Customer Reviews

Down in Birdland - Anthology

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!"

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.

I submit that The Manhatten Transfer is the greatest vocal group ever. As Evidence, listen to exhibit A...as in Anthology: Down In Birdland. The Manhatten Transfer has a collective ear for choosing songs with beautiful melodies, then they add a little spice of life to them with excellent close harmonies and rich musical arrangements. This Anthology contains their best known hits and Grammy-award winning songs, but also contains some lesser known tunes that show the group's strengths in a diversity of styles from pop to swing to ballads. Be sure to check the liner notes for guest artists! My only lament is for all the other great songs that weren't included (there are so many)!

I fell in love with the Transfer as a teenager in the '70s and thought they were the most unique thing going. What I found out later though was that the true artists of "vocalese" are Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. If you like MT you should definitely give Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross a spin. They started in the 50's and were truly a high wire act.

I've known their hits before I get this cd set, but now I love the music of The Manhattan Transfer more than ever. They perform a vast variety of all-time hits- "evergreens", more different kinds of their own hits and you never stop wondering of their musical sense, the high quality of each song and also that so many years they are on the stage- almost 30 ! When they visited Moscow in 1997 I was amased by live concert. That was really great performance! I try to vish all members of The Manhattan Transfer to make such great hits untill eternity! Sergei from Moscow. P.S. Buy this CD-set, IT'S GREAT, TOO !!!

If this CD doesn't pick up your spirits, nothing will. "Birdland" is awesome -- a great tribute to Charlie "Bird" Parker.

The Manhattan Transfer Anthology is a must by. Their wide range of music genres found on this CD transends to those of all ages.

funny, i bought this cd way back in 1993. i have always been a fan of the manhattan transfer, but not too much of jazz. this is their glorious 2-cd collection of mostly pop/jazz renditions.

starting with "trickle trickle" you travel with MT in their career-spanning greatest hits. and as the liner notes said, this 2-cd compilation came from no less than nine albums!

this is so far the best sounding, best in content, and best in packaging MANHATTAN TRANSFER album ever compiled by Atlantic Records and released by Rhino...

my favorite tracks include:

Trickle Trickle, Mystery, Baby Come Back To Me (The Morse Code Of Love)(this is really a fun song!) Route 66, Java Jive, Smile Again (a ballad during my high school days - touching and romantic),
Spice Of Life, The Speak Up Mambo (Cuentame, Soul Food To Go (Sina), So You Say (Esquinas), Boy From New York City (a classic!), Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone (a real winner!), Blee Blop Blues, On A Little Street In Singapore, Tuxedo Junction, Sing Joy Spring, Until I Meet You (Corner Pocket)(this is great song!), Capim, A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square (wow!) Birdland (the best song to end this compilation!)

the sound quality is also so great. rhino has always pioneered the great sounds in cd with their previous compilations....

can't wait to go down in birdland!

If there's a problem with the Manhatten Transfer, it's the variety in their material. Although they are generally thought of as a vocal/swing/jazz combo, they've delved into other styles as well. The anthology includes some vocal jazz classics (Four Brothers, Tuxedo Junction, Route 66, Until I Met You), but also slides into pop (Boy from New York City, Twilight Zone), Latin samba (The Speak Up Mambo, Soul Food to Go). The stylistic variations present make the collection a difficult listen. Most of the songs are great, no doubt about it. But there's a troubling lack of continuity. I admit this is a problem many anthology albums suffer. In the case of the Transfer, it's a more significant problem due to the variety of material they've covered. For the unknowing, this isn't a bad start. Others may wish to acquire the individual albums.