Down in Birdland - Anthology

The Manhattan Transfer | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 13, 1992)
• Original Release Date: October 13, 1992
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Atlantic
• ASIN: B0000032VC
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,545 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #26 in Music > Jazz > Vocal Jazz > Vocalese

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

When Tim Hauser convened the original Manhattan Transfer in the early '70s, there was more than a whiff of camp to the vocal group's pre-rock pop perspective, but what may have started with tongue-in-cheek quickly shifted into an earnest (if still good-humored) mission--the preservation of closely-arranged choral pop. From their first mid-'70s hits forward, the Transfer has gone from strength to strength, extending their reach into r&b, jazz, Brazilian pop, and even the vocal equivalent of fusion. This first-rate two-CD package focuses on their long career at Atlantic Records, where they did their best work, and is correspondingly ripe with gorgeous group and solo vocals. --Sam Sutherland

Product Description

The Manhattan Transfer brought vocal jazz back to the pop charts as they rose to stardom in the States and Europe; this two-volume Rhino retrospective brings back their biggest hits and concert faves, including Operator; Route 66; Boy from New York City; Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone; Spice of Life; Trickle Trickle; Baby Come Back to Me (The Morse Code of Love) , and more. 39 cuts in all!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Material too diverse for a 2-CD set, April 4, 2002

By 

John S. Harris "The Voice of Reason" (Memphis, TN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Down in Birdland - Anthology (Audio CD)

An earlier reviewer was exactly right; the musical styles the MT have covered over the years are so diverse and all over the map that this anthology gives a hint of all of it but not a satisfying dose of any of it. Mind you, dear readers, that is not necessarily a criticism. The Transfer are the absolute masters of vocal harmonizing. Nobody, I mean NOBODY does it better (makes you feel sad for the rest). But just as you are settling in to listening to some of their swing jazz or doo-wop, the track selection changes gears on you and you are hearing Brazilian music or any one of a half dozen other styles. This collection is scratch on the surface of their vast and very impressive catalog, but if this is your introduction to them then you are only getting a teasing glimpse. There may not be enough tracks of the style(s) you like best to sustain your interest in the entire collection, even though it is all good. There is just so much ground being covered that the breadth of it all overshadows the depth of the individual records in their catalog. (Did that make sense or was I just being too wordy again?)
For those of us who are already MT fans and have most or all of their back catalog, the absolute BEST reason to buy this anthology is for the booklet insert. It provides a relatively thorough timeline history of the group, and extensive track-by-track notes on all the tunes, down to the musicians who played on them, and much more.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Without a doubt, the masters of vocal jazz ensemble, December 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Down in Birdland - Anthology (Audio CD)

My first Transfer exposure was Boy from New York City, and I enjoyed it, but as I got older, I began to appreciate just how special their talent was (and is) Tim Hauser & Janis Siegal do some great arrangements, and I just love how well their voices blend. Their collaborations with Djavan are great examples of how well this band can expand thie repertoire. If I had only two words to describe this 2 disc set, it would simply be, "Buy it!"

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Anthology: Down in Birdland - Manhattan Transfer, September 26, 2005

By 

Musings of a muso (QLD, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Down in Birdland - Anthology (Audio CD)

An album would have to be at the highest standard to warrant using Charlie Parker's moniker, and Manhattan Transfer have well and truly achieved that with this album. You will not hear crisper, cleaner harmonies. There are other groups and choirs that are as good, but none better.

The variety of music genres on this double album is very impressive; Jazz and Swing of course, Latin, Rock, Fusion, Soul and Folk, all performed with such skill, and in a manner true to the genre.

I saw Manhattan Transfer live recently, and wanted to buy one album that best decribed their work. I chose this album and was thoroughly pleased with the choice. If you like great music, and great harmonies, then this album will become one of your favourites.