Written and first recorded by Randy Edelman (1975).
Hit version by Barry Manilow (US #10/MOR #1/CAN #10 1976).
From the wiki: “‘Weekend in New England’ was written by Randy Edelman, and first recorded by Edelman for his 1975 album Farewell Fairbanks. Edelman attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music before heading to New York where he played piano in Broadway pit orchestras and where he recorded several solo albums of songs, some of which were covered by The Carpenters, Olivia Newton-John, Jackie DeShannon (to whom Edelman was married), and Barry Manilow. Edelman later moved to Los Angeles where he started television and film scoring (The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., MacGyver, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor).
“Barry Manilow recorded ‘Weekend in New England’ for his 1976 album This One’s For You, in his classic style of popular style of big balladry, including a swelling orchestration and dramatic finish. The only reference to the title is the line, ‘Time in New England took me away…’; the word ‘weekend’ is never mentioned at all.”
Barry Manilow, “Weekend in New England” (1976):