Bodies and Souls is the seventh studio album by The Manhattan Transfer, released in September 1983 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 with Stevie Wonder, Rod Temperton, and Jeremy Lubbock. Frankie Valli appears as a guest artist 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". Both "Spice of Life" and "Mystery" were written by Rod Temperton and Derek Bramble and originally recorded by Michael Jackson for his Thriller album in 1982.

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 1982 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 (famous for "Living In Marina Del Rey"), was also released on a 12" disco single.

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

Production