Extensions is the fifth studio album by the Manhattan Transfer, released on October 31, 1979, by Atlantic Records. Marking a new era for the group, the album was the first one with Cheryl Bentyne, who replaced Laurel Massé in early 1979. It was also their first album with Jay Graydon in the producer's chair and their first to contain songs that were hits in both the jazz and pop categories. The song "Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone" reached No. 4 on the Billboard Disco chart and No. 30 on the Hot 100. "Trickle, Trickle" reached No. 73 on the Hot 100. The album reached No. 55 on the Billboard Top LPs chart. The most widely known song from this album, "Birdland" by Weather Report, won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion. Best Jazz Fusion Performance in 1981. Jon Hendricks wrote lyrics for the vocalese version on the album and Janis Siegel received a Grammy for her vocal arrangement of "Birdland".

Critical reception

The New York Times wrote that the album "carries their exploration of group harmony to a level of seriousness that finally establishes them as the legitimate heirs of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross and the Hi-Lo's."

Charts

Extensions debuted on Billboard's Top Pop Album chart on December 8, 1979.

Track listing

Personnel

The Manhattan Transfer Musicians

Production