Criminal Tango (UK Review 1986)

After fifteen years and the release of twelve albums, 1986 sees Manfred Mann's Earth Band signing up with 10 Records - and releasing their thirteenth album. Called Criminal Tango, the album is the culmination of a years studio work at The Workhouse Studio in South London with the new Mitsubishi digital system.

Although older fans will remember Manfred Mann as the leader of a band in the sixties which nurtured the careers of Paul Jones and Mike D'Abo and which spawned hits such as "Ha Ha Said the Clown", "5,4,3,2,1" and "Mighty Quinn", Manfred has seen far more success with the Earth Band throughout the Seventies and into the Eighties using his ability to successfully interpret and enhance cover versions. His greatest worldwide hit was a version of Bruce Springsteen's "Blinded By The Light".

"Criminal Tango" (taken from the title of an animated cartoon) contains 9 tracks, including an eerie rendition of Joni Mitchell's "Banquet", Lennon and McCartney's "Bulldog" and Paul Weller's "Going Underground". Manfred is joined by Chris Thompson another outstanding vocalist, on this recording, who sang on the Springsteen song, mentioned earlier.

In fact Mann has given Thompson double billing on the cover of the CD - and he rightly deserves it. Thompson has one of those instantly recognisable voices, gravelly but also very subtle, and with Criminal Tango it's been put to the right use.

Using the Mitsubishi tape system has given this collection of nine tracks a very clean sound, with plenty of room for Mann's keyboard experiments to filter over and across the other instruments.

Although Manfred Mann has fallen out of favour with the chart makers these days he's still managing to interest enough fans and followers - enough to get another recording deal together following the demise of Bronze Records.

And with each new musical project he turns another corner revealing a different talent and ability.

But with every conceivable piece of keyboard equipment at his disposal you could expect him to disappear into a sea of sounds. Not so; he uses them more as a subtle overlay and addition to Thompson's superb vocals and the rest of the bands adept musicianship.

This is the first Manfred Mann CD to become available, but let's hope that some of the classics like "Nightingales and Bombers" and "Angel Station" are also released. But for the moment, Criminal Tango is certainly a very enjoyable disc to listen to.

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