''The Manhattan Transfer'' is the second album by
The Manhattan Transfer. However, it is the first of four albums to be released by the lineup of
Tim Hauser,
Laurel Massé,
Alan Paul, and
Janis Siegel, and the first to establish the sound and style for which the group would become known. It was released on April 2, 1975, by
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over the course of its first two decades, starting from the release of its first recor ...
and was produced by
Ahmet Ertegün and Tim Hauser.
This incarnation of the group had been together for three years before this album was released. Ertegün, founder and chairman of Atlantic, attended one of their performances at the New York City cabaret Reno Sweeney. He offered them a contract, which they accepted.
Reviews
Shaun Considine reviewed the album in May 1975 for ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'':
:"Vocally, The Manhattan Transfer is one of the slickest group's on today's market. Their intro number, "Tuxedo Junction", is a precise recreation of the 1940
Glenn Miller oldie, with the group's four part vocal harmonies and jazz riffs supplanting the Miller instrumentals. They have done their homework; they have studied their old 78s in detail. In the honors section, "Blue Champagne", a Dorsey beauty, and "Candy" evoke all of the magic and hazy charm of the 30s and 40s."
Charts
''The Manhattan Transfer'' debuted on
Billboard's Top Pop album chart on May 3, 1975, reaching #33. The single "Operator" went to #22 on
Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart.
"
Tuxedo Junction" reached #24 on the British pop charts.
Track listing
# "
Tuxedo Junction" (
Erskine Hawkins,
William Johnson,
Buddy Feyne,
Julian Dash) - 3:01
# "Sweet Talking Guy" (
Doug Morris, Elliot Greenberg) - 2:25
# "Operator" (William Spivery) - 3:09 (derived from "Operator, Operator" by
Sister Wynona Carr)
# "
Candy
Candy, alternatively called sweets or lollies, is a Confectionery, confection that features sugar as a principal ingredient. The category, also called ''sugar confectionery'', encompasses any sweet confection, including chocolate, chewing gum ...
" (
Mack David
Mack David (July 5, 1912 – December 30, 1993) was an American lyricist and songwriter, best known for his work in film and television, with a career spanning the period between the early 1940s and the early 1970s. David was credited with writing ...
,
Joan Whitney,
Alex Kramer) - 3:26
# "
Gloria" (Esther Navarro) - 2:57
# "Clap Your Hands" (
Ira Newborn, The Manhattan Transfer) - 2:55
# "That Cat Is High" (J. M. Williams) - 2:53
# "
You Can Depend on Me" (
Earl Hines, Charles Carpenter, Louis Dunlap) - 3:30
# "
Blue Champagne" (
Frank Ryerson,
Grady Watts, Jimmy Eaton) - 2:21
# "
Java Jive" (Milton Drake,
Ben Oakland) - 2:44
# "Occapella" (
Allen Toussaint) - 3:04
# "Heart's Desire" (
Hugh X. Lewis, George Cox, James Dozier, Ralph Ingram,
Bernard Purdie) - 2:36
[Atlantic Album, 1975, SD 18133]
Personnel
The Manhattan Transfer
*
Tim Hauser – vocals, vocal arrangements, arrangements (2)
*
Laurel Massé – vocals, vocal arrangements, tambourine (2, 6)
*
Alan Paul – vocals, vocal arrangements
*
Janis Siegel – vocals, vocal arrangements
Musicians
*
Don Grolnick – acoustic piano, electric piano (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 12),
clavinet (2, 11)
* Murray Weinstock – organ (2, 5)
*
Richard Tee – organ (3), electric piano (11)
*
Ira Newborn – guitar, musical director, conductor, arrangements
* Jerry Friedman – guitar (3, 6, 11)
* Andy Muson – bass guitar (1–9, 11, 12)
* Roy Markowitz – drums (1–9, 11, 12)
* Daniel Ben Zebulon – congas (11)
* Mike Rod – tenor sax solo (1)
*
Michael Brecker – tenor sax solo (3)
*
Zoot Sims – tenor sax solo (8)
*
Gene Orloff – concertmaster (6, 12)
;Brass Section
* Clarinets –
Phil Bodner, Wally Kane and
Seldon Powell
* Alto saxophones – Phil Bodner, Jerry Dodgion, George Dorsey, Harvey Estrin,
David Sanborn and George Young
* Baritone saxophones – Lew Del Gatto and Wally Kane
* Tenor saxophones – Michael Brecker, Seldon Powell, Mike Rod and
Frank Vicari
* Trombones –
Wayne Andre,
Garnett Brown, Paul Favlise, Mickey Gravine,
and
Alan Raph
* Trumpets –
Randy Brecker
Randal Edward Brecker (born November 27, 1945) is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer. His versatility has made him a popular studio musician who has recorded with acts in jazz, rock music, rock, and R&B.
Early life
Brecker was ...
,
Mel Davis,
Jon Faddis,
Marky Markowitz, Bob McCoy,
Alan Rubin and
Marvin Stamm
Production
* Producers – Tim Hauser and Ahmet Ertegun
* Production Assistance – Geoffrey Haslam and
Arif Mardin
* Engineer and Remix – Lew Hahn
* Additional Engineers – Geoffrey Haslam and Gene Paul
* Art Direction – Bob Defrin
* Artwork – Fred Eric Spione
* Liner Photography – David Gahr
* Management – Aaron Russo
References
References / Sources
The Manhattan Transfer Official WebsiteRetrieved from discogs February 1, 2011
{{DEFAULTSORT:Manhattan Transfer (album), The
1975 debut albums
The Manhattan Transfer albums
Albums produced by Ahmet Ertegun
Atlantic Records albums
Vocal jazz albums