The Manhattan Transfer - Very Best of

Few groups have a more distinguished pedigree than the Transfer. Since their formation in New York in 1972, these four voices (two male, two female) have notched up numerous gold and platinum albums, and accumulated a shelf full of Grammy's. Their performance of "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" (included here) won a Grammy for it's Gene Puerling arrangement. With collaborators Jon Hendricks and Richie Cole, they promulgated the use of the vocalese technique-singing lyrics over jazz solos. They had their biggest hit of their career, with "Boy from New York City," in 1981, when it went to number seven. "Route 66" and "Tuxedo Junction" were made famous by Nat King Cole and Glenn Miller respectively ("Route 66" won the group yet another Grammy in 1983). "Birdland" was originally recorded by Weather Report; with the addition of Jon Hendricks' lyrics, a Transfer classic was born. This is required listening for vocal jazz fans.

1) Boy from New York City
2) Trickle Trickle
3) Gloria
4) Operator
5) Tuxedo Junction
6) Four Brothers
7) Ray's Rockhouse
8) Soul Food to Go (Sina)
9) Spice of Life
10) Baby Come Back to Me (The Morse Code of Love)
11) Candy
12) A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
13) Birdland
14) Java Jive
15) Route 66
16) Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone