Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again

"Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again" is a song written by David Pomeranz that became a top 10 hit for Barry Manilow in 1976. It was first recorded by the Carpenters in 1975, but their version was not released until 1994 on their 25th anniversary CD, Interpretations: A 25th Anniversary Celebration. Pomeranz also recorded the song for his 1975 album It's in Every One of Us (Arista Records).

"Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again"
Single by Barry Manilow
from the album Tryin' to Get the Feeling
B-side	"Beautiful Music"
Released	March 1976
Genre	Soft rock
Length	3:51
Label	Arista
Songwriter(s)	David Pomeranz
Producer(s)	Barry Manilow, Ron Dante
Barry Manilow singles chronology
"I Write the Songs" (1975) "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again" (1976) "This One's for You" (1976)

Barry Manilow version

Manilow released his recording, a single from the album Tryin' to Get the Feeling, in 1976. It peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.^[1] An alternate version, including the original bridge, nearly a minute longer, appears on The Complete Collection and Then Some... Manilow says the bridge was eliminated in his release for timing reasons, but he tries to include it when performing live.^[2]

Record World said that "this lush ballad will speak directly to a large audience."^[3]

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1976) Peak position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[4] 13 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[5] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[6] 10 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[7] 1 US Cash Box Top 100 10

Year-end charts Chart (1976) Rank Canadian RPM Top Singles[8] 123 US Billboard Hot 100[9] 95 US Billboard Easy Listening[10] 44 US Cash Box[11] 79

Carpenters' version

"Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again"
Single by Carpenters
from the album Interpretations
Released	December 12, 1994
Recorded	1975
Genre	Pop, soft rock
Label	A&M 1940
Songwriter(s)	David Pomeranz
Producer(s)	Richard Carpenter
Carpenters singles chronology
"Let Me Be the One" (1991) "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again" (1994) "The Rainbow Connection" (2001)

The Carpenters' version of "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again" was recorded during the Horizon sessions in 1975, but it had been shelved as there were "one too many ballads". Years later, Richard was looking for the master backing track for "Only Yesterday" and discovered on that same tape the lost, earlier attempt at "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again" with Karen's "work lead". (A work lead can easily be identified by such anomalies as Karen flipping a sheet of paper over at about 1:50 into the play time as she sight-reads and sings.) Richard felt that the vocal was good enough to finish production and release the song, as he did in 1994, almost 20 years after it was recorded. The Carpenters' version includes the original bridge.

Personnel

• Karen Carpenter – lead and backing vocals
• Richard Carpenter – backing vocals, keyboards
• Joe Osborn – bass guitar
• Jim Gordon – drums
• Tim May – guitar

Original David Pomeranz version

Pomeranz wrote the song during a time of stress in his marriage, referring to its ups and downs. He notes that he rewrote the song several times, and that his version, the Manilow version, and the Carpenters version each include different verses. ^[12]

Additional versions

• Gene Pitney, 1975, Pitney '75 (Bronze)
• Stephanie De-Sykes, 1975, (single, 20th Century)
• Hubert Laws (flute), 1976, Romeo & Juliet (Columbia)
• Dee Dee Sharp Gamble, 1977, What Color Is Love (Philadelphia International)
• Ray Fisher, 2023, Forever Fanilow

- Harriet, 2024, Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again

See also

• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1976 (U.S.)

References

• CD insert – Interpretations

1. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 155.
2. "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again by Barry Manilow". songfacts.com.
3. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. March 13, 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
4. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4128a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
5. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4122." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
6. "Barry Manilow Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
7. "Barry Manilow Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
8. "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
9. "Pop Singles" Billboard December 25, 1976: Talent in Action-6
10. Top 50 Adult Contemporary Hits of 1976
11. "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1976". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
12. "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again by Barry Manilow". songfacts.com.

External links

• Barry Manilow - Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again on YouTube