The Manhattans - Back To Basics 1986

 

Back to Basics is the fifteenth studio album by American vocal group, The Manhattans, released in 1986 through Columbia Records. It was the last record Gerald Alston would record with The Manhattans until he returned in 1995, and featured his duet performances with Regina Belle on the single "Where Did We Go Wrong?" and "Maybe Tomorrow", which was the B-side.

The album was produced by Leo Graham Enterprises and contained songs written and produced by Bobby Womack. "Where Did We Go Wrong?" was produced by Bobby Womack and written by Kathy Bloxson aka Sasha, who worked with Womack as his background vocalist on two albums in the early '80's.^[1] Joe McEwen and Mickey Eichner were executive producers.

 The Manhattans tried to return to the soul form of past years with this mid-'80s release. It contained songs written and produced by the great Bobby Womack and less pop/crossover arrangements and influences. Gerald Alston was preparing to leave the group, but still sang with his customary warmth and style. But the person who made the most impact on this album was new co-vocalist Regina Belle. She became an urban contemporary star in the Anita Baker/Dianne Reeves quasi-jazz vein, but on this album she was singing with more soul and less polish. Belle toured with the band that year and turned a lot of heads. It didn't do as well as some past Columbia efforts, but was a worthy final project for Alston.