The Manhattans
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1962-70) - Edward "Sonny" Bivens (RIP 2014) -- tenor vocals - Kenny "Wally" Kelly (RIP 2015) -- tenor vocals - Winfred "Blue" Lovett (RIP 2014) -- bass vocals - Richard "Ricky" Taylor (RIP 1987) -- baritone vocals - George "Smitty" Smith (RIP 1972) -- lead vocals
line up 2 (1970-76) NEW - Gerald Alston -- lead vocals (replaced George "Smitty" Smith) - Edward Bivens (RIP 2014) -- tenor vocals - Kenny Kelly (RIP 2015) -- tenor vocals - Winfred Lovett (RIP 2014 -- bass vocals - Richard Taylor (RIP 1987) -- baritone vocals
line up 3 (1976-88) - Gerald Alston -- lead vocals - Edward Bivens (RIP 2014) -- tenor vocals - Kenny Kelly (RIP 2015) -- tenor vocals - Winfred Lovett (RIP 2014) -- bass vocals
line up 4 (1988-90) - Edward Bivens (RIP 2014) -- tenor vocals NEW - Roger Harris -- lead vocals (replaced Gerald Alston) - Kenny Kelly (RIP 2015) -- tenor vocals - Winfred Lovett (RIP 2014 -- bass vocals
line up 4 (1990-91) - Edward Bivens (RIP 2014) -- tenor vocals - Roger Harris -- lead vocals (replaced Gerald Alston) NEW - Harsey Hemphill -- tenor vocals (replaced Kenny Kelly) NEW - Alan Pazant -- bass vocals (replaced Winfred Lovett)
line up 5 (1990-91) - Edward Bivens (RIP 2014) -- tenor vocals NEW - Charles Hardy -- tenor vocals - Harsey Hemphill -- tenor vocals - Alan Pazant -- bass vocals NEW - Wade Taylor -- lead vocals (replaced Roger Harris)
line up 5 (1991-94) - Edward Bivens (RIP 2014) -- - Charles Hardy -- tenor vocals - Harsey Hemphill -- tenor vocals - Alan Pazant -- bass vocals NEW - Lee Williams -- lead vocals (replaced Wade Taylor)
line up 6 (1994-2014) NEW - George Alston -- lead vocals (replaced Lee Williams) - Edward Bivens (RIP 2014) -- tenor vocals NEW - Dwight Fields -- bass vocals - Charles Hardy -- tenor vocals - Harsey Hemphill -- tenor vocals NEW - Troy May -- tenor vocals, lead vocals - Alan Pazant -- bass vocals NEW - David Tyson -- tenor vocals - Lee Williams -- lead vocals
line up 7 (2014- ) NEW - George Alston -- lead vocals NEW - Dwight Fields -- bass vocals - Charles Hardy -- tenor vocals NEW - Troy May -- tenor vocals, lead vocals - Harsey Hemphill -- tenor vocals - Alan Pazant -- bass vocals NEW - David Tyson -- tenor vocals
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- Gerald Alston (solo efforts) - Gerald Alston and Blue Lovett - The Dorset - The Intruders (Lee Williams) - The New Cymbals (Lee Williams) - The Nite Riders (Richard Taylor) - The Pazant Brothers - Sky's the Limit - Lee Williams (solo efforts) - Lee Williams & the Cymbals (Keith Kelly and Lee Williams) - Wish and Blue Lovett
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Genre: soul Rating: 4 stars **** Title: A Million To One Company: DeLuxe Catalog: DLP
12004-498 Country/State: Jersey City, New Jersey Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $25.00
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I find it surprising that there's virtually no online information about The Manhattans' fourth studio album - 1972's "One In a Million". I couldn't find a single review - not on AllMusic, Discogs, or even the all-encompassing Rate Your Music.
In the wake of their 1970 album "With These Hands" lead singer George "Smitty" Smith died from a brain hemorrhage. Smith was riding around in a truck with friends. He took a misstep, fell to the pavement, hitting his head so hard that he passed out. Smith refused medical help, but over the next couple of weeks and months began having spasms and acting deliriously to a point where he was no longer able to undertake recording, or live work. The remainder of the group (Edward Bivens, Kenny Kelly, Winfred Lovett and Richard Taylor) began looking for a replacement in order to complete previously scheduled touring contracts. They'd previously met Gerald Alston who was attending North Carolina's Kittrel College and fronting a group called The New Imperials. They'd even made him an offer to join The Manhattans, but he'd declined. After Lee Williams (of Lee Williams & the Cymbals) refused an offer to join, they returned to Alston who this time accepted the offer. In the meantime Smith's condition continued to worsen. Friends and relatives took him to several hospitals were he was repeatedly misdiagnosed, but eventually found to have suffered a brain hemorrhage. Sadly Smith died the day he was scheduled for surgery. That happened to be twelve days before his 31st birthday. New Manhattans vocalist Alston sang several Gospel tunes at Smith's Funeral.
'70s soul vocal groups are a dime a dozen and virtually all lived and died based on decisions made by their producers. Soul vocal groups were typically dependent on those producers to provide direction, publicity and since most groups did not write their own material, quality songs. The Manhattans were an exception to the rule. As an example, on 1972's "A Million To One" four of the five members contributed to the writing chores (newcomer Alston was the lone exception). Six of the album's twelve tracks were written, or co-written by group members. Quite an impressive and unusual accomplishment for the early-'70s. Produced by the team of Hal Neely, Bob Riley, Bobby Smith and “Hoss” Allen, musically the album was somewhat of an odds and ends compilation. The songs 'Fever', 'I Can’t Stand for You to Leave Me', 'Do You Ever' and 'Back Up' pre-dated the album recording sessions. Three of the four songs had appeared as singles sides while DeLuxe had already tapped 'Back Up' as a forthcoming single. Featuring a mixture of originals and outside material, musically the twelve tracks were largely split between traditional vocal group ballads including the title track, 'It's the Only Way' and 'Do You Ever' and more up-tempo, dance-ready tracks like 'Back Up', 'Fever' and the closer 'I Can't Stand For You To Leave Me'. Two of the up-tempo numbers 'Blackbird' and 'Teenage Liberation' were fascinating for seemingly channeling Norman Whitfield-styled psych-soul into their repertoire. Even more impressive, in spite of the album's challenging background, Alston's performances were uniformly impressive, making for one of their most impressive releases.
The album also served to end their partnership with David and Jules Braun's DeLuxe Records. They were subsequently signed by Columbia , opening up the door to some of their biggest commercial successes.
"One In a
Million" track listing: 1.) A Million To One (Teddy Randazzo - Victoria Pike) -3:25 rating: **** stars Penned by Teddy Randazzo and his wife Victoria Pike, the title track was certainly a slice of old school soul, but the vocals and arrangement so breezy and charming, the lyrics so innocent, it was hard to not be impressed. At the end of the song you also got to hear Alston cut lose and show some of the power his voice had.
- 1971's 'A Million To One' b/w 'Cry If You Wanna Cry' (DeLuxe catalog number 45-137)
2.) It's The Only Way (Winfred Lovett) - 2:50 rating: **** stars With a breezy melody, nice "Mexican" flavored horns and sweet interplay between Alston's lead and the backing vocals, the ballad 'It's the Only Way' may have already sounded a little old school, but that was part of the song's charm. In an interview Lovett was claimed he'd envisioned the late Glen Campbell covering the tune. The song also appeared as the "B" side on their 'One Life To Live' 45. 3.) Back Up (Kenneth Kelly) - 2:38 rating: **** stars Wish they'd credited the musicians since 'Back Up' was powered an awesome bass line that rivaled the best of James Jameson's work. Gerald Alston did a wonderful job on the lead vocals, but the real star was bass singer Winfred Lovett 's work. The track appeared as the "B" side on their 'Fever' 45. It was actually good enough to have been an "A" side. 4.) You On My Mind (Edward Bivins) - 1:59 rating: **** stars There was only one thing wrong with the breezy 'You On My Mind' - it was too short. Wonderful melody; wonderful Gerald Alston lead and the group refrain was pure ear candy. Should have been released as a single. 5.) Fever (Eddie Cooley - John Davenport) - 2:41 rating: **** stars The Manhattans were never known as a funky outfit, but their remake of the classic 'Fever' showed they were quite capable of turning up the tempo and heat. Nah, you weren't going to mistake this for a Sly and the Family Stone cut, but it was a great dance track. The tune had previously been released as a single:
- 1972's 'Fever' b/w 'Backup' (DeLuxe catalog number 45-144)
6.) Do You Ever (Myrna March) - 2:40 rating: ** stars The first of two Myrna March compositions, 'Do You Ever' was a pretty enough ballad with the harmonies coming to the fore at the end of the song, but ultimately it was a touch too MOR for the group's own good. The anonymous studio drummer sounded like he was having fun. The song had previously appeared as the "B" side to their 1971 'I Can't Stand for You To Leave Me' 45.
(side
2) Written by member Roger Taylor and featuring him on lead vocals, 'Strange Old World' was the album's funkiest performance. Always loved the little guitar riff that carries the tune. 2.) One Life To Live (Winfred Lovett) - 2:24 rating: **** stars It's hard not to smile when you hear Lovett's extended opening rap. We all know there's a special place for friends who cheat on friends ... After the rap Alston seamlessly took over the lead vocals with the group backing him up with some lovely doowop harmonies and a to-die-for chorus. The single was released in two variants - with the opening rap and without the rap.
- 1970's 'One Life To Live' b/w 'It's the Only Way' (DeLuxe catalog number 45-139)
3.) Blackbird (Ronnie Hayes) - 3:03 rating: **** stars Written by sessions player Ronnie Hayes, the orchestration and social commentary lyrics on 'Blackbird' were unlike anything else on the collection. To my ears the song's slightly ominous feeling recalled something Norman Whitfield might have recorded with The Temptations. It made for one of Alston's standout performances. 4.) Cry If You Wanna (Bert Keyes - Myrna March) - 2:41 rating: ** stars The ballad 'Cry If You Wanna' served as a nice showcase the interaction between Alston and the rest of the band. It was certainly a pretty song, but a bit too MOR-ish and lacked anything to distinguish it from the rest of the album's ballads. It also appeared as the "B" side on their 'A Million To One' single. 5.) Teenage Liberation (K. Nash - Carl Reid - Eddie Bivins - Kenneth. Kelly) - 2:36 rating: **** stars Right down to the Dennis Coffey-styled wah-wah guitar and the harmonies, 'Teenage Liberation' offered up another page out of the Norman Whitfield-does-The Temptations catalog. Fascinating timepiece. 6.) I Can't Stand For You To Leave Me (Martha Taylor) - 2:34 rating: **** stars Released earlier as a single,, 'I Can't Stand For You To Leave Me' was the first song recorded with new vocalist Alston. Written by group member Richard Taylor's wife Martha Taylor, the track was produced by Bert Keyes and Myrna March. Musically it was an upbeat, Northern-soul styled tune with another great, un-credited bass line. Easy to see why Alston was tapped at their new lead singer, though it was hard to understand why it didn't chart.
- 1971's I Can't Stand for You To Leave Me' b/w 'Do You Ever' (DeLuxe catalog number 45-136)
© Scott R. Blackerby November, 2024
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