The Anthology: Down in Birdland

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

The Anthology: Down in Birdland, Music, Manhattan Transfer, Adult Contemporary, Bop, Harmony Vocal Group, Jazz, Jazz Music, Jazz Vocals, Pop, Vocal Jazz, Vocalese

Average customer rating:

The Anthology: Down in Birdland - Manhattan Transfer

Not yet

Material too diverse for a 2-CD set

Typical Collection

Good stuff! But if you like this, then you'll love LHR.

The Anthology: Down in Birdland
The Manhattan Transfer
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Vocalese | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Pop | Styles | Music
General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music
General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music
General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
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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

Customer Reviews:

The Anthology: Down in Birdland - Manhattan Transfer.......2005-09-27

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.

Not yet.......2005-07-08

Up to now (July 7, 2005)I have not received this item that was ordered in June 7.

Material too diverse for a 2-CD set.......2002-04-05

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.

Typical Collection.......2001-10-18

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.

Good stuff! But if you like this, then you'll love LHR........2000-07-19

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.

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