The Manhattan Transfer
" The Best Of The Manhattan Transfer "

Purchase the CD here


Tracks:
1. Tuxedo Junction (2:44)
2. Boy From New York City (3:40)
3. Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone (3:55)
4. Body And Soul (4:25)
5. Candy (3:26)
6. Four Brothers (3:47)
7. Birdland (6:00)
8. Gloria (2:57)
9. Trickle Trickle (2:18)
10. Operator (3:09)
11. Java Jive (2:44)
12. A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square (3:46)

The Best Of The Manhattan Transfer was released for the holiday season in 1981 and contained the best of their hits from their early Atlantic Records years, 1975-1981. All tracks were previously released on the 5 studio albums: The Manhattan Transfer (1975), Coming Out (1976), Pastiche (1978), Extensions (1979), and Mecca For Moderns (1981).

Naturally, the album went Gold.
L Y R I C S

This archive is furnishing these lyrics to be used only for purposes of private study, scholarship, or research. A user who copies such items for other uses may be in violation of copyright laws. Many items in this archive do not contain individual copyright notices. The lack of a notice does not necessarily mean than the work is not protected by copyright law.

TUXEDO JUNCTION
BY Buddy Feyne, William Johnson, Julian Dash & Erskine Hawkins

Boop bop, Boop Bop
Boop bop, Boop Bop
Boop bop, Boop Bop
Boop bop, Boop Bop

Way down South, in Birmingham
I mean South, in Alabam'
There's a place
Where people go to dance the night away

It's a junction
Where the town folk meet
At each function in their best they'll greet you

Sax solo

Scat solo

Way down South, in Birmingham
I mean South, in Alabam'
That old place

Boop bop, Boop Bop
Boop bop, Boop Bop
Boop bop, Boop Bop
Boop bop, Boop Bop

Way down South, in Birmingham
I mean South, in Alabam'
'Ans old place
Where people go to dance the night away
They all drive or walk for miles
To get blues - that southern style,
So blue - it'll make you want to dance the night away
Tuxedo Junction - where I want to be





BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY
By John Taylor & George Davis

Ooo wah, ooo wah cool, cool kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City
Ooo wah, ooo wah c'mon kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City

He's kind of tall
He's really fine
Some day I hope to make him mine, all mine
And he's neat
And oh so sweet
And just the way he looked at me
He swept me off my feet
Ooo whee, you ought to come and see
How he walks
And how he talks

Ooo wah, ooo wah cool, cool kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City

He's really down
And he's no clown
He has the finest penthouse I've ever seen in town
And he's cute
In his mohair suit
And he keeps his pockets full of spending loot
Ooo whee, say you ought to come and see
His dueling scar
And brand new car

Every time he says he loves me
Chills run down my spine
Every time he wants to kiss me
He makes me feel so fine
Ooo wah, ooo wah cool, cool kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City

Well he can dance
(He can dance, take a chance with a little ro-)
And make romance
(mance baby, cause he's a looker)
That's when I feel in love
With just one glance
(He's sweet talking and cool)

He was shy
And so was I
And now I know I'll never, ever say goodbye
Ooo whee, say you ought to come and see
He's the most
From coast to coast

Ooo wah, ooo wah cool, cool kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City
Ooo wah, ooo wah c'mon kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City





TWILIGHT TONE
By Alan Paul and Jay Graydon, Lyrics by Alan Paul

When I hear this melody
This strange illusion takes over me
Through a tunnel of the mind
Perhaps a present or future time oh, oh
Out of nowhere comes this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round & 'round
Pyramidal locomotion
From a mystic unknown zone

Hearin' the twilight
Hearin' the twilight tone

Unpretentious girl from Memphis
Saw the future through her third eye
People came with skepticism
Picking, testing her precision, no, wo, oh, oh
Suddenly they heard this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round & 'round
A signpost up ahead is calling
Through the mystic unknown zone

Hearin' the twilight
Twilight swept away, feelin' the rhythm
Hearin' the twilight
Twilight swept away, ba da, loo da, ba da loo da
Hearin' the twilight
Twilight tone

Submitted for your approval. One Mr. Miller, who's about
to take a trip into oddness and obsolescene, through a
zone whose boundaries are that of imagination.
Accompanying him on this journey is the mesmerizing
sound of the Twilight Tone.

On a cold & rainy night
One Mister Miller had a rare flight
Glen was up there boppin' a rhythm
Then the engine stopped to listen with him
Play that beat, oh, oh
Suddenly he heard this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round & 'round
Now he resides and plays trombone
In the mystic unknown zone

Hearin' the twilight
(Ooooooh, twilight)
Hearin' the twilight
(Hearin' the twilight)





BODY AND SOUL
By Edward Heyman, John Green, Robert Sour, & Frank Eyton

Don't you know, he was the king of saxophones
Yes indeed he was;
Talkin' 'bout the guy that made it sound so good
Some people knew him by the Bean
But Hawkins was his name

He sure could swing and play pretty too
Sounds good to me -- should sound good to you
I love to hear him playing Body and Soul
Very pleasing to the ear

When I first heard it on the record
I just stopped-- right there,
Sounded like a band of angels in the sky,
And I have never ever heard a sweeter tone
I fact I pay no 'ttention to the saxophone
'Til Coleman Hawkins came along and spoke to everyone --
Saying better listen won't you hear me,
While I play for you --

Sometimes it's hot
Then again it's blue
My soul just seems to wander,
Pleasing each and everyone --
It's what I've long been craving for

The doors have not been always open,
But I am trying to please you.
Please don't stop me.
Hope you like it folks

And then he started cookin' --
Everytime he played
Some melodic melody fast or slow
You could tell that it was Hawkins --

No other one ever has
Quite captured his tone
Just he alone --
Has the sound that penetrates
It will sure go right through you
Yes it will --
And every chorus gives you just another thrill

Then along came Eddie Jefferson
He sang the melody like Hawkins played it
He sang it true
He sang it blue
Made words for it too

All his fans in New York loved him
There's no one above him
Here in the USA
I've heard 'em say ol' Eddie was the man

Oh how he could sing
Man did he swing
Sang on the wing, did his own thing
Yes he did

Throughout the country --
Music lovers are still wiggin' on Eddie's singin'
All around the world -- he is known
Rhythm was his special joy --
He swung it like a horn

He must have been born to be a singer
'Cause his lyrics were so sincere and true
Funny sad or blue
Oh yeah!

And we've got to remind you
Many years it took him
Singing every day to achieve his first claim to fame

He was twenty years ahead of his time
And he knew it
But he kept right on-a singing
He went all around the world making rhythm
'Cause music sure was in him and he knew it was

Sang with Moody and Richie Cole
He could sing it just like Bird
But his forte was the words he wrote to
Music that he sang

So he sang, and he sang
And he sang his words so clever
And I know they'll silence him never
'Cause he cut this masterpiece

And now we're trying to sing it for you
Hope the Bean and Eddie both would still approve
There we go
We didn't mean to reminisce
You can surely bet
That we won't forget
'Cause we hear them yet
Goodbye





CANDY
By Mack David, Joan Whitney & Alex Kramer

Candy
I call my sugar Candy
Because I'm sweet on Candy
and Candy's sweet on me

She understands me
My understanding Candy
And Candy's always handy
When I need sympathy

You wish that there were four of her
So I could love much more of her
She has taken your complete heart
Got a sweet tooth for my sweetheart

Candy
It's gonna be just dandy
The day I take my Candy
And make her mine, all mine

Candy
I call my sugar Candy
Because I'm sweet, so sweet on Candy
And Candy's sweet on me

You wish that there were four of him
Oh how I could love much more of him
He has taken your complete heart
You got a sweet tooth for your sweetheart

Candy
It's gonna be just dandy
The day I take my candy
Gee how the sun will shine

On the day my Candy
On the day my Candy
On the day my Candy's mine





FOUR BROTHERS
By Jimmy Giuffre & Jon Hendricks

Take a seat and cool it 'cause unless you overrule it
We are ready to show you some blowin'
A rompin' and a stompin' is a lot of fun
Four brothers who are blowin' our horns

So settle down an' listen 'cause you don't know what you're missin'
And we're ready to give you a showin'
A movin' it 'n groovin' it has just begun
Four brothers who are blowin' our horns

We got a little message that you're gonna enjoy
Ain't no sense in dodgin' the facts
So settle in your easy chair an' if you ever had a care - forget it,
It's time to relax

We might as well admit it, we're the best that ever did it
But in case you ain't too sure a knowin'
We're gonna let you listen to us one by one
Four brothers who are blowin' our horns

JANIS:
How'd ya do, I'm talkin' about you
It's very nice to know that you have really taken time to listen to me blow
'Cause as sure as I'm born, I'm blowin' my horn
It's me baby, I'm blowin', zootin' it up
And I hope you dig the sounds I'm makin' more'n any other
Now I must go for it's time for you to listen to my other brother

TIM:
I think the chick's talkin' 'bout me so I'd better go 'n see
I'm hip that she knows a horn is very best to greet you
That's the reason I'm blowin' so snappily
I don't know what ya got, but it thrills me an' I hope to have a lot
'Cause it puts me in clover
So baby, if you would like to dig my other brother
You're gonna have to turn the record over

ALAN:
Hey hey hey
Who ya talkin' about, say who ya talkin' about
Did I hear you say you'd introduce your other brother
'Cause in case I heard you talkin' about three, that's me
Pleased to meet you, how'd you do, how are you, nothing new,
How is everything with you?
Whattya say I leave this jazz up to my brother --

CHERYL:
Dig dig dig my Long Island sound
I hope you're puttin' it down
You got me in a mood that's so romantic
If you notice you can dig this silly old act
Because I'm actin' so distracted when I dig you
Pretty baby you will never know how much I really dig you
You have got me so excited that I goofed blowin' my horn

ALL:
Ooh bop the news is gettin' around, we're really puttin' it down
We're glad of fact that you enjoy it and we wish we had the time to give you more
Thank you for the compliment
You told us we were better just as if we didn't know it
We're hip that we're the best, we're over all the rest
We're in the modern school, we always play it cool, we never play the fool
The honkers and the squeakers might be stealin' the show
But we don't go for that, so while we blow

BAND MEMBER:
Hi-ho, lackadaise, for it's a natural fact
I ain't no kin, but I would like to get in the act!

ALL:
Well get outta here, get outta here, get outta here
Now fellas we appreciate him makin you mad,
But we must ask you to apologize
Because after all he's in our band

Four brothers, four brothers, four brothers
Although we sound like more
Four brothers, four brothers, four brothers
We're really only four

We like to blow but we don't know how time can fly and how our cares pass away
We wish the time would never go so we could take our time an' blow 'til judgement day

Four brothers, four brothers, four brothers
Now just one final word:

JANIS: I'd like to know you and I hope I don't forget you
TIM: It's really a pleasure and I hope I don't look silly to you
ALAN: I'm hopin' the story that I told did not upset you
CHERYL: Sorry now in conclusion were you hoping that you heard four

ALL:
So just before we go we want you to know ---
We're glad you let us show you how we always end up with that jazz
(We don't call for back up on the road)
Oh - ohhh!!!!





BIRDLAND
By Zawinul & Jon Hendricks

5,000 light years from Birdland
But I'm still preachin' the rhythm
Long-gone, uptight years from Birdland
An' I'm still teachin' it with 'em

Years from the land of the Bird
An' I am still feelin' the spirit
5,000 light years from Birdland
But I know people can hear it

Bird named it, Bird made it, Bird heard it, then played it
Well-stated! Birdland--
it happened down in Birdland

Oh!

In the middle of that hub
I remember one jazz club
Where we went to pat feet
Down on fifty-secon' street

Everybody heard that word
That they named it after Bird

Where the rhythm swooped and swirled
The jazz corner of the world

An' the cats they gigged in there
Were beyond compare

Birdland - I'm singin' Birdland
Birdland - Ol' swingin' Birdland

Hey, man, the music really turns you on!
Y' turn me on,
Really, y' turn me aroun'
'N turn me on

Down them stairs, lose them cares - where?
Down in Birdland
Total swing, bop was king - there
Down in Birdland
Bird would cook, May would look - where?
Down in Birdland
Miles came through, 'Trane came too - there
Down in Birdland
Basie blew, Blakey too - where?
Down in Birdland
Cannonball played that hall - there
Down in Birdland
Yeah---

There may never be nothin' such as that
No Mo' - No Mo'
Down in Birdland, that's where it was at
I know - I know
Back in them days bop was ridin' high
Hello! 'n goodbye!

How well those cats remember
Their first Birdland gig
To play in Birdland is an honor we still dig
Yeah---that club was like--
In another world, sure enough--
Yeah, baby
All o' the cats had the cookin' on
People just sat an' they was steady lookin' on
Then Bird--he came 'n spread the word--
Birdland

Yes, indeed, he did
Yes, indeed, he did
Yes, indeed, he did
Yes, he did, Parker played at Birdland
Yes, he really did
Yes, indeed, he really did
Yes, he really did
Told the truth down in Birdland
Yes, indeed he did, Charlie Parker played in
Birdland

Yes, indeed, he really did
Charlie Parker played in Birdland

Bird named it, Bird made it, Bird heard it,
Then played it
Well-stated! Birdland
It happened down in Birdland

Everybody dug that beat
Everybody stomped their feet
Everybody digs be-bop
An' they'll never stop

Down them stairs, lose them cares - yeah!
Down in Birdland
Total swing! bop was king - yeah!
Down in Birdland

Bird would cook, May would look - yeah,
Down in Birdland
Miles came through, 'Trane came too - yeah!
Down in Birdland
Basie blew, Blakey too - yeah!
Down in Birdland

Cannonball played that hall - yeah
Down in Birdland

Down them stairs, lose them cares - yeah
Down in Birdland
Total swing! bop was king - yeah
Down in Birdland

Bird would cook, May would look - yeah,
Down in Birdland
Miles came through, 'Trane came too - yeah!
Down in Birdland

Basie blew, Blakey too - yeah!
Down in Birdland
Cannonball played that hall - yeah
Down in Birdland

Down them stairs, lose y' cares -yeah
Down in Birdland
Total swing! bop was king - yeah
Down in Birdland

Bird would cook, May would look - yeah,
Down in Birdland

Background Solo:
Come in pairs down them stairs, lose y' cares
Them that dares gits it!

Pay the gate, don't be late
It's a date! - whattay' know
If y' dig, then you'll dig, it's a groove
Quite a groove, 'cause y' t' move
Come in twos, pay your dues

What can you lose?
Just your blues!
So lose them!

The band swingin' one and all and what a ball!
Yeah!

Music is good, music is better than good
Pretty good
Very nice
Really very good - things are bein' like they should
Very good -- very good -- very good

All y' gotta do is lend an ear
An' listen to it
Then y' dig a little sooner than soon
You'll be diggin' everything diggin' all the music

What a ball!

How y' gonna figure out
A way t' bring it all about amid a
Lot o' other music on the set'n on
The scene know what I mean?
How y' gonna separate the music from the scene
'Gonna have t' keep the memory clean
Y' gonna hear a lotta' sound -- a lotta soun'





GLORIA
By Esther Navarro

Gloria
Gloria
It's not Marie
Gloria
It's not Cherie
Gloria (Gloria)
But she's not in love with me

Can't you see
It's not Marie
Gloria
It's not Cherie
Gloria (Gloria)
But she's not in love with me

And maybe (maybe)
She'll want me (want me)
But who am I to know (who am I to know)
And maybe (ooh, maybe)
She'll want me (ooh, want me)
But who am I to know (who am I to know)
Oh---

Gloria (Gloria)
It's not Marie
Gloria (Gloria)
It's not Cherie
Gloria (Gloria)
'Cause she's not in love with me

Gloria!





TRICKLE TRICKLE
By Clarence Bassett

CHORUS:
Trickle, Trickle, Splash, Splash
Tell me how long will this rain last
The rain keeps droppin', there ain't no stoppin',
Tell me how long will this rain last

Trickle, Trickle, Slop, Slop
Just got to see my seat don?t drop
She's there waitin' and I'm hesitatin'
Tell me just when this rain will stop

Ronnie, dig my clothes here boy,
One button row
Well, you know I'm sharp, as a tack,
Say can you lend me your Cadillac
Gotta go, gotta go to a party - yeah
Please lend me your show
Well if I can't take it,
You know I can't make it,
I won't see my baby no more.

CHORUS

Ronnie, she's sweet, she's fine yeh boy,
And I love her so.
Well if I don't make the party,
Man - she sure to blow.
Gotta go, gotta go to the party - yeh,
Please lend me your show,
Well if I can't take it, you know I can't make it,
I won't see my baby no more.

CHORUS
Trickle, Trickle, Slop, Slop
Just got to see my seat don?t drop
She's there waitin' and I'm hesitatin'
Tell me how long will this rain last
Tell me how long will it last





OPERATOR
By William Spivery

Operator
Give me information
Information
Give me long distance
Long distance
Give me heaven...

(Two, three)
Operator
Information
Give me Jesus on the line
Operator
Information
I'd like to speak to a friend of mine
Oh prayer is the number
Faith is the exchange
Heaven is the street
And Jesus is his name
Operator
Information
Please give me Jesus on the line

Operator
Information
Won't you tell me why
Tell me why
Operator
Information
Don't try to tell me
What number to call
My mother used this number
When I was very small
And everytime she dialed it
She always got 't call the
Operator
Information
Please give me Jesus on the line

Operator
Information
Please hurry if you can
Oh Operator
Information
Please connect me
With the man
Don't worry 'bout the money
You know I will pay the charge
Just give me on the line
I'm callin' from my heart
Operator
Information
Please give me Jesus on the line
Please give me Jesus on the line

Won't you please -
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus on the line

Yeah!





JAVA JIVE
Music by Ben Oakland, Lyric by Milton Drake

I love coffee, I love tea,
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me,
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!

I love java sweet and hot,
Whoops, Mister Moto, I'm a coffee pot
Shoot me the pot, and I'll pour me a shot,
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!

Oh slip me a slug from the wonderful mug
and I'll cut a rug 'til I'm snug in a jug
A slice of onion and a raw one,
Draw one!
Waiter, waiter, percolator!

I love coffee, I love tea,
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me,
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!

Boston beans (soy beans)
I said the little itty-bitty green bean
(cabbage n' greens)
You know that I'm not keen about a bean, unless it is a
chili chili bean! (Talk it, boy!)

I love java sweet and hot,
Whoops, Mister Moto, I'm a coffee pot (yeah)
You shoot me the pot, and I'll pour me a shot,
A cup, a cup, a cup, 'an dat zat bootle!

Blow me a slug from that wonderful mug
And I'll cut a rug that's snug in a jug
Drop a nickel in my pot - Joe
Takin' it slow
Waiter, waiter percolator

I love coffee, I love tea,
I love the Java Jive an' it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup - BOY!





A NIGHTINGALE SANG IN BERKELEY SQUARE
By Eric Maschwitz & Manning Sherwin


That certain night
The night we met
There was magic abroad in the air
There were angels dining at the Ritz
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square

I may be right
I may be wrong
But I'm perfectly willing to swear
That when you turned and smiled at me
A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square

The moon that lingered over London town
Poor puzzled moon
He wore a frown

Oh how could he know we two were so in love
The whole wide world was upside down
The streets of town were paved with stars
It was such a romantic affair
And as we kissed and said goodbye
A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square

A nightingale sang. A nightingale sang

The streets of town

Were paved with stars

It was such a romantic affair
And as we kissed and said goodbye
A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square



RETURN to Discography Page

© 2005 The Manhattan Transfer Fan Club