Pieces of a Dream first started playing throughout the Tri-State area, and were soon featured on Temple University’s pioneering jazz radio station, WRTI-FM. Long before the “Young Lions” era of Wynton Marsalis, Lloyd and Harmon were swinging so hard as teenagers that the great Count Basie once proclaimed them “a tough act to follow.” But it was another jazz legend, the late Grover Washington Jr., the sax man who made Philadelphia his home, who helped Pieces of a Dream become the internationally known stars they are today.
After quickly becoming popular around Philadelphia, the trio landed a spot as the house band for a local television show called City Lights. Their experience widened as they played backup on the broadcasts to a wide variety of artists, and that’s where Washington first heard them. One day while the teenagers were playing at the Bijou (where Grover had recorded his Live at the Bijou album), he sat in with them to play “Mr. Magic.” Soon Washington announced that he was starting a production company and that Pieces of a Dream would be his first act. Lloyd was only a senior in high school when his first record came out.
From 1981 to 1984, Pieces of a Dream built their reputation with three albums on Elektra that would come to define the musical essence of the smooth jazz radio explosion: Pieces of a Dream, We Are One and Imagine This. Those seminal records yielded some of their earliest hits, including “Warm Weather,” “Mount Airy Groove” and “Fo Fi Fo.” Soon after completing Joyride, their last effort for Elektra, Pieces of a Dream moved to EMI/Blue Note and went on to record seven more albums. During this period, the group amicably parted ways with long time friend Cedric Napoleon.
In 2001, Pieces of a Dream signed with Heads Up International and celebrated their 25th anniversary with what was undoubtedly their best album in years, Acquainted with the Night. The group’s silver anniversary release featured guitarist Ronny Jordan, vocalist Maysa Leak, and saxophonists Gerald Albright and Kenny Blake. Highlights included compositions from Albright and Michael Bearden, along with remakes of “Mahogany” and “Upside Down.” Acquainted with the Night generated two top-five singles on R&R's NAC chart. The follow up album Love's Silhouette also scored top radio chart positioning and Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart top 10 status. Their April 2004 release, No Assembly Required, is sure to be another hit album in their long and illustrious career.
One of their former singers Norwood Young is now a cast member on the E! Cable channel's TV show High Maintenance 90210.
Addition - May 9,2009
Formed: 1975 in Philadelphia, PA
Styles: Crossover Jazz, Urban, Smooth Jazz
Group Members: Curtis Harmon, Ron Kerber, James K. Lloyd, Cedric A. Napoleon
Biography
Comprised of bassist Cedric Napoleon, drummer Curtis Harmon, and keyboardist James Lloyd, Pieces of a Dream were founded in 1975 in Philadelphia when the principal members were all teenagers. Originally somewhat jazz-oriented, Pieces of a Dream have mostly emphasized R&B, although they usually include a few jazz numbers in their performances. Grover Washington, Jr. produced their first three albums (all for Elektra during 1981-1983); they have since recorded for Manhattan and Blue Note. Saxophonist Ron Kerber became a member in the 1990s, preceding the four varied releases that appeared throughout the decade. A collection appeared at the turn of the century, but the band proved to still be going strong with 2001's Acquainted with the Night and 2002's Love's Silhouette. No Assembly Required was released in 2004 on Cleveland's Heads Up label, followed by 2006's Pillow Talk, also on Heads Up. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Manhattan
Pieces Of A Dream Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Honky-tonk cars
Goodbye Manhattan
Can't buy that attitude
I can feel the heat
On the soles of my feet
In the shadows of the sidewalk
Driving in between
Cop cars in a crosstalk
Eastside Westside
Take me downtown
I don't want to be alone tonight
And the city never sleeps
She's got a spell on me
So bad I don't want to leave
Goodbye Manhattan
Can't buy that attitude
The moon and the stars
Kiss those honky-tonk cars
That's my Manhattan
There's a room with a view
Down the crowded avenue
But they're begging my attention
When a man in the street
Shot down by a freak
Didn't even get a mention
Eastside Westside
Uptown downtown
Took the money for a taxi ride
And the city never weeps
She can't afford the tears
Too bad I gotta leave
Goodbye Manhattan (goodbye)
Can't buy that attitude
The moon and the stars
Kiss those honky-tonk cars
That's my Manhattan
One more look at you mm mm
Under the light of the moon and the stars
And those honky-tonk cars
Goodbye (goodbye)
Can't buy that attitude
The moon and the stars
Kiss those honky-tonk cars
That's my Manhattan
Goodbye Manhattan
Goodbye Manhattan
Goodbye Manhattan
Goodbye Manhattan oh oh oh
I hate to go
I can feel the heat
From the soles of my feet
In the shadows of my sidewalk
In a cool limousine
Driving in between
Cop cars in a crosstalk
Eastside Westside
Take me downtown
Oh no I don't want to be alone tonight
And the city the city never sleeps
She's got a spell on me
So bad I don't want to leave
Goodbye Manhattan
Goodbye Manhattan
Goodbye Manhattan
The lyrics of "Goodbye Manhattan" by Eva Cassidy talks about the feeling of attachment to the city and the desire to stay in the hustle and bustle of New York. The lyrics showcase the singer's love for the city and its bright lights. The moon, the stars, the honky-tonk cars, the hot streets, and the captivating charm of New York City are beautifully described. The singer does not want to be alone in the city and doesn't want to leave. The lyrics reflect the city's grittiness and rawness, along with its magical charm.
The song captures the essence of a love-hate relationship with the city. The singer feels the power of the city's energy but also observes the often-ignored darker side of the city with the line, "but they're begging my attention, when a man in the street, shot down by a freak, didn't even get a mention." The phrase "goodbye Manhattan" is repeated throughout the song, showing the singer's struggle to say goodbye to the city she loves.
Line by Line Meaning
Moon and the stars
The beautiful sight of the night sky in Manhattan
Honky-tonk cars
The classic cars that are often found in the city
Goodbye Manhattan
Leaving behind the city that holds so many memories
Can't buy that attitude
The unique personality of the city cannot be bought
I can feel the heat
The warm air of the city
On the soles of my feet
The sensation of the heat against the bottom of one's feet
In the shadows of the sidewalk
Walking on the darkened concrete paths
In a cool limousine
Taking a ride in a fancy car
Driving in between
Navigating through the crowded streets
Cop cars in a crosstalk
Hearing the commotion of police vehicles responding to various situations
Eastside Westside
The different neighborhoods found in the city
Take me downtown
Heading towards the center of the city
I don't want to be alone tonight
Looking for someone to spend time with in the city
And the city never sleeps
The city is always active, even at night
She's got a spell on me
The city has an irresistible allure
So bad I don't want to leave
The city is so enjoyable that it's hard to leave
There's a room with a view
An opportunity to have a great view of the city
Down the crowded avenue
On a busy street
But they're begging my attention
There are many sights to see in the city, all vying for attention
When a man in the street
Witnessing a violent event in public
Shot down by a freak
The incident was caused by someone who acted irrationally
Didn't even get a mention
Even though something dramatic happened, it likely went unnoticed by most people
Eastside Westside
The different neighborhoods found in the city
Uptown downtown
Referring to the different areas of the city
Took the money for a taxi ride
Spent money on a taxi to get around the city
She can't afford the tears
The city doesn't have the luxury of showing emotions
Goodbye Manhattan (goodbye)
Saying farewell to the city
One more look at you mm mm
One final glance at the city
Under the light of the moon and the stars
The beauty of the night sky above the city
Goodbye (goodbye)
Saying goodbye once again
I hate to go
Reluctant to leave the city behind
Goodbye Manhattan
Ending a chapter in life by moving on from the city
Goodbye Manhattan oh oh oh
Saying goodbye to a place that will always hold a special meaning
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANTHONY EDWIN CLARK, MAGGIE RYDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind