"Crazy" by The Manhattans

Song#:  1543
Date:  07/30/1983
Debut:  90
Peak:  72
Weeks:  6
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  Despite the New York name, The Manhattans formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1962. The vocal group would have some middling chart success from 1964-1972, but they would hit their stride when they signed with Columbia Records in 1973. They would have a streak of 27 R&B charters through their tenure with the label, which ended in 1987.  Along the way they would grab eleven R&B Top 10's including their biggest hit, 1975's "Kiss and Say Goodbye." They were far less successful at pop where only three of their songs made the Top 40. However, two of those did reach the Top 10 - "Kiss and Say Goodbye" hit #1 and 1980's "Shining Star" reached #4. After "Shining Star," it would take the group three years to get another Pop chart entry. This single from their Forever By Your Side LP couldn't make much headway at Pop, but at R&B it would reach #4. It would be their final R&B Top 10 hit.

ReduxReview:  I think even in 1983, this was probably considered old-school R&B. There are some modern flourishes to it, but the song just sounds stuck in the 70s. The song is pleasant enough to hear, but it does nothing for the vocal group and it doesn't rank anywhere near their best material.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  One track from the album, "Just the Lonely Talking Again," was revived later in the decade by a major star. Whitney Houston would record a version of the song for her second album in 1987 that was titled Whitney. The LP would be her second biggest studio album hitting #1 and selling almost 10 million copies in the US (25 million worldwide). I'm sure the song's writer, Sam Dees, was very happy that his song got rediscovered  and recorded by Houston.

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