Virtuoso keyboardist Manfred Mann has had a long career, from the earliest days playing jazz in his home town of Johannesburg to his formative years as the driving force behind the early 60s British blues-rock combo that bore his name. The group went through many lineup changes, but this EMI collection focuses on the years 1963-1966, when singer/harmonica player Paul Jones fronted the band.
This was the period when most of the bands hits were made, though their hearts lay less in poppy crossover numbers like 5-4-3-2-1, Do Wah Diddy Diddy and Pretty Flamingo as in the blues-based workouts collected here.
CD1 is stuffed with cover of blues standards like Smokestack Lightning, I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man and I've Got My Mojo Working and CDs 2 and 3 get a little more left-of-centre, trying all sorts of eccentric material including Tennessee Waltz and Dashing Away With The Smoothing Iron. Many tracks memorably showcase the voice of Paul Jones - yes, the same Paul Jones who later became an actor and who now presents the R&B show on BBC Radio 2. Although he never had the raw edge of Steve Marriott or Rod Stewart in their time, he's nevertheless an effective blues shouter with a clear, ringing tone.
CD4 is for real completists, including some mildly insane big band jazz instrumental versions of 60s benchmark singles like Sonny and Cher's I Got You Babe, The Who's My Generation and the Stones' Satisfaction. There's also the band's first commercial test session for EMI and a scratchy early interview.
Manfred Mann was later to have more hits with the eco-friendly Earth Band in the 70s, and is now back with both Paul Jones and later vocalist Mike d'Abo in the reunited Manfreds, which also features original drummer Mike Hugg and guitarist Tom McGuinness.
This timely retrospective is really more of a treat for blues completists than a greatest hits collection, but its first two discs in particular have much to offer anyone curious about the rootsy influences behind everyone from Led Zeppelin to the White Stripes.
first published at subba-cultcha.com