Customer Reviews

Live (1978)

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

 

 

Classsic Man Tran. Why this has taken so long to get to CD is a mystery. The classic line-up an excellent recording made in the UK and superb performances. I've put up with the LP until I converted it to CD myself, but this will obviously sound better. If you like Man Tran this is a show that delivers their true qualities without being contrived and sterile. quite simply superb.

This recording seemed to take forever to get to cd, but it's sure welcome. It's the only ManTran recording (to my knowledge) with "Snootie Little Cutie" and "15 Minute Intermission". ("Well Well Well" finally found its way to another later recording).

The only downside is the recording quality, but to a true fan, this isn't an obstacle. This is a definite must have for a ManTran Fan!

To me a long time fan, the "first phase" of the Man-Tran will always be their best, and it was the sound that first made them stars. This live disk was first released back in 1979 only through a limited production here in the states that featured a great real photo of them that was not used either on this release or the first "official" release of the disk statesude back in the 80's.

However we finally have this awesome live set on CD!. This disk covers their early hits from "Operator", to "Java Jive", to "Chason D'Amour", to "That Cat Is High" and others.
This disk was also the last featuring Laurel Masse', and her live reading of "Je Voulais" is spine tingling with shades of Edith Piaf, and Janis delivers on her stunning solo of "In The Dark". The group nails an acapela take on "Well, Well, Well", and their humor shines with "Bacon Fat".

"15 Minute Intermision" is not 15 minutes of dead time, but another take on their humor as they ask for a break. "Snottie Little Cuttie" was not released prior to this disk, but should have been on one of their earlier studio albums. The group kicks butt on "Tuxedo Junction", and reminds me why I miss hearing these songs on their current live concert set lists. My only issue is that 2 early Man-Tran standrds were not included that being "Gloria" ironiclly one of the few early songs that they still perform, and "Blue Champange". However as the old saying goes always leave them panting for more.

A Fine Fine Live Album!

I had this release on LP when if first came out. It looked like I was going to have to transfer it to CD myself when I found that it was finally released! This is the Man Tran's best early work. If you are a fan now and aren't familiar with the roots of this legendary vocal group, get this CD. The styles are varied and the harmony is incredible. Manhattan Transfer has some of the best showmanship of any group recording today. Sit back and enjoy some of the BEST!

This is a collection of the Transfer at their early best. Great entertainment . . . but, at least on the (brand-new) CD that I bought via Amazon from a third party, the listening was spoiled by sub-par recording/mastering/manufacturing: background hiss on some tracks (fair enough for a concert recording from the 70's, I suppose), and crackling distortion at higher amplitudes and/or higher frequencies (just plain disappointing in anything post-1950).

Others here have mentioned the poor and distorted sound quality of this CD. It sounds like everything is overmodulated - with the VU meters always in the red zone. It's very stark and obvious whenever (often) it subverts the Transfer's amazing and beautiful work, but otherwise (seldom) it's tolerable listening in the car, not loud, but faster than 40 mph. It's a pity because this live recording documents the Transfer in their ascendency and at UK venues, where they were most adored, so the group's confident joy in what they were doing is obvious. Just another reminder thirty years on that not much is well done anymore, except for the steak you order medium-rare.

What a great album! One of my most favorite ones from brilliant Manhattan Transfer guys. I bought a second CD for a friend of mine while listening to this album on the iPod. Simply brilliant...

This is not a review but a thank you to those who (unfortunately) bought the CD and discovered the horrible sound. I have, as many others have, waited for years for this album to appear on CD. It's one of my and my wife's favorite lps; certainly a superior live recording. I jumped with joy when I saw the CD, but when more than ONE person mentioned the horrid sound, that ended any desire to buy it. Time to set up the old turntable and burn my own disc! My heart goes out to you who purchased it!

This is a fantastic album, but the sound has been destroyed in the process of making the CD. It sounds for all the world like an amateur dub of a worn LP, with a bad electrical connection somewhere in the audio chain.

I checked previous LPs of this album, and they all sound FAR superior to this CD made by Wounded Bird Records.

Checking the Wounded Bird website turns up a prominent disclaimer that all their CDs are properly licensed. I guess they have to say it, because you'd never know it from the quality of their product.

This is a real shame because this is, like I said, a fantastic album. But I'd be far better off making my own CD of it using my own LP.