Jazzis Web Shop News 11/2007

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ALBUM

Today’s addition is slightly atypical for me, but a great trip down the memory lane and a superb document of a fascinating era:

Manfred Mann - “Down The Road Apiece: Their EMI Recordings 1963-1965”

This wonderful box set compiles all the recordings Manfred Mann made for the EMI label, documenting the first chapter of their illustrious career. The music covers everything from the first demo session they did as a group till the very last recordings done before the first lineup folded with the departure of their lead singer Paul Jones. The group would then continue with a new lead singer (Mike d`Abo) and a new label (Fontana), but that is another story. What is fascinating about this box set is the fact that is shows not only the historical development of one of the most important UK groups, but in fact the entire history of the early to mid 1960s UK music scene. It clearly shows the main influences that went into the incredible music of the Golden Era – Jazz, Blues, Rhythm & Blues and Rock & Roll. Most of the tracks include the stable lineup of the group, which includes the founding members Manfred Mann (piano and organ), Mike Hugg (drums and vibraphone), Mike Vickers (guitar, saxophone and flute), Tom McGuinness (bass) and Paul Jones (harmonica and vocals). Mann, Hugg and Vickers came from a solid jazz background, which is very evident throughout all their music and would eventually lead to the switch to Jazz-Rock Fusion in the late 1960s (Chapter Tree). The other members, especially Jones, had a solid Blues background. The result was a unique blend of Blues-Rock, which rather then featuring guitar as the lead instrument (as did most of the groups at the time) had the sax / flute / piano up-front. Jones was of course one of the most potent singers of the era, a serious competitor even to Mick Jagger. This was also the reason why the group recorded so many instrumental tracks, which were as important in their repertoire as the songs. Although the group managed to score quite a few major hits on the charts, it seems that they never made music, which was particularly ‘likeable” on purpose and their success was manly due to their talents rather than pursuit of popularity. There is so much great music on these CDs that I hardly feel a need to convince anybody to get them. This is a first class document of the music scene at the most interesting formative period and listening to it is not only a most pleasurable experience but also a fascinating course in music history. A must!

https://www.jazzis.com/shop/default.asp?item=102380

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Jazzis Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: January 28 2006 Location: Israel Status: Offline Points: 650	Posted: November 27 2007 at 05:26
	ALBUM Today’s addition is slightly atypical for me, but a great trip down the memory lane and a superb document of a fascinating era: Manfred Mann - “Down The Road Apiece: Their EMI Recordings 1963-1965” This wonderful box set compiles all the recordings Manfred Mann made for the EMI label, documenting the first chapter of their illustrious career. The music covers everything from the first demo session they did as a group till the very last recordings done before the first lineup folded with the departure of their lead singer Paul Jones. The group would then continue with a new lead singer (Mike d`Abo) and a new label (Fontana), but that is another story. What is fascinating about this box set is the fact that is shows not only the historical development of one of the most important UK groups, but in fact the entire history of the early to mid 1960s UK music scene. It clearly shows the main influences that went into the incredible music of the Golden Era – Jazz, Blues, Rhythm & Blues and Rock & Roll. Most of the tracks include the stable lineup of the group, which includes the founding members Manfred Mann (piano and organ), Mike Hugg (drums and vibraphone), Mike Vickers (guitar, saxophone and flute), Tom McGuinness (bass) and Paul Jones (harmonica and vocals). Mann, Hugg and Vickers came from a solid jazz background, which is very evident throughout all their music and would eventually lead to the switch to Jazz-Rock Fusion in the late 1960s (Chapter Tree). The other members, especially Jones, had a solid Blues background. The result was a unique blend of Blues-Rock, which rather then featuring guitar as the lead instrument (as did most of the groups at the time) had the sax / flute / piano up-front. Jones was of course one of the most potent singers of the era, a serious competitor even to Mick Jagger. This was also the reason why the group recorded so many instrumental tracks, which were as important in their repertoire as the songs. Although the group managed to score quite a few major hits on the charts, it seems that they never made music, which was particularly ‘likeable” on purpose and their success was manly due to their talents rather than pursuit of popularity. There is so much great music on these CDs that I hardly feel a need to convince anybody to get them. This is a first class document of the music scene at the most interesting formative period and listening to it is not only a most pleasurable experience but also a fascinating course in music history. A must! https://www.jazzis.com/shop/default.asp?item=102380 JAZZIS WEB SHOP Normal activity. HAVE FUN!
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