Manfred Mann's EarthBand –  Budapest Reviews

Three reviews of Budapest from the archives below, perhaps it wasn't as disappointing as some thought at the time.

If you, like me, have held visions of Manfred Mann looking and no doubt sounding like a cabaret act minching from club to club in three-piece sequinned suits and frilly silk shirts, you'll probably be in for a severe shock.
"Budapest" represents an image far removed from any Sixties nostalgia trip that the likes of the Nashville Teens and Freddie and The Dreamers have sickly fallen into.  It displays the complete opposite, a band brimming over with talent and raving dynamics that would give anyone from The Clash to The Alarm a run for their money. 
Recorded in front of a staggering 30,000 fans in Hungary (Budapest to be more precise) this album is a near perfect testimony to the timeless quality of some of Manfred Mann's best ever material.  And I suspect there's still more to come.
Not that it's note for note regurgitation; far from it.  Each song has been remarkably embellished with some incredibly updated musicianship.
Of the more familiar material on offer, "Blinded BY The Light" must surely rank as the "numero uno" conte4nder for the cream of the crop status.  It's a fantastic rendition bolstered immeasurably by the previously mentioned musical update.  "Davy's On The Road Again" runs a close second (yep, even ol' Manfred Mann can rock with the Van Halens of this world), a pumping rocker ligfted to near perfection by the incredibly clean production.  Crisper than a wad of brand new oncers.
Derek Oliver.

Mann Delivers – Budapest Live (The News – Australia April 1984)

Budapest Live (Bronze) by Manfred Mann's Earth Band, sub titled The Best Of Manfred Mann's Earth band Live, this is the result of a performance last year before 30,000 Budapest fans.
Sound quality is impressive for a live album, particularly the vocal work which comes through clear and strong.
Most important though is the band's ability to deliver on stage in tight, bright fashion – a talent that only comes with hard work and considerable thought.
The eight tracks include the real biggies along with lesser-known but deserving MMEB numbers.
Davy's On The Road Again rolls along at a sparkling pace, Mighty Quinn gets a heavy edge that gives it a different but not unattractive sound, and Blinded By The Light sounds OK but has been done better.
All up though, Budapest live is a consistent live effort that should find favour with the fans.

Live Budapest (Advertiser Newspaper – Australia April 1984)

Recorded in Hungary's caital during a sell-out European tour, this is a useful 'best of' collection.
It includes the powerful Mann versions of Springsteen's Spirits In The Night, Sting's Demolition Man, plus his own hit renditions of Dylan's Mighty Quinn, Davy's On The Road Again, Lies and Blinded BY The Light.
That means the sound is cohesive, which is not always the case in compilations which can span a decade of an artist's very varied work.
None of Mann's recent tendencies to experiment are given scope here: this is a crowd-pleaser wuith howling guitars and hot organ flushes most of the way.
One of the peaks is Chris Thompson's reading of the late Bob Marley's Redemption Song, backed mainly by a stark acoustic guitar.
As Arthur, from Minder would say, quality, my boy always shows.
Robbie Brechin.

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