The Manhattans – Too Hot to Stop It (Expanded Version) (1985/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

The Manhattans – Too Hot to Stop It (Expanded Version) (1985/2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 41:50 minutes | 892 MB | Genre: R&B
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Columbia – Legacy

The Manhattans embraced modern soul textures on their 1985 album, which has been expanded with single versions of “Don’t Say No” and Sam Cooke cover “You Send Me.”

Digitally remastered and expanded edition of this 1985 release. „Too Hot to Stop It“ was the 14th studio album by legendary soul male vocal group The Manhattans. Early 1985, the next Manhattans record to place in the charts was Gerald Alston’s heartfelt rendition of Sam Cooke’s 1957 gold hit, “You Send Me”. Produced by Morrie Brown and peppered with Chris Cioe’s saxophone solo, the single pushed it’s way up to No #20 on the R&B Chart and #81 on the US Pop Chart. There was a tight dancer named “You’re Gonna Love Being Loved by Me”, produced and arranged by Skip Anderson and Steve Williams – Steve even plays a rock guitar solo in the middle and there’s one Luther Vandross on background vocals. Soon after “You Send Me”, Columbia Records released the next Manhattans album, “Too Hot to Stop It”, and it was quickly followed by the second single off the album, a sweet beat-ballad called “Don’t Say No”. on this track, Richard Scher synths are strongly pushing through, but more significantly there’s a new female vocalist by the name of B.J. Nelson sharing the lead.

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The Manhattans – There’s No Me Without You (Expanded Edition) (1973/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

The Manhattans – There’s No Me Without You (Expanded Edition) (1973/2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 43:38 minutes | 931 MB | Genre: R&B
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Columbia – Legacy

Things changed considerably for the Manhattans in the early ’70s. George “Smitty” Smith left the group and later died tragically. Gerald Alston replaced him and the group signed with Columbia. The title track of this album was their first huge hit with Columbia, and quickly showed them how much clout a smash on a major-label meant. The single reached number three on the R&B charts, almost made the pop Top 40, and ensured that Alston’s smoother, but equally powerful and declarative voice wouldn’t have any problem fitting into their new sound. ~ Ron Wynn

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The Manhattans – There’s No Good In Goodbye (Expanded Version) (1978/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

The Manhattans – There’s No Good In Goodbye (Expanded Version) (1978/2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:10:54 minutes | 1,49 GB | Genre: R&B
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Columbia – Legacy

Gerald Alston & the Manhattans — Winnie “Blue” Lovett, Ernest Bivins and Kenny Kelly — are mellow as Moet on this sophisticated soul showcase. Remakes of “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye” and “Tomorrow” sound like originals; they stamped their imprint on the two pop classics so definitively you forget about other versions. The eloquent “Am I Losing You” is an understated and heart-rending ballad. The chugger “Movin'” is the only uptempo number, while “Everybody Has a Dream is a motivational piece. Alston sings like a Baptist preacher on the Dr. Martin Luther King-inspired message song. Despite Blue’s depressing spoken intro, “Goodbye Is the Saddest Word” is not as depressing as the title or Blue’s opening suggests — it has a buoyant midtempo beat and a happy-go-lucky feel. ~ Andrew Hamilton

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The Manhattans – Forever by Your Side (Expanded Version) (1983/2014/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

The Manhattans – Forever by Your Side (Expanded Version) (1983/2014/2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 57:28 minutes | 611 MB | Genre: R&B
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Columbia – Legacy

Forever By Your Side is the 13th studio album of American popular R&B vocal group the Manhattans, originally released in 1983 by Columbia Records. In 2014, the album was remastered on CD with the caption “Expanded Edition” and brought five bonus tracks, totaling 13 tracks. The last song on this 2014 remaster, “Lovin’ You Did not Come Easy”, is an previously unreleased song, released over thirty years after it was recorded.

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The Manhattans – Black Tie (Expanded Version) (1981/2014/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

The Manhattans – Black Tie (Expanded Version) (1981/2014/2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:03:32 minutes | 1,42 GB | Genre: R&B
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Columbia – Legacy

Black Tie is the 1981 album by legendary soul band The Manhattans. The album is regarded the most melodic, emotional and soulful album ever release by the New Jersey outfit. This album has the rare quantity of not including any track fillers and contains nothing but songs that will make you feel those goosebumps regardless of your age. Black Tie has been out of print for a while and every Manhattan fan will be queuing for this rare and collector’s classic expanded reissue

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The Manhattans – After Midnight (Expanded Version) (1980/2014/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

The Manhattans – After Midnight (Expanded Version) (1980/2014/2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:15:25 minutes | 1,60 GB | Genre: R&B
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Columbia – Legacy

2014 remastered expanded edition of the 1980 album by legendary soul band The Manhattans. The album has been suggested as one of the best albums The Manhattans have ever recorded. As the title suggests, it’s the kind of record made for late night listening and features many beautiful love songs. With classy harmonies in the chorus and an outstanding Gerald Alston lead it provides a warm ending to a very fine chilled out soul record. If you like mellow soul then “After Midnight” is for you.

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The Manhattans – A Million To One (1972/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

The Manhattans – A Million To One (1972/2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 33:54 minutes | 734 MB | Genre: R&B
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Columbia – Legacy

“A Million To One” is a fourth studio album by The Manhattans. Originally it was released on on vinyl on the long-defunct Deluxe Records label and are from the time period before the great Gerald Alston joined the group. In 2015 album finally has been reissued on the Sony-affiliated Funky Town Grooves label.

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The Manhattans – It Feels So Good {Expanded Version} (1977/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

The Manhattans – It Feels So Good {Expanded Version} (1977/2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96kHz | Time – 01:02:53 minutes | 1,49 GB | Genre: R&B
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download – Source: HDTracks |  Digital Booklet | © Columbia/Legacy

Another addition to the Manhattans’ bulging cache of mellow sounds. Gerald Alston, Winnie Lovett, Ernest Bivens and Kenny Kelly made a career of recording romance, heartache and make-out tunes. The popular “We Never Danced to a Love Song” fits in well with their other ballads, as does the majestic “It Just Can’t Stay this Way” and “Let’s Start All Over Again.” They hit the charts with the somewhat contrived “I Kinda Miss You,” and the title track, the eloquent “It Feels So Good to Be Loved So Bad” is classic – the harmony is tight and they add a little doo wop for good measure. You can’t go wrong with any Manhattan album; they give their fans what they want, and never do they offend or alienate them by recording and releasing something out of character. ~~Review by Andrew Hamilton

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The Manhattans – With These Hands {Expanded Version} (1970/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

The Manhattans – With These Hands {Expanded Version} (1970/2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96kHz | Time – 00:55:32 minutes | 1,2 GB | Genre: R&B
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download – Source: HDTracks |  Digital Booklet | © Columbia/Legacy

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. ~~Review by Andrew Hamilton

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