The Manhattans release their first album for many years on 29 Jan 2021.
They put out some great sides on Carnival and Deluxe in the 60s and early 70s before they had started getting hits. Their biggest hit was 'Kiss And Say Goodbye' (US #1 / UK #4) in 1976, but strangely, they had bigger hit with 'Hurt' prior to that in the UK in 1975 which reached #4 but only #97 US. Their only other Top 10 hit was 'Shining Star' in 1980.
In the eary 2000s there were two groups using then name. One was led by founding member Edward 'Sonny' Bivins, the other by Winfred 'Blue' Lovett. The current group now consists of Troy May, David Tyson (brother of Ron Tyson (The Temptations)) and Gerald Alston but originally had founding member Winfred 'Blue' Lovett who died in 2014 aged 78 but remained performing to at least 2008 as this clip shows.
The original 5 members who formed the group in 1962 are all now deceased. Sonny Bivins died in 2014 aged 78 just 6 days before Blue Lovett and Kenny 'Wally' Kelly died a couple of months later in Feb 2015 aged 74. The other two original members died much earlier, Ricky Taylor in 1987 aged 47 and George 'Smitty' Smith in 1970 aged only 31.
Gerald Alston joined the group in 1971 to replace 'Smitty' and was lead on most of their major hits until he left in 1988 for a solo career.
The new album incudes several live tracks including some of their biggest hits such a Shining Star and Kiss And Say Goodbye along with original tracks. Click album cover image to listen to samples.
Get It Ready
This track was released in 2018 and features on the album.
She's Coming Home
Another track from the album that was previously released on 24 Apr 2020.
Crazy
Some of their 60s releases aside, for me, their best track is Crazy from 1983 which was a minor chart hit both sides of the Atlantic #72 US and #63 UK. (NB this isn't on the album)
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