Manfred Mann's Earth Band in the 1970s: Decades

Keyboard player Manfred Mann formed a new quartet, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, in 1971 and focused on progressive rock. They built up a formidable live reputation throughout Europe and America, with a repertoire that included radical rearrangements of songs by Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, instrumental epics, and improvisations based around the interplay between Manfred's moog synthesiser and Mick Rogers' lead guitar. British success came with a cover version of Springsteen's Blinded by the Light and its parent album The Roaring Silence three years later.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 27 January 2023
Publisher: Sonicbond Publishing

In his diverse 1960s bands, which transitioned from jazz, blues, and R&B to pure pop, keyboardist Manfred Mann made a significant shift in 1971 by forming a new quartet called Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The primary goal of this ensemble was to delve into progressive rock, marking a departure from his previous musical endeavors. Their repertoire consisted of radical reinterpretations of songs by Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, expansive instrumental pieces inspired by Gustav Holst's The Planets suite, and improvisations driven by the interplay between Mann's newly acquired moog synthesizer and the lead guitar of Mick Rogers, who left in 1975 but later returned.

Despite their early success in Europe (particularly in Germany) and America, British recognition took time to materialize. However, their fortunes took a remarkable turn with the release of a cover version of Springsteen's Blinded by the Light and its parent album, The Roaring Silence, three years later. This breakthrough propelled them to new heights of popularity on both sides of the Atlantic, solidifying their status as a prominent force in the music industry.

This book delves into the nine albums, varying fortunes, and numerous line-up changes that characterized Manfred Mann's most productive decade. It explores the evolution of their sound, the influence of different musical styles, and the impact of their creative endeavors on the world of rock music. By examining the albums released during this period, the book provides a comprehensive account of Manfred Mann's journey from jazz to progressive rock and their enduring legacy in the music industry.

Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789522433