Manhattan Transfer [1984] - Mystery [Atlantic #7-89695]

Manhattan Transfer have always been a bit of a 'guilty pleasure' from first hearing their music in the mid/late 70s. They did a few Motown covers which is probably what made me first notice them; Four Tops/Kim Weston 'Helpless' (which was the release before their UK #1 hit with Chanson D'amour in 1976),  'Where Did Our Love Go' and quite a bland cover of The Ad Libs' The Boy From New York City.

In the mid 70s there was a movement that emulated the 30s/40s jazz-swing band era typified by Dr Buzzard's Original Savannah Band created by Stony & Thomas Browder (aka August Darnell aka Kid Creole). Manhattan Transfer also fell in this category with much of their material at the time especially Chanson D'amour.

The featured track is a song written by Rod Temperton and recorded by Anita Baker on her classic 1986 album Rapture. Manhattan Transfer released it on their 1983 album 'Bodies And Souls' and then as a single in 1984. It just missed the US Hot 100 (#103) but made #6 on US Adult conteporary chart, but did nothing anywhere else, so is possibly not particularly well known. This recording sits firmly within the 'Yacht Soul' category.