Craig Carnelia on Marvin Hamlisch- From Hamlisch Uncovered

You know Marvin, the composer of A Chorus Line — Marvin, the brash boy who won three Oscars one night in 1974 — Marvin, the resident Pops conductor of the National Symphony (and many others) — Marvin, the great film composer (two of his songs, “Nobody Does It Better” and “The Way We Were” are among the Top 10 film songs of all time) — Marvin, Barbra Streisand’s conductor — Marvin, the showman (on “The Tonight Show”, at the White House, or any house he happened to be in).

But here’s a Marvin you didn’t know. His lyricist hands him a line, or a title, or a verse. He sits silently at the piano with a cassette tape running. After ten or fifteen seconds, he starts to whistle to himself, almost silently, lots of air, little tone. Then, after another ten seconds, his hands, head and heart converge and he starts to play. He is at his happiest, his most focused, his best.

In our five years together, I saw him in that place hundreds of times. As he played, I would sit to his right on a barstool. Sometimes I’d hear lyric lines in my head and jot them down using the end of the piano as a desk. But mostly, I would just marvel at the versatility and brilliance of my friend and collaborator. If he looked my way for an opinion, I would nod affirmatively or say: “That thing you did a minute ago with the diminished chord, that was terrific.” And once in a blue moon I’d even say: “I think you can do better.” And he would.

Hamlisch Uncovered offers a glimpse of another Marvin you didn’t know. A collection of songs that have rarely or never been heard or recorded. Michael Lavine, Chip Fabrizi and I had a great time putting this recording together. I hope Marvin gets to hear it. I think he’d like it. I think you will too.