Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again

First recorded by The Carpenters (1975) but not released until 1994.
Also recorded by David Pomeranz, composer (1975), Gene Pitney (1975).
Hit versions by Barry Manilow (US #10/MOR #1 1976), The Carpenters (UK #44 1994).

From the wiki: “‘Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again’ was written for The Carpenters by David Pomeranz, who also recorded his own version of it in 1975, for his 1976 album It’s In Everyone Of Us. The Carpenters’ version of ‘Tryin’ To Get The Feeling Again’ was taped during the Horizon recording sessions in 1975, but was shelved for being ‘one too many ballads.’ Seven years after production wrapped on the song, Richard was looking for songs to include on Voice of the Heart – the first album released after Karen’s untimely death in 1983.

“According to Richard, the basic but uncompleted rhythm tracks were located but it was thought any recording of Karen’s vocal had been permanently lost. Even though the final production vocal intended for the release of the record had been recorded over and was gone, Richard did find a ‘work lead’ in its place – hidden away on a master tape that also contained the song ‘Only Yesterday’.

“The work lead could easily be identified by such anomalies as Karen flipping a sheet of paper over at about 1:50 into the song as she sight-reads and sings. Despite a few flaws — this was the very first and only vocal ‘take’ for the song Karen recorded – Richard felt that the vocal was good enough to finish production of the song and release it, as he did in 1995, almost 20 years after it was first recorded.

“A third version of ‘Tryin’ to Get’ was also recorded in 1975, by Gene Pitney (‘Pretty Flamingo‘) for his Pitney ’75 album.

“Of the song itself, Pomeranz recalls: ‘I wrote it in San Francisco. I remember sitting out on a rooftop writing that. It took a little less than a year, but it was something I just couldn’t get right. The beginning of the song has verses in it which are the initial kind of set-up to the song. So the, ‘Doctor, my woman is coming back home late today,’ that thing, I was working on that for several months, the body of the song, and I just couldn’t get that opening verse right. I wrote several versions, one Barry recorded, one the Carpenters recorded, and one I recorded on Arista. And they were all different verses, which is really funny. It was those maybe 5 lines that I had worked on for 4 to 6 months, I just couldn’t get it right.’

“Barry Manilow released his version as a single in 1976 from the album Tryin’ To Get The Feeling. It became the most successful version of the song at the time, charting in the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also hit #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

“Pomeranz would also compose ‘The Old Songs’ for Barry Manilow, and other songs of his have been performed by Bette Midler, Phoebe Snow, Freddie Mercury, Richie Sambora, Harry Belafonte, Andrea Marcovicci, and Donna Summer. He has contributed material to a total of 22 Platinum- and 18 Gold-certified albums. Pomeranz also wrote and sang the theme song to the TV series ‘Perfect Strangers’, and contributed to the soundtrack of Big.”

David Pomeranz, “Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again” (1975):

Gene Pitney, “Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again” (1975):

Barry Manilow, “Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again” (1976):