Mecca For Moderns is the sixth album by The Manhattan Transfer. It was released in 1981 on the Atlantic records label. This album was the highest charting album to date for the group, peaking on Billboard Magazine’s Top Pop Catalog Albums chart at #22. Additionally, the album helped the Manhattan Transfer make music history: they became the first group to win Grammy Awards in both the pop and jazz categories in the same year. The song “The Boy from New York City” became their first top 10 hit, reaching #7 on Billboard Magazine’s Hot 100 chart. This song also won the group the Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals. The song “Until I Met You (Corner Pocket)” also earned them a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo or Group. The song “A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square” which was arranged by Gene Puerling, won the Grammy Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices. The song “Spies In The Night”, which incorporates the “James Bond Theme”, also charted on Billboard Magazine’s Bubbling Under chart, peaking at #103.
Tracks
1 On The Boulevard (Richard Page, Jay Graydon, Marc Jordan) 4:09 2 Boy From New York City (George Davis, John Taylor) 3:40 3 (Wanted) Dead Or Alive (Art Decoteau, Slinger Francisco) 3:25 4 Spies In The Night (David Foster, Jay Graydon, Alan Paul) 4:03 5 Smile Again (Bill Champlin, Jay Graydon, Alan Paul) 4:33 6 Until I Met You (Corner Pocket) (Freddie Green, Don Wolf) 5:17 7 (The Word Of) Confirmation (Charlie Parker, Eddie Jefferson) 3:14 8 Kafka (Bernard Kafka, Jay Graydon) 4:13 9 A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley (Eric Maschwitz, Manning Sherwin) 3:47
Musicians
1 On The Boulevard Bass - Abraham Laboriel Sr Drums - Steve Gadd Piano - Victor Feldman Guitar - Steve Lukather Guitar (solo) - Jay Graydon Synthesizer - Jay Graydon
2 Boy From New York City Bass - Abraham Laboriel Sr Drums - Mike Baird Guitar - Jay Graydon Guitar - Dean Parks Piano - David Foster Sax - Don Roberts Trumpet - Jerry Hey 3 (Wanted) Dead Or Alive Bass - Abraham Laboriel Sr Drums - Steve Gadd Guitar - Jay Graydon Organ - Greg Mathieson Synthesizer - Greg Mathieson Synthesizer - Jay Graydon Sax - Tom Scott Lyricon - Tom Scott Percussion - Alex Acuna Steel Drums - Andy Norell
4 Spies In The Night Bass - Abraham Laboriel Sr Drums - Steve Gadd Guitar - Jay Graydon Guitar - Steve Lukather Piano - David Foster Keyboards - Michael Boddicker
5 Smile Again Bass - Abraham Laboriel Sr Drums - Steve Gadd Guitar - Steve Lukather Piano - David Foster Fender Rhodes - David Foster
6 Until I Met You (Corner Pocket) Bass - Abraham Laboriel Sr Drums - Steve Gadd Guitar - Al Viola Piano - Yaron Gershovsky
7 (The Word Of) Confirmation Bass - Abraham Laboriel Sr Drums - Steve Gadd Piano - Milchio Leviev
8 Kafka Bass - Abraham Laboriel Sr Drums - Steve Gadd Guitar - Jay Graydon Guitar - Dean Parks Piano - Yaron Gershovsky Synthesizer - Milchio Leviev Synthesizer - Steve George
Liner Notes
Producer – Jay Graydon Arranged By – Jay Graydon (Tracks 1, 3, 5, 8) Arranged By – Milcho Leviev (Track 7) Arranged By – Gene Puerling (Track 9) Arranged By (Horns, Rhythm) – Jay Graydon (Track 2) Arranged By (Vocals) – Alan Paul (Tracks 2, 4) Arranged By (Rhythm, Vocals) – Jay Graydon (Tracks 4, 6) Arranged By (Strings) – David Foster (Track 5) Arranged By (Vocals) – Janis Siegel (Track 6) Engineer (Assistant) – Bob Bullock, Debbie Thompson Contractor – Frank DeCaro Mastered By – Bernie Grundman Recorded By – Joe Bogan Remix – Jay Graydon Art Direction – Richard De Gussi, Sarah Richardson, Steven Arnold Photography – Steven Arnold Mastered At A&M Studios, LA, CA Mixed At Garden Rake Studios, Studio City, CA Overdubbed At Garden Rake Studios, Studio City, CA Recorded At Dawnbreaker Studio, San Fernando, CA Phonographic Copyright Atlantic Recording Corporation Copyright Atlantic Recording Corporation
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Cheryl Bentyne – vocals Tim Hauser – vocals Alan Paul – vocals, vocal arrangement (2, 4) Janis Siegel – vocals, vocal arrangement (6) Victor Feldman – Fender Rhodes (1), acoustic piano (1) Jay Graydon – synthesizers (1, 3), guitar (1-4, 8), arrangements (1, 3, 5, 8), horn arrangements (2), rhythm arrangements (2, 4, 6), vocal arrangements (4, 6) David Foster – acoustic piano (2, 4, 5), keyboards (5), synthesizers (5) Greg Mathieson – organ (3), synthesizers (3) Michael Boddicker – synthesizers (4, 8) Yaron Gershovsky – acoustic piano (6, 8) Milcho Leviev – acoustic piano (7, 8), arrangements (7) Steve George – synthesizers (8) Steve Lukather – guitar (1, 4, 5) Dean Parks – guitar (2, 8) Al Viola – guitar (6) Abraham Laboriel – bass (1-8) Steve Gadd – drums (1, 3-8) Mike Baird – drums (2) Alex Acuña – percussion (3) Andy Narell – cowbell (8), steel drums (8) Don Roberts – saxophone (2) Tom Scott – saxophone (3), Lyricon (3) Richie Cole – saxophone (7) Jerry Hey – trumpet (2) Bernard Kafka – arrangements (8) Gene Puerling – arrangements (9) Jon Hendricks – scatting (7)
