WIRED

In my opinion Manfred Mann's Earth Band is only a Classic Rock band that plays songs with Prog arrangements. And this live album confirm that my perception. That is not more that an interesting collection of live versions recorded in Boston in 1977. It is strange but Manfred Mann's remain one of the more great keyboarders/ synthesisers players (Mini Moog) in primis, more than other, in Prog. With 2 Bob Dylan songs ("Father Of The Day, Father Of The Night" and "The Mighty Quinn"), 2 Bruce Springsteen songs ("Spirits In The Night" and "Blinded By The Light), another cover ("Days On The Road Again") and 3 original song this album is good for MMEB fans but for Progsters is not a good album. "The Mighty Quinn" is a 60's Manfred Mann hit that in this version have soli and virtuosism section that non please me. "Blinded By The Light" present the same complications... And this fact ruin the atmospheres of the song. Good is "Spirits In The Night", that sound good and "On The Road To Babylon", a great original MMEB song, not properly Prog but with Prog arrangements.

That "Wired" is not a great live is undoubted. That "Wired" is a good album for Prog in 1977 is undoubtful. More good for American audience (but MMEB have also great success in Europe) "Wired" is, at the same time, a good album for any discography, Prog or Classic Rock.