The Manhattan Transfer - Twilight Zone / Twilight Tone (1979) - with Janis Siegel on lead


The Manhattan Transfer chose the theme from a late night cult TV show and built it into a #4 disco hit that peaked in early 1980. The musical marriage of an iconic TV thriller theme with the disco beat was a hit in the post disco era, peaking at #30 pop and #4 disco/dance in early 1980. The first part "Twilight Zone" utilized the hypnotic theme created by Bernard Herrmann and segued neatly into the new "Twilight Tone" along with lyrics that that played with your mind like "Hearin' the Twilight Tone" which could be easily mistaken for "Here in the Twilight Zone" a catch phrase made famous by host Rod Serling. 



The Transfer got its start in 1969 Manhattan as an a capella jazz-fusion quintet with founding members Tim Hauser, Erin Dickins, Marty Nelson, Pat Rosalia and Gene Pistilli. By 1973, the group was composed of Hauser, Alan Paul, Janis Siegel and Laurel Masse. In 1975 they had a #22 pop with with their version of "Operator", a cover of the Friendly Brothers 1959 hit. Laurel Masse suffered serious injury in an auto accident in 1978, left the band to recuperate then Cheryl Bentyne was hired to replace her just in time to record the Transfer's 1979 opus "Extensions" with the disco hit "Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone". The album contained a variety of sounds incorporating new wave elements into their jazzy mixes. The retro feel of "Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone" was a perfect fit for the group, and the inclusion of big band superstar Glenn Miller in the last verse was sheer genius, paying tribute to him and the Transfer's love of 40's jazz. Miller disappeared and was presumed dead after his flight went missing while it was crossing the English Channel, adding to his mystique and charm to this song. The group won a Grammy for Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices for Janis Siegel for another song on the same LP called "Birdland". In 1981 they released their version of "The Boy From New York City" (#7, 1981) included on "Mecca For Moderns". They then turned to Rod Temperton for "Spice Of Life" which gave them their last pop hit. They continued to record and release albums about once every two years throughout the 80's and 90's. "The Chick Corea Songbook", their latest release, was from 2009. I got to see them during the "Vocalese" tour in 1986 and they performed "Boy From New York City" but not "Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone"...which would have been a cool nod as the closing encore....

 

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