The Anthology: Down in Birdland

Disc 1
1	Trickle Trickle 2:22
2	Gloria 3:00
3	Operator 3:12
4	Helpless 2:57
5	Ray's Rockhouse 5:10
6	Heart's Desire Live 2:45
7	Zindy Lou 2:54
8	Mystery 5:03
9	Baby Come Back to Me (The Morse Code of Love) 2:56
10	Route 66 2:57
11	Java Jive 2:48
12	Chanson d'Amour 2:57
13	Foreign Affair 3:55
14	Smile Again 4:36
15	Spice of Life 3:43
16	The Speak Up Mambo (Cučntame) 3:04
17	Soul Food to Go (Sina) 5:17
18	So You Say (Esquinas) 4:59
19	Boy from New York City 3:42
20	Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone 6:06
Disc 2
1	Four Brothers 3:51
2	Blee Blop Blues 3:06
3	Candy 3:30
4	A Gal in Calico 2:42
5	Love for Sale 4:01
6	On a Little Street in Singapore 3:18
7	Tuxedo Junction 3:06
8	That Cat Is High 2:55
9	Body and Soul 4:30
10	Meet Benny Bailey 3:35
11	Sing Joy Spring 7:13
12	To You 3:57
13	Down South Camp Meeting 3:03
14	Until I Met You (Corner Pocket) 5:22
15	Why Not! (Manhattan Carnival) 2:36
16	Another Night in Tunisia 4:15
17	Capim 5:11
18	A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square 3:52
19	Birdland 6:01

Barnes & Noble

Long before neo-swing was all the rage, Manhattan Transfer were raging neo-swingers. Vocalese -- singing lyrics that have been set to instrumental jazz compositions and solos -- has always been a specialty of this historically aware vocal quartet. So is a flair for spotting impeccable material. Among the jazz giants whose work is reinterpreted on this comprehensive collection are Clifford Brown, Ray Charles, Lester Young, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, and Fletcher Henderson. But Manhattan Transfer have always been all over the map when it comes to material. Songs by Tom Waits, the Brazilian star Djavan, the fusion band Weather Report -- "Birdland" is the group's signature song -- and 1940s hit-parade ditties all pop up. What makes everything such a kick is the foursome's balance of pristine harmony and good-time fun. Steve Futterman

All Music Guide

As the Manhattan Transfer went on, so did the legacy of the jazz vocal ensemble. In that regard, though the competition was scarce, this group did elevate the art form to a higher level without much compromise. This two-CD, 39-track compilation represents many of the high points of the group. If anything is missing, some of the vocalese influenced by Eddie Jefferson should have been included. Still most fans will recognize "Ray's Rockhouse," "Route 66," "Four Brothers," "Tuxedo Junction," "That Cat Is High," "(Sing) Joy Spring," and their immortal take of the Jon Hendricks lyric to "Birdland." Unless it is a complete collection, you'd be hard pressed to find a better grouping of the Manhattan Transfer's prime body of works. Michael G. Nastos