Can't Smile Without You by Barry Manilow

Album: Even Now (1978)

Charted: 43 3

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Greeting cards are a great way to find titles for love songs. That's how the British singer-songwriter David Martin discovered this one.

His wife, who worked at a card store, showed him one with a frown and teardrop on the cover, and the words "Can't Smile Without You."

"I was immediately drawn to the slogan and during the drive home from Hampstead to Harrow, a journey of about 30 minutes, the song was written," he explained in the liner notes of Manilow's anthology The Complete Collection and Then Some. "When I first heard Barry's recording of the song, I realized that his injection of key changes coupled with the feeling of voice made the song speak volumes."
David Martin completed this song with his writing partners Chris Arnold and Geoff Morrow, and released the original version as a single in 1975. His version didn't get much attention, but in 1976 both the Carpenters and Engelbert Humperdinck recorded it. Neither of these versions were released as singles, so Barry Manilow's label boss, Clive Davis, had him take a crack at it. Released as the first single from his 1978 album Even Now, it was a winner, going to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #3 on the Hot 100.
The David Martin original has a string arrangement but is pretty basic. When Manilow heard it, he thought it was too simple and also too commercial. Clive Davis insisted he record it, so Barry Manilowized it, ramping it up with a lush, campy production that builds to a rousing finale.

"I decided that I would treat it with a big smile; like a vaudeville piece, with lots of key changes, a whistle in the intro and a real take-home ending," he said in The Complete Collection and Then Some. "I had even made plans to include a tap dance solo!"

Manilow, who produced the song with Ron Dante, decided against the tap dancing but went with the whistling to open the song, which in the original is just keyboard notes. "I
realized that the song was absolutely irresistible and decided to treat it with the same smile, but less silly and we made a record of it that I'm still proud of to this day," he added.
In concert, this is a showstopper for Manilow. He would often start the song at the piano and then get up midway through, moving to the front of the stage to lead the crowd in a singalong. At some shows, he would bring a (female) fan on stage to sing it with him. This was great for the fan, not so much for the audience if she wasn't a good singer, which was often the case.
Manilow ruled the realm of soft rock at this time. Even Now, which also contains "Copacabana (At The Copa)," is his best-selling studio album. "Can't Smile Without You" was his eighth of 13 #1 Adult Contemporary hits.
This was by far the biggest hit for the writing team of Chris Arnold, David Martin and Geoff Morrow. Other songs they wrote include "Annabella" by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, "Can't You Hear The Song?" by Wayne Newton, and "It's Up To You Petula" by Edison Lighthouse.
The song's publisher took action against Wham!, claiming the song "Last Christmas" hewed too closely to the "Can't Smile Without You" melody. The claim didn't hold up in court, according to the recording engineer on "Last Christmas."
This was used in these TV shows:

Resident Alien ("Sexy Beast" - 2021)
ER ("I Do" - 2005)

And these movies:

Head Over Heels 2 (2012)
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
Starsky & Hutch (2004)
Unconditional Love (2002)
See Spot Run (2001)
Disturbing Behavior (1998)

Comments: 14

Jennifur Sun from RamonaI have felt this way before , thanks Barry.
Deanna from OhI found it. Mickey Rooney he didn't have Downs, he was intellectually disabled, but still, it was a great movie. it looks like it has 2 parts, Bill and Bill on his own?? I didn't know there was a part two.
Deanna from OhI have searched all over and I cant figure out the name of the movie.... A reg actor played a downs syndrome man and the only thing I remember is it was an older movie, late 70's maybe and the song... I cant smile without you was in it. I was a kid and it was the first time I heard the song and i used to sing it to my older sister when we were growing up, she has Downs. Does anyone know what the movie title was? The song was so special to me, my mom bought us matching music boxes that played the song. We were always together, best friends. She was 4 years older then me but we grew at the same level. We learned to walk and talk at the same time but then when I was 7-8 I kept reaching milestones and she didn't, it was then that I realized that she was different, but my word for her was special. We still sing this song together. I am 40 and she is 45 but she looks like she is 10. She tells everyone we meet that she is my big sister, and I tell her she is my lil big sister and she laughs like it was the first time she heard me say it. She never ever stops smiling, only when she misplaces her New kids on the block CD, but even then she still smiles. I would love to watch the movie again. Anyone know the name???
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 24th 1978, 'The Second Barry Manilow Special' aired on the ABC-TV network...
At the time his "Can't Smile Without You" was at #27 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and eight weeks later on April 16th, 1978 it peaked at #3* {for 3 weeks} and spent 19 weeks on the Top 100...
And on March 12th, 1978 it reached #1 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart; it was also the eighth of his thirteen #1 records on the Adult chart...
* And before "Can't Smile Without You" peaked at #3 on the Top 100 it was at #4 for three consecutive weeks.
Maggie from East Devonport Tas, AustraliaHi Does anyone know did Rod Stewart cover it, I think he would of sang it really well.
David from Birmingham, AlThis was one of the better songs on the Carpenters "Kind of a Hush" album, and some in the Carpenters organization wanted to release it as a second single, after the title track. Instead, they released an awful song called "Goofus," which bombed. Meanwhile, Barry Manilow recorded it, released it as a single, and it was huge for him.
Paul from Oceanside, Ny"Can't Smile Without You" was the B-side of the Carpenters "Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft" in 1977. Also it would have been Barry's 4th #1 in the U.S. but two songs from Saturday Night Fever were #1 & #2. "Night Fever" by the Bee Gee's and "If I Can't Have You" by Yvonne Elliman.
Will from Lancaster, United Kingdomit was used in hellboy 2
Eric from Maastrichtthis is a truly horrible song!
yuch!
Elizabeth from Sao Paulo, BrazilOn Manilow's box set, David Martin, one of the composers of the song, says:
"In 1975, my wife Debbie was working at a greeting card store. One evening, she gave me a card... Across the top of the card were simply the word 'Can't Smile Without You'.
I was immediately drawn to the slogan and during the drive home from Hampstead to Harrow, a journey of about 30 minutes, the song was written."
Wolfgang from Berlin, GermanyIt first appeared on the Carpenter's album "A Kind of Hush" in 1976.
Sean from Toronto, CanadaThis song was used during the opening credits of the movie "Starsky & Hutch" with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson.
Alan from East Kilbride, ScotlandSorry to disappoint you but surely The Carpenters recorded the original version?
Paty from Mexico,city, Mexicothis song is a sweet
patty

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