Mecca for Moderns

Mecca for Moderns is the sixth studio album by The Manhattan Transfer. It was released in 1981 by Atlantic Records.

Mecca for Moderns
Studio album by
The Manhattan Transfer
ReleasedJune 1981
Recorded1980–1981
StudioDawnbreaker Studio, San Francisco, California
GenreVocal jazz, pop
Length36:12
LabelAtlantic
ProducerJay Graydon
The Manhattan Transfer chronology
Extensions
(1979)		 Mecca for Moderns
(1981)		 The Best of The Manhattan Transfer
(1981)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [1]

This album was the highest charting album to date for the group, peaking on Billboard magazine's Top Pop Catalog Albums chart at No. 22. With this album, the Manhattan Transfer 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", which incorporates the "James Bond Theme", 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 liked the phrase, and it fit well with the album concept."[2]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."On the Boulevard"Richard Page, Jay Graydon, Marc Jordan4:08
2."The Boy from New York City"George Davis, John T. Taylor3:40
3."(Wanted) Dead or Alive"Art DeCoteau, Slinger Francisco3:27
4."Spies in the Night"David Foster, Jay Graydon3:59
5."Smile Again"Bill Champlin, David Foster, Jay Graydon, Alan Paul4:33
6."Until I Met You (Corner Pocket)"Freddie Green, Don Wolf5:17
7."(The Word of) Confirmation"Charlie Parker3:14
8."Kafka"Bernard Kafka, Jay Graydon4:08
9."A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square"Eric Maschwitz, Manning Sherwin3:46

Personnel

The Manhattan Transfer

Musicians

Production
  • Producer, Remix – Jay Graydon
  • Engineer – Joseph Bogan
  • Assistant Engineers – Bob Bullock and Deborah Thompson
  • Recorded at Dawnbreaker Studios (San Fernando, CA).
  • Overdubbed and Mixed at Garden Rake Studios (Studio City, CA).
  • Mastered by Bernie Grundman at A&M Studios (Los Angeles, CA).
  • Art Direction – Steve Arnold, Richard DeGussie and Sarah Richardson
  • Photography – Steve Arnold
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References
  1. Ginell, Richard S.. Mecca for Moderns at AllMusic
  2. "Mecca For Moderns." The Manhattan Transfer. February 7, 2011. Accessed July 22, 2015. http://manhattantransfer.net/discography/mecca-for-moderns/
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