Artists
Musicians featured in this piece are:
Cheryl Bentyne – lead vocals, vocal arrangements
Tim Hauser – vocals
Alan Paul – vocals
Janis Siegel – vocals
Ian Prince – synthesizers, programming, music arrangements, vocal arrangements
Lyrics by Janis Siegel & Cheryl Bentyne, music by Janis Siegel & Bill Bodine. Produced by Ian Prince, recorded 1991. Released as the title track and opener of The Offbeat of Avenues (Columbia Records, August 1991).
The title track opens the group’s Columbia Records debut, an album notable as the first Manhattan Transfer record where the majority of songs were written or co-written by the band members themselves — a shift away from the covers and vocalese arrangements that had defined much of their earlier catalog. Critics were split on the results: some hailed it as a bold, soulful reinvention of the group’s sound, while others found the more contemporary production a mismatch for the band’s strengths.
The Manhattan Transfer – The Offbeat of Avenues Lyrics
Big blues in the city
Trailin’ the main stroll a kitty
Cup o’ joe, get witty
At Deuce’s Cafe, it’s the mostest hideaway
Mez muggles “Flip Zooty Flim
Plant you now solid
Dig you later Slim”
First you crawl then you walk
Scat then you talk
Hear the cool, feel the heat of the
Rhythm of the offbeat of avenues
Help me, he blew his wig
(Lay it on)
He plays gutbucket doghouse dig
(Chick is hot)
For the hide-beater on the stand
(Really gone)
Hear that Gabriel’s growl
Break it up, beat it out
This canary has got a frame
(She can chirp)
And some high-jiver
Knows her name
(Digs his vine)
Cats all friskin’ their
Whiskers… Ow
(Jam is on pops)
I collar all jive, give me five
(Now you dig, alive)
So I know you’re alive
In the dim you’ve arrived
Cruel lips, whisper baby
Pulse of the neon, she’s crazy
Smokin’ eyes, get hazy
Like beauty to beast,
“You’re the most to say the least”
(Do you have any) Monk,
Cozy, Red, Yank, or Prez?
Let’s cut some rug gate these skins
Are a mess
First you crawl then you walk,
Scat then you talk
It’s nirvana, it’s attitude
Rhythm of the offbeat of avenues
Help me, he blew his wig
(Lay it on)
He plays gutbucket doghouse dig
(Chick is hot)
For the hide-beater on the stand
(Really gone)
Hear that Gabriel’s growl
Break it up, beat it out
This canary has got a frame
(She can chirp)
And some high-jiver
Knows her name
(Digs his vine)
Cats all friskin’ their
Whiskers… Ow
(Jam is on pops)
I collar all jive, give me five
(Now you dig, alive)
So I know you’re alive
(Bouyoot
Two finger-like lickin’…
This cat, is hot friskin’…
The jam is on now)
First you crawl then you walk
(Man she’s a blip)
Scat then you talk
(Ofay plays hip)
Comp…
Rest…
Rhythm of the off beat…
Help me, he blew his wig
(Lay it on)
He plays gutbucket doghouse dig
(Chick is hot)
For the hide-beater on the stand
(Really gone)
Hear that Gabriel’s growl
Break it up, beat it out
This canary has got a frame
(She can chirp)
And some high-jiver
Knows her name
(Digs his vine)
Cats all friskin’ their
Whiskers… Ow
(Jam is on pops)
I collar all jive, give me five
(Now you dig, alive)
So I know you’re alive
To listen to other songs from the Teleskop 15 program and the full program, click here.