Legacy Recordings

Straight-up and bittersweet, five men from New Jersey found their name overlooking a million lights across the river in Manhattan. For decades on the cummerbund circuit, they performed the score for the hungry-hearted over sweating glasses and cocktail peanuts before “Kiss” skewered the cherry at the top of the charts. Tight harmonies and alternating leads were doo-wop relics in a disco-dominated era, but The Manhattans’ rich vocals, dramatic strings and Blue Lovett’s deep indigo narrative shot up like a belt of smoky bourbon. It’s the stuff of slow dances, crying jags and one long, last look across the banquette table.

(W. Lovett); Produced by Bobby Martin and The Manhattans; arranged by Bobby Martin; Gerald Alston, lead vocal; Winfred (Blue) Lovett, bass vocal; Richard Taylor, baritone vocal; Edward (Sonny) Bivins, first tenor; Kenneth (Wally) Kelly, second tenor; Ronnie Baker, bass; Earl Young, drums; Norman Harris, Bobby Eli, guitars; Ron Kersey, keyboards; Jack Faith, saxophone; with Don Renaldo and his strings and horns; Rec. Philadelphia, January 1975. From The Manhattans, Columbia 33820; P 1976 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.

Kiss And Say Goodbye by The Manhattans