52nd Street were a British jazz-funk and R&B band formed in Manchester in late 1980. Throughout the 1980s the group enjoyed success not only in the UK but also on the Billboard chart in the United States. Their biggest and best-known hit single was "Tell Me (How It Feels)", released in 1985 by the 10 Records subsidiary of Virgin Records in the UK, and then months later on in 1986 on MCA Records in the US. Overview The original line-up consisted of Tony Henry (guitar), Derrick Johnson (bass), Desmond Isaacs (keyboards), drummer Tony Thompson (drums) (not to be confused with the Chic drummer of the same name), Jennifer McCloud (vocals). Vocalist Rose Williams and saxophonist Eric Godden both came and departed before John Dennison replaced Desmond Isaacs and Beverley McDonald replaced Jennifer McCloud, at which point the lineup stabili[z/s]ed. The band played gigs around the Manchester scene, whilst at the same time recording demo tapes in local studios. Local funk DJ Mike Shaft became their mentor, playing 52nd Street demos on his Piccadilly Radio shows. In mid-1981, noted R&B/soul DJ Richard Searling and former Sad Café manager Derek Brandwood (both of RCA Records) brought the band into a local Manchester recording studio, Revolution Studios, to record the group's intended debut single. Meanwhile, simultaneously, the band also frequented Strawberry Studios to record tracks for Warner Bros. Records A&R scout and club promotions manager Erskine Thompson. With both major labels increasing the pressure to talk to the as-yet manager-less 52nd Street, bass player Derrick Johnson instead contacted Rob Gretton, co-owner of Factory Records and a former DJ (the connection was through Johnson's brother Donald, the drummer for Factory act A Certain Ratio). Gretton went to see the band play at jazz venue the Band on the Wall in Manchester. Soon after, Gretton and his business partner, Tony Wilson added the band to their roster. Factory years 52nd Street's first release on Factory Records in 1982 was "Look into My Eyes," backed with "Express", produced by Donald Johnson. Journalist Paul Morley, then reviewing singles for the NME, made it his single of the week, but his approval did little to get daytime radio play or enhance sales. "Cool as Ice" (backed with "Twice as Nice") was not released in the UK, although the song gained a top 30 Billboard Dance Chart position. A&M flew the band to the US to promote the release,