Classic Rock Bottom

VOTW - MANFRED MAN Special


I don't own one album by Manfred Man, but I have heard those songs on the radio countless of times, and those songs are GREAT. Manfred Mann (born Manfred Sepse Lubowitz, 21 October 1940 in Johannesburg, Transvaal, Union of South Africa) is a keyboard player best known as a founding member and namesake of Manfred Mann, Manfred Mann Chapter Three and Manfred Mann's Earth Band. Since, MMEB is my favorite "of the bands", here's a little history: Mann started in the 1960s with the self-titled British invasion band that had such hits as "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "The Mighty Quinn" and then moved on to jazz fusion-inspired Manfred Mann Chapter Three before forming the Earth Band in 1971. In his 2003 biography, Klaus Voormann, former member of original Manfred Mann group and Beatles-associate, is alleged to have inspired the Earth Band's name by having suggested several times throughout the 1960s that Mann's soft pop style of those days had to become "earthier" and rockier, not least of all because of the seemingly effeminate image of Mann's earlier band which had led to a number of close encounters with violence, particularly in Ireland.

The original line-up consisted of Mick Rogers (guitar and vocals), Manfred Mann (organ, synthesizer and vocals), Colin Pattenden (bass guitar) and Chris Slade (drums and vocals). In its very earliest stages, the band was simply billed as "Manfred Mann" and thus a continuation of the 1960s group. The quartet released their first single, "Please Mrs. Henry", in 1971. Their second single, Randy Newman's "Living Without You," was also released by "Manfred Mann" in Europe, but by "Manfred Mann's Earth Band" in the USA, where the track became a minor chart hit. On two non-charting single releases in the UK in 1972/73, the group was billed simply as "Earth Band", but otherwise, from 1972 forward "Manfred Mann's Earth Band" was the band name used on all releases. The membership of the Earth Band was stable between 1971 and 1976, during which time they released their first six albums.

MIGHTY QUINN


"Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)" is a folk-rock song written by Bob Dylan and first recorded during The Basement Tapes sessions in 1967. The song was first released in January 1968 as "Mighty Quinn" by the British band Manfred Mann and became a great success. It has been recorded by a number of performers, often under the "Mighty Quinn" title.

The subject of the song is the arrival of the mighty Quinn (an Eskimo), who changes despair into joy and chaos into rest, and attracts attention from the animals. Dylan is widely believed to have derived the title character from actor Anthony Quinn's role as an Eskimo in the 1960 movie The Savage Innocents. Dylan has also been quoted as saying that the song was nothing more than a "simple nursery rhyme." A 2004 Chicago Tribune article also claimed that the song was named after Gordon Quinn, co-founder of Kartemquin Films, who had given Dylan and Howard Alk uncredited editing assistance on Eat the Document

BLINDED BY THE LIGHT



"Blinded by the Light" is a song written and originally recorded by Bruce Springsteen, although it is mostly known by its 1977 #1 hit version recorded by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. Mann's remake was released in the United Kingdom in August 1976, where it reached No. 6 in the BMRB charts. Manfred Mann's Earth Band's recording of the song features several changed lyrics. The most prominent change is in the chorus, where Springsteen's "cut loose like a deuce" is replaced with "revved up like a deuce." This is commonly misheard as "wrapped up like a douche" (the V sound in "revved" is almost unpronounced, and the S sound in "deuce" comes across as "SH" due to a significant lisp)." Springsteen himself has joked about the controversy, claiming that it was not until Manfred Mann rewrote the song to be about a feminine hygiene product that it became popular.


DAVY'S ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Not much information about this one, except that it's form Watch which is a studio album with several live tracks released in 1978 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

DON'T KILL IT CAROL



Angel Station is an album released in 1979 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. Angel Station features a six-note descending theme in most of the songs on the album, woven into the context of each song in a different way. "Hollywood Town" and "You Are, I Am" share a common tune and basic arrangement. They occupied almost identical positions on either side of the LP. The album has the air of an emotional and musical crossword puzzle, or has affinities with the work of M. C. Escher, whose art is alluded to on the cover illustration.

Of interest is the involvement of Fingerprintz's Jimmy O'Neill whose influence can be heard in the edgy, angular instrumental "Platform's End" (a song whose title was probably influenced by the fact that it originally closed the 1978 vinyl's A side), and ex-Slapp Happy and Henry Cow member Anthony Moore who produced the album and influenced its modern, sparse sound.

"This is Chris Thompson's last album with the Earth Band as he is forming his own band in the near future. I wish to thank him for a valuable creative and personal relationship, and wish him every success in the future." - Manfred Mann 1979 In spite of this announcement, Thompson's own outfit Night turned out as unsuccessful, releasing two mostly overlooked albums in 1978 and 1979 respectively, so the singer stayed with the Earth Band instead, returning on the group's next album Chance (1980) already. Both "Don't Kill It Carol" and "You Angle You" are form the album, and I remember seeing this album in the window of my local vinyl-shop back in the very start of 1979, and I very nearly bought it together with "No Mean City" by Nazareth, the very first "non-KISS"-album, I ever bought.


YOU ANGEL YOU

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Interesting choice this week (and a surprising one):

1. Quinn - Cool song.  Just a fun song.  Standard performance video.  Had no idea Dylan wrote it.  This is definitely an educational site.

2. Blinded - I did know that Springsteen wrote this song, which probably makes you, Jon and Scott hate it (and by hate it I mean that you never give The Boss the credit he truly deserves, but that's neither here nor there).  I like this live version.  Definitely seems like a difficult song to perform, but they kill it here.  And that is a smokin' guitar solo.

3. Davy - Never heard this one.  Not bad.  The weakest track so far, but it's not bad at all.  I think I like Manfred Mann's Earth Band.  Standard lip synced performance video.

4. Carol - Killer song.  And killer intro work by whoever that wookie is.  The album sounds interesting.  Once again, simple performance video.  

5. Angel - Wow, another good pop song.  It's catchy.  And it's another new song to me.  That wookie is killin' me.  Looks almost like a home made video.  

I have been wanting to investigate this band.  Mike Pell has played some songs on his show that I've liked, and I like what you have picked here.  I may start with the Angel Station album.  I do think you missed one really killer song by the band:

Here's my ranking for these five tracks you picked:

1. Carol

2. Blinded

3. Quinn

4. Angel

5. Davy

Great job this week Niels.

Thank you.

I'm surprised, that you haven't heard Angel (and Davy). I've known those songs for 35 years or so.

Yeah, I noticed, that Mike had done a Man-show. I didn't catch it back then, so I hoped, some of the songs were new to either you and/or Scott.

I've also been meaning to check out the band more (Earth Band).

I don't think, I've heard "Runner" before. It seems to me, like it's an 80's-song, with the 80's production and all. I've just checked, and it's from 1984. It doesn't appeal to me, as much as the songs, I've posted.

If I should put up a top 6 now, it would be:

1. Angel

2. Blinded

3. Carol

4. Davy

5. Quinn

6. Runner

and by the way: I don't hate Springsteen. He's just waaaayyyy overrated. 

"Wookie" :-))

I liked this post...  Listened to these in bits and pieces but I was more familiar with these than I thought I would be...

Ive heard The Mighty Quinn a ton especially in my youth, but had no idea it was Manfred Mann, and while its a cool song I'm only familiar because of radio and not because anyone I know played it.  Really its the same story for Blinded By The Light, and while I do love this one most of all that's posted (even if Bruce wrote it) it never sparked any curiosity to dig deeper.  As a side note, I am not Bruce fan, I think his appeal and popularity are one of those unknown phenomenon's, kinda like a UFO.  Maybe its a question I have to ask God when I die...  However, a good band can rework a catchy chorus and make it their own.  That's what I'd like to think happened here... 

Davys on the Road Again has a familiarity to it, but I can't figure out why or where...  or maybe it sounds similar to another tune...  I do like these three though they are not as interesting as I had hoped.  Great beats, cool bass lines and nice geetar work.  I even dig this guys voice, its a good rock voice, but somethings missing that makes me want to hear more of them.

I will say that Runner tune did hit Top 40 radio for some time and I do remember it as well, that tune I like!

Very interesting post!

Didn't these guys re-do Do Wa Diddy as well?

Sure did.  And every time I hear it I think of the movie Stripes.

 Another good remake of a Springsteen tune was "Spirits In The Night" From the Nightengales & Bombers album. First Is the MM version, then the original:

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