Search - Manfred Mann :: Manfred Mann Album / My Little Red Book of Winners

The intellectual rhythm & blues wing of the British Invasion

Lawrance M. Bernabo | The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota | 05/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD collects the first and third albums released by Manfred Mann in the United States on the Ascot level (the second, "The Five Faces of Manfred Mann," has the same title as their first U.K. album, but completely different tracks). Despite the fact that they road the wave of the British Invasion to the top of the pop charts in 1964 with their cover of "Do Wah Diddy Diddy," which was originally performed by a girl group, the Exciters. However, if you listen to their albums you discover Manfred Mann is not a pop group, there are a R&B group that happened to make pop hits. Actually, they also ventured into original jazz compositions (e.g., "What Are You Gonna Do?") on these albums as well, and even covers of Bob Dylan (e.g., "With God on Our Side"). The group consisted of Manfred Mann (keyboards, synthesizer, vocals) with his signature beard and spectacles, Mike Hugg (drums), Mike Vickers (guitar, saxophone, flute), Dave Richmond (bass, cello), and songwriter and lead vocalist Paul Jones (vocals, harmonica). Of these two albums "The Manfred Mann Album" is the better of the pair and one of the strongest albums of the initial British Invasion, presenting the smash hit "Do Wah Diddy Diddy," a solid original song in "Without You," and a fine cover of Ike & Tina Turner's "It's Gonna Work Out Fine." The big song off of the 1965 album "My Little Red Book of Winners" was the title song, written by Bacharach and David, which made it into the hit film "What's New Pussycat." Again, Jones has a nice original song with "The One in the Middle," and there is a solid cover with "Oh No, Not My Baby." The Beatles were cute, the Rolling Stones were dangerous, and Manfred Mann was staking out the intellectual field of rock 'n' roll. Of course, the Stones were into R&B as well, but without as much sophistication as Manfred Mann, mainly because the emphasis was more on keyboards than guitars. The band managed to stay true to its roots by only touring the United States oncein 1964 and continuing to record in Britain while establishing a large and faithful following in the Eastern Bloc by touring there instead. Manfred Mann is an all or nothing group, especially since their pop hits are atypical compared to the rest of the songs on most of their albums. A lot of people can survive with "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" on a hits collection, but if you like Manfred Mann then they are going to end up wanting to get all of their albums from their myriad instantiations in the 1960s and beyond. This would be the first CD chronologically and would be one of the very best you can find (the soundrack for "Up the Junction" would probably be the first choice). Note: the band went with the name Manfred Mann despite the wishes of the South African board keyboardist who was originally born Manfred Lubowitz."

Something's missing

Bob Jones | Tacoma, WA. USA | 09/17/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"These 2 LPs on one cd is quite a bargain really. The pop songs are poppy the blues are bluesy. A little filler here and there. Standouts; Bring It To Jerome and With God On Our Side. BUT!? Where is the Chapter Three record? Is it available on cd?"