Mecca for Moderns

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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.

Awards

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'" also charted on Billboard Magazine's Bubbling Under chart, peaking at #103.

Album name

According to Tim Hauser, he picked up the name for this album from a Duke Ellington album entitled Live At The Blue Note 1952. While reading the cover, he noticed it said "The Blue Note was a haven for the smart set, in fact, the real mecca for moderns." The group agreed that the phrase fit the concept of the album quite well.

Track listing

1. "On The Boulevard" (Richard Page) - 4:08
2. "The Boy from New York City" (George Davis, John T. Taylor) - 3:40
3. "(Wanted) Dead Or Alive" (S. Francisco) - 3:27
4. "Spies In The Night" (David Foster, Jay Graydon) - 3:59
5. "Smile Again" (Bill Champlin, David Foster, 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) - 3:14
8. "Kafka" (Jay Graydon) - 4:08
9. "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" (Eric Maschwitz, Manning Sherwin) - 3:46

Personnel

The Manhattan Transfer

• Cheryl Bentyne, Alan Paul, Janis Siegel, Tim Hauser: Lead & Backing Vocals

Musicians

• Mike Baird, Steve Gadd: Drums
• Alex Acuña: Percussion
• Andy Narell: Steel Drums, Cowbell
• Abraham Laboriel: Bass
• Jay Graydon: Guitars, Synthesizers
• Al Viola, Dean Parks, Steve Lukather: Guitars
• David Foster: Keyboards, Synthesizers
• Michael Boddicker, Steve George: Synthesizers
• Greg Mathieson: Organ, Synthesizers
• Victor Feldman: Keyboards & Piano
• Milchio Leviev, Yaron Gershovsky: Piano
• Tom Scott: Saxophone & Lyricon
• Don Roberts, Richie Cole: Saxophone
• Jerry Hey: Trumpet
• Jon Hendricks: Scatting

Production

• Arranged By Jay Graydon & Gene Puerling
• Produced, Engineered & Mixed By Jay Graydon

External links

• The Manhattan Transfer Official Website (requires Flash)
• Mecca for Moderns Retrieved from discogs October 16, 2010