The Manhattans, Hurt | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

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In the 151^st edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “Hurt” by the Grammy-winning soul collective, The Manhattans.

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez ! Throwback Vibez is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past. The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils ! All genres of music are welcome. In the 151^st edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “Hurt”, performed by The Manhattans.

“Even though you’ve taken your love from me / Baby, I want you back…” WOO! When it comes to The Manhattans, the eponymous 1976 album by Grammy-winning R&B collective, The Manhattans, the song that, rightfully, receives the most attention is “Kiss and Say Goodbye”. “Kiss and Say Goodbye” was the sole no. 1 hit of The Manhattans career, and the first of two top-10 hits. However, their gold-certified album has another fantastic single, “Hurt”, that received far less fanfare. “Hurt,” sadly, was NOT a pop ‘hit’ for the group, spending just two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaking at a modest no. 97. The single did perform better on the R&B songs chart, peaking at no. 10. Despite a lack of commercial success, “Hurt” marks one of many stellar songs from the New Jersey collective’s collection.

So, what makes the “Hurt” feel, rather, sound, so good? It’s the lush, warm sounds of 1970s Philly soul, baby! Bobby Martin produces this cover. Yes, you read right; “Hurt” is a cover. Written by Al Jacobs and Jimmie Crane, Roy Hamilton was the first to release it, back in 1954 . Even so, the HIT version of “Hurt” arrived courtesy of Timi Yuro in 1961 – 15 years before The Manhattans version. While Gerald Alston and company aren’t credited with the definitive take, this soul-driven rendition is gorgeous. It’s the expressive lead vocals, coupled with rich vocal harmonies that help make it special. Of course, lyrics about a love lost that you desire back, as well as the promise, “I’ll never hurt you,” goes a long way to make a successful song too. Simply put on “Hurt”, Alston asserts, “Like no-one else could do / I would never, never hurt you.” PERIOD!