I Call It Love

"I Call It Love" by The Manhattans: Smooth Soul on the Rise

Picture the soul scene at the close of 1967, vocal groups weaving rich harmonies into smooth, romantic recordings that filled the airwaves with feeling. Among the groups working their way up was The Manhattans, a vocal ensemble whose blend of soulful harmony and tender balladry would eventually make them stars. Their single "I Call It Love" offered an early glimpse of the warm, romantic sound that would define their celebrated career.

A Group on the Way Up

By late 1967, The Manhattans were building a reputation as a talented soul vocal group, steeped in the rich harmony traditions of rhythm and blues. They were developing the smooth, romantic style that would eventually carry them to major success in the years to come. The group specialized in tender, emotionally charged ballads and harmony-driven soul, the kind of music that spoke directly to listeners' hearts. "I Call It Love" came during this earlier, formative phase of their career, before their biggest hits arrived. The recording captures a group honing the warm, soulful sound that would become their trademark, an early statement from an ensemble with considerable promise.

A Warm, Soulful Recording

The song itself is a smooth, romantic piece of late-1960s soul, built around the group's rich vocal harmonies and a tender, heartfelt sensibility. The arrangement supports the voices with warm, soulful instrumentation, creating an intimate, emotionally engaging atmosphere. The lead vocal carries genuine feeling, while the backing harmonies add depth and texture in the classic soul-group tradition. There is a sincere, romantic quality to the whole recording, the sound of a group that understood how to convey deep emotion through harmony. It is a fine example of the smooth soul style, music designed to move the heart with warmth and sincerity. The art of the soul vocal group lay in the way individual voices could merge into something greater than their parts, and The Manhattans clearly grasped that principle even at this early stage. The interplay of lead and backing voices creates a rich, enveloping warmth that draws the listener close. That command of harmony foreshadowed the success that would soon follow.

A Brief Run on the Hot 100

On the Billboard Hot 100, "I Call It Love" made only a brief appearance. The single debuted on December 23, 1967, at number 97 and held there a second week before edging up to its high point. It peaked at number 96, reached during the week of January 6, 1968, and spent a total of three weeks on the Hot 100. Those modest numbers place it among the lesser-charting entries of the group's career, an early single that found only limited pop success before their bigger hits arrived. The brief chart run reflects the challenge facing a developing soul group, though the recording itself showcased the talent that would soon bring them far greater recognition.

An Early Chapter in a Soulful Story

In the larger story of The Manhattans, "I Call It Love" stands as an early chapter from before their rise to soul stardom. While it never became a major hit, it reflects the warm, harmonious style that would eventually make them one of the most beloved soul groups of their era. The track endures as an intriguing glimpse of a great group in its formative years, a window into the smooth, romantic sound they were perfecting. For fans tracing their full career, it remains a rewarding and revealing listen.

Press Play and Feel the Soul

Cue up "I Call It Love" and let The Manhattans' warm harmonies draw you in. It is smooth, romantic soul from a group on the rise. Turn it up and hear the early sound of future soul legends.

"I Call It Love" — The Manhattans' singular moment on the 1960s charts.