• George Duvivier – bass guitar
• Shelly Manne – drums
• Gerry Mulligan – baritone saxophone
• Sarah Vaughan – vocals (4)
• Mel Tormé – vocals (8)

Production

• Barry Manilow – producer, arrangements, logo design
• Michael Braunstein – recording
• Deni King – assistant engineer
• Greg Laney – second assistant engineer
• Eric Borenstein – album coordinator
• Roger Wall – personal assistant
• Shaun Harris – music contractor
• Ria Lewerke – art direction
• Sue Reilly – logo design
• Leon Lecash – front cover photography
• Jay Thompson – back cover photography
• Charles Mercuri – grooming

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[7]	Silver	60,000^^
United States (RIAA)[5]	Gold	500,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Ruhlmann, William (January 1, 1997). "Barry Manilow". In Bogdanov, Vladimir; Erlewine, Michael; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas; Unterberger, Richie; Woodstra, Chris (eds.). AllMusic Guide to Rock. San Francisco: Miller Freeman, Inc. p. 577.
2. Dedrick, Jay (January 1, 1998). "Barry Manilow". In Knopper, Steve (ed.). MusicHound Lounge: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 313–314.
3. Allmusic review
4. Rolling Stone list
5. "American album certifications – Barry Manilow – 2:00 A.M. Paradise Cafe". Recording Industry Association of America.
6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 191. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
7. "British album certifications – Barry Manilow – E2 Am Paradise Café". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 August 2021.