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A New Year Yawn In Your Ear
Happy New Year to everyone, let's hope it is another good one. Christmas flew past again in a mist
of too much food, drink and goodwill. We had a great time I think, hope everyone out there did. Just before Christmas, Manfred and Chris did the big German TV show. No doubt loads of you saw
it. Sadly I haven't had the chance as yet! A special friend of ours did play me the 'Davy' solo over
the phone and as best as I could judge, through this less than ideal medium, it sounded absolutely fantastic. There were lots of good people on the
show, including another personnel favourite of my own, Ian Anderson. Manfred and Chris got an unexpected encore; I am told on good authority
that nobody else did! They did a short version of 'Quinn', but as far as I can make out no sign of the 'Do Wah Diddy' backing track. I look forward
to seeing this soon. Also over in Germany I missed a big radio interview by Manfred, even though I was given web sites and everything. It would
seem there is a lot of interest there at the moment probably because of the new album, '2006', which is proving to be very popular. Speaking of the new album, I would like now to shamelessly plug a few things that might be of interest.
Firstly and most importantly, let's look at '2006'. This seems to have gone down very well indeed with the vast majority of people I have spoken to.
This majority seemed to agree with my view that this is by far the most innovating and refreshing album; Manfred has done for a very long time.
For my money I would go as far as to say that this album stands alongside other classic Manfred offerings such as 'Plains Music', 'Solar Fire', 'Watch', 'Nightingales and Bombers' and my own personnel favourite, 'Somewhere in Afrika'.
MMEB have always been at their best live. Whilst it is not easy to point a finger at a bad album, many of the albums did not perhaps quite measure
up to the live experience. I will never forget my disappointment when I acquired my copy of the supposed live album, 'Budapest' to find no unedited
live versions of the 'Africa Suite' and one shortened moog solo! Don't misunderstand me, 'Budapest' is a great way of hearing some of Earth
Band's best live stuff, if you just want the hits, but not if you want the solos. John Lingwood told me that the reason for all the messing about was that it just wasn't that good.
I suppose it is in the end all a matter of taste, which album or which tour we like best. Quite rightly if you asked the same question to all the fans,
you would get many different answers. I do sometimes wonder however if musicians, (I am saddled with a couple at home here.) are the best
people to judge their own music. I am anything but a musician myself, although I would have loved to be one and I know what I like. All too often a
musician will play something that sounds so very good; only for me then to be told that it is in fact shit! You have no defence because they know what they are talking about and you don't!
This may come as another shock, but an incredibly small minority, dared to disagree with my opinion of 2006! (How dare they!) Even Manfred likes
it, which is high praise indeed. I was quite shocked that some of this tiny minority had not even got the album yet. What has happened to the days we banged on the record shop door the day of release boys?
Interestingly, I found that these were usually the same people, bored with the live thing. As you know I have some sympathy with the view that
there should be more changes live, however please don't let that put you off '2006'. The live show may be perhaps a little safe, (I honestly don't
know, because I haven't had chance to see one in almost a year and a lot can change.) If it is, the album 2006 most certainly isn't. This is a
classic Manfred Mann album. There is so much that is comfortingly familiar about this album. The style you will recognise from previous work;
there is however much that you won't. This could be another reason why it is not to everyone's taste of course.
What I used to look forward to after a new album was how the band would go about doing them live. This was often very different to the album
treatment. (I'm dreaming of the 'Africa Suite' again!) I wish they would do that now, so much of this album screams out to be played live. As I said
before, I haven't seen the band live for ages so maybe they are and nobody's bothered to tell me yet. Anyway I still can't stop playing 2006. It is a great album. Tell your friends about it.
A plug for old pal Barry, who was featured in the December issue of the magazine, Record Collector. The Earthman chose 'Solar Fire' as one of
the best albums ever and he should no. His own record collection runs to thousands. What Barry doesn't know about Rock Music probably isn't worth knowing.
A plug for one of my other favourite bands Colosseum who I understand are doing UK gigs in February and March., including London, Milton
Keynes and the North East, but of course not the North West, hell no. Why should us Merseysiders get any good music? The Manfred
connection, if you need one to catch such a great outfit, is the wonderful sax player from various albums including Plains Music and 2006, Barbara
Thompson. On a very sad note Barry Winton tells me that the legendary Colosseum sax player Dick Heckstall Smith has passed away. No
Manfred connection here, (could make one if you really wanted). Just someone who has and will continue to bring me and many others, a great deal of enjoyment.
A plug for Paul Jones and Dave Kelly, who are doing a two-man show and actually are coming to Merseyside. Thanks guys, at least somebody
remember the future City of Culture. They are playing at a nice little venue called Pacific Road in Birkenhead. They are the two front men from the
excellent Blues Band, so this should be a very good show. Paul is then back on tour with the Manfreds.
Noel has an album out and it is very good. Thanks to everyone but Noel for telling me this! With a voice like this man has, you can't really go wrong so this is another must for your CD collections.
Last but by no means least, a first plug for my own first novel called 'The Pirate of Heffen'. If you like ghost, hell demons and the battle of good
against evil not to mention a very sexy lady pirate, I am hoping you will like this. Should be out on Amazon sometime in late summer. I will try to keep you informed.
So what have we to look forward to in 2005? Well there are lots of gigs in Europe, although at the time of writing none in the U.K. Whatever your
private view is regarding the set, they are still one of the best live bands out there and I can't help but wonder just how much longer it will carry
on. Who knows things might start to happen with the Box Set. I have heard talk of another DVD, and then there is Manfred's other project still happening I understand.
The truth is if you had told me in 1964 when I bought my first Manfred Mann record that I would still be looking forward to knew and exciting things in 2005, I probably would not have believed you. Have a good year. Andy
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