Bodies and Souls

Performer: Manhattan Transfer
Artist: Frankie Valli; Stevie Wonder
Producer: Richard Rudolph
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Manhattan Transfer: Tim Hauser, Alan Paul, Janis Siegel, Cheryl Bentyne. Additional personnel includes: Frankie Valli (vocals); Stevie Wonder (harmonica); Ernie Watts (alto saxophone); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion). For Bodies and Souls, the Manhattan Transfer almost completely abandons its roots in favor of a slick, pop/R&B direction on one side of the LP version while trying a few more interesting experiments with textures and styles on the other (the CD, of course, doesn't make such a sharp divide). Side one (entitled "Bodies") is relentless in its search for another Top Ten hit, enlisting the help of Rod Temperton -- then riding high on his red-hot association with Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones -- on two tracks, and Stevie Wonder's harmonica on Temperton's slick R&B/disco "Spice of Life." Meanwhile, side two (aka "Souls") pokes around the electronic world before falling back upon another ebullient collaboration with Jon Hendricks on Fletcher Henderson's "Down South Camp Meeting." Manhattan Transfer is so good at vocalese that you wonder why they bothered to chase hits in the manufactured, anonymous pop language of 1983. ~ Richard S. Ginell '83 release that saw Manhattan Transfer at their popular peak, doing some jazz-influenced harmonizing, but more mood music and light pop. They sing with energy and style here, but had moved away from the strict jazz formalism of their early material. ~ Ron Wynn

The Manhattan Transfer are one of the most popular and acclaimed vocal ensembles in all of contemporary music, with numerous platinum albums and eight Grammy Awards to their credit. While jazz is now only a part of their repertoire (pop, R&B, Brazilian, and doo-wop stylings have added to their far-reaching appeal), when the group first formed, the idea was to arrange their voices as if they were the saxophone section of the Basie Big Band. Their best work in the jazz realm also features the contributions of lyricist and fellow singer Jon Hendricks.

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