In Brief

* * * The Manhattan Transfer, “Tonin,” Atlantic. Many stars have done albums of others’ songs in the past year, but this one wipes them all out. The vocal quartet’s versions of such oldies as “Dream Lover,” “I Second That Emotion” and “Let’s Hang On” enhance the originals--with the help of an impressive array guest stars, including Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Frankie Valli and Smokey Robinson.

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).