Manhattan Brothers - Very Best Of The Manhattan Brothers (CD)

In the years following World War II, the Manhattan Brothers were about as successful as black men in South Africa could be. The close-harmony vocal group, modeled after America's Mills Brothers, had a string of hits and toured regularly but still were subject to the restrictions and oppression of South Africa's institutionalized racism. Household names among blacks, they were little known among whites and struggled financially. Eventually, like Miriam Makeba, who sang with them for years, they chose exile abroad. This overdue collection of their songs has been lovingly restored from old 78s. Despite their troubled story, it still delivers the fun they brought their audiences 50 years ago with music that touches on swing, doo-wop and even gospel. These short tunes, sung in English or Zulu, are finger-snapping good, whether originals or remakes such as "Patience and Fortitude," made popular by the Andrew Sisters.