With These Hands (Expanded Version) Remaster The Manhattans

• 1 Can't Take My Eyes Off You 03:35
• 2 Loneliness 02:58
• 3 By the Time I Get to Phoenix 03:09
• 4 Straight from My Heart 02:46
• 5 It's Gonna Take a Lot to Bring Me Back 02:47
• 6 If My Heart Could Speak 03:52
• 7 With These Hands 04:11
• 8 Georgia on My Mind 02:59
• 9 Give Him Up 02:32
• 10 People Get Ready 02:24
• 11 From Atlanta to Goodbye 03:24
• 12 Rainbow Week 03:50
• 13 Let Them Talk 03:13
• 14 Fantastic Journey 04:41
• 15 Windmills of Your Mind 03:09
• 16 The Picture Became Quite Clear 03:09
• 17 Oh, Lord I Wish I Could Sleep 02:37
• Total Runtime 55:16

Info zu With These Hands (Expanded Version) Remaster

The Manhattans were one of those classic R&B vocal groups who manage to achieve incredible career longevity by adapting their style to fit changing times. Formed in the ’60s as a doo wop-influenced R&B quintet, the Manhattans reinvented themselves as sweet smooth soul balladeers during the ’70s. In doing so, they somehow overcame the death of lead singer George Smith, and with new frontman Gerald Alston became more popular than they’d ever been, landing an across-the-board number one hit in 1976 with “Kiss and Say Goodbye“. Influenced by : The Moonglows, the Dells, the Flamingos, Sam Cooke and Johnnie Taylor, they also influenced groups like Boyz II Men.

„Life after Carnival Records finds the Manhattans recording for the Deluxe label, where they cut some charmers. George "Smitty" Smith had polished his God-given, captivating, crying tenor into an instrument that ranked with the greats. With These Hands is the closest the Manhattans came to recording an album of standards or pop material. The album's ten songs consist of five standards and five cold-blooded originals. You can't help but feel the aching pain in "It's Gonna Take a Lot to Bring Me Back," a minor R&B hit that had major potential; the slow weeper oozes soul. "Give Him Up" displays the quintet's lovely uptempo harmony; the shuffler unfortunately got lost as a B-side. The tear jerking "If My Heart Could Speak" is a slow, tenderly sung ballad and one of their best. Winnie Lovett, Kenny Kelly, Ernest Bivens and Richard Taylor provides splendid backing to Smitty's lead on "People Get Ready," "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," "Georgia on My Mind," "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and the title track, all ably arranged by Chico O'Farrill.“ (Andrew Hamilton, AMG)

Produced by Buddy Scott

Digitally remastered

The Manhattans
Legend has it that George "Smitty" Smith, Edward "Sonny" Bivins, Winfred "Blue" Lovett, Kenneth Kelly and Richard Taylor came to call themselves the Manhattans because, as teenage singers in Jersey City, New Jersey, they'd dream about the big time while gazing across the Hudson River at the Manhattan skyline. It's a nice story, but unfortunately it is not true. In fact, the quintet took its name from a cocktail known as the Manhattan that's made from whiskey, vermouth, and bitters. Still, the name suggested class, something the Manhattans have epitomized throughout their long career. First tenor Bivins, who characterizes the group's elegant style as "progressive doo wop," first got together with baritone singer Taylor while they were serving with the Air Force in Germany during the late 1950's. After being discharged, Bivins, Lovett and Smith formed the Dulcets in 1960. In 1961, The Dulcets recorded "Pork Chops" on the Sue Label. In 1963, with the addition of Kelly and Taylor, they formed The Manhattans.

Although they began making records in 1963, the Manhattans didn't strike it big until the mid 1970's, when they successfully bucked the disco trend with a series of romantic ballads for Columbia Records. They had eight songs in the R&B Top 10 between 1973 and 1978, with the composition "Kiss And Say Good Bye" going to Number One on both the R&B and Pop Charts in 1976 and placing in the top five in England and Australia. "Shining Star" made it to number five on the Pop Charts, staying on the charts for 14 straight weeks

The Manhattans continue to bring their smooth, classy live sound to their fans, with over 100 shows worldwide last year alone. With Edward "Sonny" Bivins at baritone, Al Pazant at bass, Lee "The Reverend" Williams at lead vocal and Charles "Charming Charlie" Hardy and Harsey "The Candyman" Hemphill sharing 1st and 2nd tenor, The Manhattans continue to be one of the most sought after live R&B units of the day.

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