Get Onboard With Manhattan Transfer

It's gonna be a wild ride!

The year was 1969, and the most popular bands of that era included The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and Sly & the Family Stone.

So, what inspired anyone to build a new supergroup of four talented vocalists performing original music that covered everything from pop music to jazz classics to ‘50s doo-wop classics?

Manhattan Transfer, a vocal jazz group that graced the music scene from the 1970s to the 1990s, was a unique blend of complex vocal harmonies and arrangements. Their music, often inspired by jazz and swing standards, set them apart. Formed in 1972, the group, comprising Tim Hauser, Laurel Massé, Janis Siegel, and Alan Paul, released several critically acclaimed albums, including "The Manhattan Transfer" and "Pastiche," and won three Grammy Awards. Their distinctive sound and tight vocal arrangements have left an indelible mark on the vocal jazz tradition.

If you've ever watched the classic ‘60s TV show Twilight Zone, it opened with this theme song and was followed by a spoken intro to each episode given by the series creator, Rod Serling.

Manhattan Transfer's incorporation of aspects from the classic '60s TV show Twilight Zone in their recording was not just amazing, but also a lot of fun. Their ability to infuse fun into their music is a testament to their creativity and entertainment value.

You may be familiar with the jazz group "Weather Report" and their song, "Birdland.”

"Birdland" opens Heavy Weather, the 1977 album that marked the commercial peak of Weather Report's career. The composition is a tribute to the famous New York City jazz club Birdland, named after jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker, nicknamed "Bird." The club operated on Broadway from 1949 through 1965 and hosted many great jazz musicians of the era.

Manhattan Transfer's take on popular instrumental jazz hits was not just a reinterpretation, but an improvement. Their addition of original lyrics and outstanding vocal arrangements elevated the song to a new level, making it even better than the original.

Reinventing a popular jazz classic wasn’t enough for this group. They came back with a new version of a doo-wop song called "The Boy from New York City" that had been recorded by The Ad Libs in 1964 and Darts in 1978, before becoming a hit for the Manhattan Transfer in 1981.

Then they took "Tuxedo Junction," a popular big band song recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, which became a No. 1 hit in 1940. Manhattan Transfer gave it a new look and a fresh arrangement, which never sounded better.

With so many creative interpretations of classic pop music throughout the twentieth century, you’re guaranteed to hear music you will love, brought to you by Manhattan Transfer. Give them a listen!