[3] The second single, the disco-tinged "Dance Away", was more successful, peaking at number two in the UK on 26 May 1979, beaten to the top spot for three weeks by Blondie's "Sunday Girl".

The cover's typography, as well as the album's title, were inspired by the first edition of Wyndham Lewis's literary magazine Blast.

In his review for Melody Maker, Richard Williams stated: Manifesto is a worthwhile attempt to make both form and content match its own internal preoccupations.

[12]Max Bell of NME gave it a lukewarm review: Ultimately, I found it hard to work up much enthusiasm for Manifesto and a replay of "Would You Believe" and "Sea Breezes" indicates why.

In many ways the band have come full circle without evolving anything dramatically new – at least – not according to those initial standards ... Perhaps greater familiarity with Manifesto will reveal hidden magic.

Ferry announces he's for the guy "who'd rather die than be tied down"; he's rarely traded on such banality, and he mouths the lyrics as if he hopes no one will hear them.

He began making solo albums long before Roxy called it a day – starting with his outrageous collection of oldies covers, These Foolish Things, and continuing through last year's astonishing The Bride Stripped Bare – and on those LPs, the tale of a man struggling to find himself behind his mask, and a lover behind hers, goes on.

[14]Ken Emerson, of The New York Times, noted: Ferry has never before sung so warmly, and the sprightly choruses and creamy vocal harmonies of several numbers may make them hits if listeners aren't disconcerted by the weirdness that lurks around the music's edges.