THEN AND NOW

Then: May 1972, Roundhouse Theatre in Sydney, Australia. Manfred Mann's Earth Band had only released their eponymous debut album two months earlier, and when they had given their third ever gig in Australia a year prior (planned Australian tour with Deep Purple and Free was cut short due to a mysterious threat, ie. "I will kill Manfred Mann on Sunday" headline on a rock magazine, as the liner notes reveal), they still had used the name of Mann's previous band Chapter Three. So, the "Then" part of this DVD really shows MMEB at the beginning of their long career, and it undoubtedly has historical value. On guitar and vocals is Mick Rogers.

Subjectively speaking, the 55-minute gig, filmed black and white for the Australian TV, bored me as hell with its four- song cycle and very modest visual and audio quality. 'I'm Gonna Have You All' appeared later that year on their 2nd album Glorified Magnified. Mann's Moog intro aside, this is uninspiring blues rock I have no real interest in. 'Black and Blue' is IMHO equally boring blues rocker, originally by an Aussie band called Chain. 'Mighty Quinn' (written by Bob Dylan) was recorded by Manfred Mann in 1967 when he "used to be a pop star" as he introduces the song. This version rocks hard and contains an over-extended jam section. Although I personally am not so impressed by such things, this is clearly the audience-thrilling highlight of the short gig.

The band's TV interview during the same Australian tour gives me next to nothing as it's hard (because English is a foreign language to me) to hear what Mann mumbles, and the other members seem very shy. Then comes a bonus clip, 'One Way Glass' originating from Chapter Three's 1970 debut album, in which Manfred handles the vocals himself and is accompanied by a brass section. A rare archival view into that phase of MM's career.

The "Now" half of the DVD is an outdoor performance at the Burg Herzberg hippy festival in 2005. MMEB's setlist contains six pieces, although the starting Springsteen cover 'Dancing in the Dark' (combined with 'House of the Rising Sun') is just a brief clip. The essential Dylan cover 'Father of Night, Father of Day' from Solar Fire, 1973, is guitarist-vocalist Mick Rogers' spotlight number, and this jam-extended version bursts with live energy. The smash hit 'Blinded by the Light' (Springsteen cover) has a long and meditative instrumental prologue titled 'She Was', which is quite interesting in its keyboard/guitar interplay.

'Demolition Man' (originally by The Police) appeared on the MMEB album Somewhere in Afrika (1983) and works nicely here, as well as the 1978 hit 'Davy's on the Road Again'. The set is finished by a slow and bluesy version of 'Mighty Quinn' thus bringing an interesting contrast to the 1972 performance. The long instrumental intro -- and near the end the citing of 'Smoke on the Water' -- makes me think of the way Dire Straits broke the album-based format in the excellent Alchemy Live (1984). And finally, Manfred Mann interview from 2008, dealing with the Australian tour '72 etc. The 12-page booklet gives valid background information especially on the 1972 part; I only miss the 2005 live line-up information. Strongly recommended for a fan of MMEB, but the more casual listener can happily live without this DVD.