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{{short description|1981 studio album by the Manhattan Transfer}}
{{Infobox album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
{{Infobox album
| Name = Mecca for Moderns
| Type = studio
| name = Mecca for Moderns
| Artist = [[The Manhattan Transfer]]
| type = studio
| artist = [[the Manhattan Transfer]]
| Cover = Mecca_for_Moderns.jpg
| cover = Mecca_for_Moderns.jpg
| Released = May 1981
| Recorded = 1980-1981
| alt =
| Genre = Jazz
| released = May or June 1981
| Length = 36:12
| recorded =
| studio = Dawnbreaker Studio, San Francisco, California
| Label = [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
| Producer = [[Jay Graydon]]
| genre = [[Vocal jazz]], [[pop music|pop]]
| length = 36:12
| Last album = ''[[Extensions (Manhattan Transfer album)|Extensions]]''<br>(1979)
| label = [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
| This album = '''''Mecca for Moderns''''' <br />(1981)
| producer = [[Jay Graydon]]
| Next album = ''[[The Best of the Manhattan Transfer]]''<br>(1981)
| prev_title = [[Extensions (The Manhattan Transfer album)|Extensions]]
| prev_year = 1979
| next_title = [[The Best of The Manhattan Transfer]]
| next_year = 1981
}}
}}
{{Album ratings
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[allmusic]]
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}} <ref>{{Allmusic|class=album|id=mecca-for-moderns-r132379|first=Richard S.|last=Ginell}}</ref>
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}} <ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=mecca-for-moderns-r132379|first=Richard S.|last=Ginell}}</ref>
| rev2 =
| rev2 =
| rev2Score =
| rev2Score =
| noprose = yes
| noprose = yes
}}
}}
'''''Mecca For Moderns''''' is the sixth album by [[The Manhattan Transfer]]. It was released in 1981 on the [[Atlantic records]] label.


'''''Mecca for Moderns''''' is the sixth studio album by [[the Manhattan Transfer]]. It was released in 1981 by [[Atlantic Records]].
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 Award]]s in both the pop and jazz categories in [[1982 Grammy Awards|the same year]].


This album was the highest-charting album to date for the group, peaking on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine's [[Top Pop Catalog Albums]] chart at No. 22. With this album, the Manhattan Transfer became the first group to win [[Grammy Award]]s in both the pop and jazz categories in [[1982 Grammy Awards|the same year]].
==Awards==
The song "[[The Boy from New York City]]" became their first top 10 hit, reaching #7 on [[Billboard Magazine]]'s [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] chart. This song also won the group the Grammy for [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals#1980s|Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals]].


== Awards ==
The song "Until I Met You (Corner Pocket)" also earned them a Grammy for [[Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo or Group#1980s|Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo or Group]].
The song "[[The Boy from New York City]]" became their first top 10 hit, reaching number 7 on [[Billboard Magazine]]'s [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] chart. This song also won the group the Grammy for [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals#1980s|Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals]].


The song "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square" which was arranged by [[Gene Puerling]], won the Grammy [[Grammy Award for Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices#1980s|Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices]].
The song "Until I Met You (Corner Pocket)" also earned them a Grammy for [[Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo or Group#1980s|Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo or Group]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Manhattan Transfer |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/manhattan-transfer/7826 |website=[[The Recording Academy]] |access-date=August 3, 2024 }}</ref>


The song "[[A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square]]" which was arranged by [[Gene Puerling]], won the Grammy [[Grammy Award for Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices#1980s|Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices]].
The song "Spies In The Night'" also charted on [[Billboard Magazine]]'s [[Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles|Bubbling Under]] chart, peaking at #103.

The song "Spies in the Night", which incorporates the "[[James Bond Theme]]", also charted on [[Billboard Magazine]]'s [[Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles|Bubbling Under]] chart, peaking at number 103.


==Album name==
==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.
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."<ref>"Mecca For Moderns." The Manhattan Transfer. February 7, 2011. Accessed July 22, 2015. http://manhattantransfer.net/discography/mecca-for-moderns/</ref>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
{{track listing
# "On The Boulevard" ([[Richard Page (musician)|Richard Page)]] - 4:08
|title1 = On the Boulevard
# "[[The Boy from New York City]]" (George Davis, John T. Taylor) - 3:40
|writer1 = [[Richard Page (musician)|Richard Page]], [[Jay Graydon]], [[Marc Jordan]]
# "(Wanted) Dead Or Alive" (S. Francisco) - 3:27
|length1 = 4:08
# "Spies In The Night" ([[David Foster]], [[Jay Graydon]]) - 3:59
# "Smile Again" ([[Bill Champlin]], David Foster, Jay Graydon, [[Alan Paul]]) - 4:33
# "Until I Met You (Corner Pocket)" ([[Freddie Green]], Don Wolf) - 5:17
# "(The Word Of) Confirmation" ([[Charlie Parker]]) - 3:14
# "Kafka" (Bernard Kafka - Jay Graydon) - 4:08
# "[[A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (song)|A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square]]" ([[Eric Maschwitz]], [[Manning Sherwin]]) - 3:46


|title2 = [[The Boy from New York City]]
==Personnel==
|writer2 = George Davis, John T. Taylor
|length2 = 3:40


|title3 = (Wanted) Dead or Alive
===The Manhattan Transfer===
|writer3 = Art DeCoteau, [[Slinger Francisco]]
*Cheryl Bentyne, Alan Paul, Janis Siegel, Tim Hauser: lead & backing vocals
|length3 = 3:27


|title4 = Spies in the Night
===Musicians===
|writer4 = [[David Foster]], Jay Graydon
*[[Michael Baird]]{{dn|date=July 2015}}, [[Steve Gadd]]: drums
|length4 = 3:59
*[[Alex Acuña]]: percussion
*Andy Narell: [[steel drums]], [[Cowbell (instrument)|cowbell]]
*[[Abraham Laboriel]]: bass
*[[Jay Graydon]]: guitars, [[synthesizer]]s
*Al Viola, [[Dean Parks]], [[Steve Lukather]]: guitars
*[[David Foster]]: keyboards, synthesizers
*[[Michael Boddicker]], Steve George: synthesizers
*Greg Mathieson: [[Organ (music)|organ]], synthesizers
*[[Victor Feldman]]: keyboards & [[piano]]
*Milchio Leviev, Yaron Gershovsky: piano
*[[Tom Scott (musician)|Tom Scott]]: [[saxophone]] & [[lyricon]]
*Don Roberts, Richie Cole: saxophone
*[[Jerry Hey]]: [[trumpet]]
*Jon Hendricks: [[Scat singing|scatting]]


|title5 = Smile Again
==Production==
|writer5 = [[Bill Champlin]], [[David Foster]], Jay Graydon, [[Alan Paul]]
*Arranged By Jay Graydon & Gene Puerling
|length5 = 4:33
*Produced, Engineered & Mixed By Jay Graydon


|title6 = Until I Met You (Corner Pocket)
==References / Sources==
|writer6 = [[Freddie Green]], Don Wolf
{{Reflist}}
|length6 = 5:17


|title7 = (The Word of) Confirmation
|writer7 = [[Charlie Parker]]
|length7 = 3:14

|title8 = Kafka
|writer8 = Bernard Kafka, Jay Graydon
|length8 = 4:08

|title9 = [[A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square]]
|writer9 = [[Eric Maschwitz]], [[Manning Sherwin]]
|length9 = 3:46

| total_length = 36:12
}}

== Personnel ==

=== The Manhattan Transfer ===
* [[Cheryl Bentyne]] – vocals
* [[Tim Hauser]] – vocals
* [[Alan Paul]] – vocals, vocal arrangement (2, 4)
* [[Janis Siegel]] – vocals, vocal arrangement (6)

=== Musicians ===
* [[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 (keyboardist)|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 (musician)|Mike Baird]] – drums (2)
* [[Alex Acuña]] – percussion (3)
* [[Andy Narell]] – cowbell (3), steel drums (3)
* Don Roberts – saxophone (2)
* [[Tom Scott (saxophonist)|Tom Scott]] – saxophone (3), [[Lyricon]] (3)
* [[Richie Cole (musician)|Richie Cole]] – saxophone (7)
* [[Jerry Hey]] – trumpet (2)
* Bernard Kafka – arrangements (8)
* [[Gene Puerling]] – arrangements (9)
* [[Jon Hendricks]] – [[Scat singing|scatting]] (7)

=== 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]] (Hollywood, CA).
* Musical Contractor – Frank DeCaro
* Art Direction – Steve Arnold, Richard DeGussie and Sarah Richardson.
* Photography – Steve Arnold

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.manhattantransfer.net/ The Manhattan Transfer Official Website (requires Flash)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101225234606/http://manhattantransfer.net/ The Manhattan Transfer Official Website]
* [http://www.discogs.com/Manhattan-Transfer-Mecca-For-Moderns/release/1836376 Mecca for Moderns] Retrieved from discogs October 16, 2010
* [http://www.discogs.com/Manhattan-Transfer-Mecca-For-Moderns/release/1836376 Mecca for Moderns] Retrieved from discogs October 16, 2010


{{The Manhattan Transfer}}
{{The Manhattan Transfer}}

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:1981 albums]]
[[Category:1981 albums]]

Latest revision as of 03:46, 13 August 2024

Mecca for Moderns
Studio album by
the Manhattan Transfer
ReleasedMay or June 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]

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

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

[edit]

The song "The Boy from New York City" became their first top 10 hit, reaching number 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.[2]

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 number 103.

Album name

[edit]

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."[3]

Track listing

[edit]
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
Total length:36:12

Personnel

[edit]

The Manhattan Transfer

[edit]

Musicians

[edit]

Production

[edit]
  • 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 (Hollywood, CA).
  • Musical Contractor – Frank DeCaro
  • Art Direction – Steve Arnold, Richard DeGussie and Sarah Richardson.
  • Photography – Steve Arnold

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Ginell, Richard S.. Mecca for Moderns at AllMusic
  2. ^ "Manhattan Transfer". The Recording Academy. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  3. ^ "Mecca For Moderns." The Manhattan Transfer. February 7, 2011. Accessed July 22, 2015. http://manhattantransfer.net/discography/mecca-for-moderns/
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Mecca_for_Moderns&oldid=1240031815"