Bodies and Souls


Bodies and Souls was released in September 1983 by The Manhattan Transfer on the Atlantic Records label.
This album took the Manhattan Transfer in a different direction from their previous releases, offering a new, revised style of their music. There were several collaborations on this album, including Stevie Wonder, Rod Temperton, and Jeremy Lubbock. Also appearing as a guest artist on the album was Frankie Valli, who appears on the song "American Pop".
The final track on the album, "The Night That Monk Returned to Heaven", is a tribute to American jazz pianist Thelonious Monk.
Alan Paul co-wrote two songs on the album, "Malaise En Malaisie" and "Code of Ethics".

Charts

This album was the first Manhattan Transfer album to be included in the Rhythm & Blues charts. The song "Spice of Life", was a hit on both the R&B chart, reaching #32, and on the Pop chart, reaching #40. This song featured a distinctive harmonica solo by Stevie Wonder. The song, written by Rod Temperton and Derek Bramble of Heatwave, has a similar structure to the Temperton-penned album cut "Baby Be Mine" on Michael Jackson's Thriller album.
The song "Mystery", also written by Rod Temperton, reached #80 on the R&B chart and #102 on the Pop chart. The song was later covered by Anita Baker on her 1986 album Rapture. "This Independence", written by Canadian composer Marc Jordan was also released on a 12" disco single format.

Awards

The group won a Grammy Award for "Why Not!" in the category of Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo or Group.

Track listing

Personnel

;The Manhattan Transfer
;Musicians