"Boy from New York City" by The Manhattan Transfer

Top 10 Alert!

Grammy Alert!

Song#:  0613
Date:  05/23/1981
Debut:  72
Peak:  7
Weeks:  21
Genre:  Pop, Vocal



Pop Bits:  The Transfer's successful previous album "Extensions" got them their second Top 30 hit with "Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone" (#30). Their next album "Mecca for Moderns" became their most successful on the album chart reaching #22, thanks mainly to this first single which became their one and only pop Top 10 hit.

ReduxReview:  This song got me right from the first listen. Not being a big fan of doo-wop, I was surprised I liked it so much. The voices and arrangement were just perfect and I think they selected the right song to remake (see below). I already liked the group, but I became a much bigger fan thanks to this song. Although it was their commercial peak, they would go on to do some amazing vocal jazz work.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) This song is a remake of the 1965 #8 hit by The Ad Libs. The British doo-wop revival group Darts reach #2 in the UK with their version in 1978.  2) The Transfer set a record at the Grammy's by winning awards in both the pop and jazz categories in the same year. This song won them Best Pop Vocal Performance, Duo or Group and the LP's track "Until I Met You (Corner Pocket)" got them the award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo or Group.

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