Written by David Foster, Jay Graydon, Alan Paul & Monty Norman

In 1981, The Manhattan Transfer released their album “Mecca For Moderns.” It was the vocal super group’s second collaboration with producer Jay Graydon. The album became an immediate hit on both the jazz and pop charts with platinum plus sales and multiple Grammy wins.

The first single, “Boy From New York City,” is a cover of the 1965 classic by the Ad Libs and went to #7 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and #4 on the Adult Contemporary chart. David Foster played piano on “Boy From New York City.” He also co-wrote “Smile Again” with Graydon, Bill Champlin and Alan Paul and “Spies In The Night” with Graydon and Paul. As a follow up single, “Smile Again” is a magnificent ballad that’s as smooth as silk. Beautifully sung by Paul and Janis Siegel, it was also a minor entry on the adult contemporary chart. “Spies In The Night” is an up-tempo goodie that carries the listener into the typical atmosphere of a James Bond movie. Given the use of parts of the original Bond theme, its author, Monty Newman, was later on credited as co-writer of “Spies In The Night.” Even though the song is pure ear candy, sports a spectacular instrumental arrangement and top notch vocal performance, it failed to chart on Billboard’s Hot 100 and only reached #103 on the Bubbling Under chart. It’s easy to say that both songs were clearly too modern and sophisticated for 80’s pop radio listeners. In 2004, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, a popular big band/blues group lead by former Stray Cats leader Brian Setzer, covered “Spies In The Night” on their album “The Ultimate Collection
Live.”

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/spies_in_the_night.mp3|titles=Spies in the night|artists=The Manhattan Transfer]

Vocals: Alan Paul, Tim Hauser, Janis Siegel, Cheryl Bentyne
Drums: Steve Gadd
Bass: Abraham Laboriel
Piano: David Foster
Electric Guitar: Jay Graydon
Rhythm Guitar: Steve Lukather
Synthesizers: Mike Boddicker

Rhythm Arranged by Jay Graydon
Vocal Arranged by Jay Graydon & Alan Paul
Produced by Jay Graydon

Shadows looking through an open window
Footsteps following wherever you go
Undercover eyes
Search to find the key to alibis
Living in a hideaway<
You can’t hide
You can never get away
They’ll find you
Be aware of strangers in the dark

Jealous lovers quarrel in suspicion
Passions justifying their positions
Vengeance on the rise
Now they’re throwing daggers from their eyes
Maybe they can find a way
Past their pride
Live and let it die away
If not they’ll
Lie a lot and fight a lot
But you beware
‘Cause in the air they’re

Spies in the night
They go wherever you are
You’re in their sight
Watch out for spies in the cold, cold, restless night

Heartache like a burning, turning fever
Someone tells his girl that he will leave her
Ooo her ravaged eyes
Kiss goodbye the years of hidden lies

Photos taken on display he denies
But the cheating heart will pay
She says you lie a lot
And fight a lot
but it’s in vain
You can’t explain ’cause

Spies in the night
They go wherever you are
You’re in their sight
Watch out for spies in the night

Sorry, now you will pay

Cheryl: Hello
Alan: The winds are calm in the channel.
Cheryl: The boat will sail at midnight.
Alan: Listen very carefully to me. I don’t have much time and I’m being watched.
Cheryl: You’re being watched – By who?
Alan: I have your pictures.
Cheryl: Oh. Thank you. You don’t know how much this means to me.
Alan: Do you have my money?
Cheryl: Yes. Of course I do.
Alan: Meet me in an hour. Position A. Code 3XZ. I’ll…
Cheryl: Hello! Hello!! Hello!!!

Spies in the night
They go wherever you are
You’re in their sight
Watch out for spies in the night

If there’d ever be a contest with the songs that should have been a #1 hit, “Nothin’ You Can Do About It” would win hands down. This is the new quality pop that Foster and Graydon were showing to the world at the end of the seventies, unbelievable melodies with intricate rhythms and challenging chord changes, difficult and simple at the same time. This song was a very good vehicle for Man Tran’s acrobatic vocals and is one of the highlights of a milestone album, “Extensions”. The title exemplifies its goal: Janis Siegel, Alan Paul, Tim Hauser and Cheryl Bentyne wanted to stretch in different directions, jazz, pop, fusion, new wave, under the brilliant guidance of Jay Graydon.

This record is one of Graydon’s best works ever, check out the cover of Weather Report’s “Birdland” with lyrics by Jon Handricks, the accappella beauty of Tom Waits’ “Foreign Affair”, the new wave of “Coo Coo U”, the pop/funk of “Twilight Tone” or the latin rhythms of Spyro Gyra’s “The Shaker Song”. It’s great, great stuff, real music played and arranged by real world class musicians with the four singers blending wonderfully on top of the many different musical landscapes that Jay Graydon, David Foster and their partners provided them with.

“Nothin’ You Can Do About It” remains Foster’s own favorite song even today. You can find another extraordinary version of it on “Airplay” with the Seawind horns and Jerry Hey giving one of their best performances ever (you can listen to it on the “Foster Music Poll” page on this website). Another good cover was made, in 1982, by Leslie Smith on his very good “Heartache” album produced by Peter Bunetta and Rick Chudacoff.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/nothin.mp3|titles=Nothin’ You Can Do About It”|artists=Manhattan Transfer]

All Vocals: Alan Paul, Janis Siegel, Cheryl Bentyne & Tim Hauser
Piano & Synth: David Foster
Guitar & Synths: Jay Graydon
Drums: Ralph Humphrey
Bass: David Hungate
Synth Solo: Greg Mathieson
Synths: Ian Underwood
Arranged by David Foster & Jay Graydon
Produced by Jay Graydon

Lyrics

It has begun, there’s nothing in the world to stop it now
it’s in control, we might as well just try to stop the wind

So give up, give in, you lose
Love will always win, start surrendering
stop resisting

Nothin’ you can do about it, it’s too strong to be denied
nothin’ you can do about it, relax enjoy the ride

Destiny…we are He intented us to be
can’t you see we’re all a part of some eternal plain

So give up, give in, you lose
Love will always win, start surrendering
stop resisting

Nothin’ you can do about it, it’s too strong to be denied
nothin’ you can do about it, relax enjoy the ride

Don’t you try to understand it, leave it as a mystery
it’s bigger than the both of us, we’re each other’s history

Nothin’ you can do about it, it’s too strong to be denied
nothin’ you can do about it, relax enjoy the ride

Don’t you try to understand it, leave it as a mystery
it’s bigger than the both of us, we’re each other’s history