Digitally remastered from the original master tapes, this is a reissue of the hit English prog/ classic rock group's 1975 album featuring their smash remake of Bruce Springsteen's 'Spirits In The Night', plus the original ... more »cover art & two bonus tracks, 'Qu« less
Digitally remastered from the original master tapes, this is a reissue of the hit English prog/ classic rock group's 1975 album featuring their smash remake of Bruce Springsteen's 'Spirits In The Night', plus the original cover art & two bonus tracks, 'Qu
CD Reviews
The Earth Band's most dynamic album!
S. Mcausland | Lake Worth, FL USA | 09/29/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Recorded in 1975 by Manfred (synths and organ), Chris Slade (drums), Colin Pattenden (bass) and Mick Rogers (guitar and vocals). The music rises above the coarse driving rock of previous MMEB albums to a level where the Earth Band's immense talent for compositional brilliance and improvisational prowess trully shines forth. Manfred and Mick both let out all stops with their technical and dynamically sensetive virtuosity, as can be seen that this album, more than any other MMEB album, has long instrumental sections. Colin and Chris assert themselves as a powerful rythm section, navigating complex passages and odd time signatures with an artistic assuredness under Manfred's wild synthesizer ululations and Mick's tastefully ecclectic lead and rythm guitar. This album contains the full dramatically arranged Springsteen composition Spirits In The Night, complete with sound embellishments and string quartet. A song like the final track, As Above So Below, has no contemporary comparison - it grows mesmerizingly with relentless intensity, twisting and turning through your ears (picture the cover of Roaring Silence!) only to dissipate into the void with the bizarre coupling of RAF WWII bombers streaking over the beautiful song of the English Nightengale. A song like Fat Nelly is as unconventionable by pop standards as it is by experimental standards, a 3 minute operatic-tradgedy rock gem. The odd time signature blues riff of Time Is Right is as fascinating as it is impossible to tap a foot to, as the song mutates into ambient passages, Pink Floyd styled sound-scapes and heady jams. The crowning glory is the title track, a song written by Mick that begins with quiet guitar luminosity and swells into a dueling of firey pyrotechnics before subsiding back down. A beautiful, rich, progressive album. One that contains the maturity of a great instrumental band that can channel their talent into concise, uniquely arranged compositions. This album and Roaring Silence are the crowning glory of the MMEB. Roaring Silence has the impeccable production while Nightengales and Bombers has the musical chops. And even the obligatory Dylan cover tune, Quit Your Low Down Ways, is also done with verve. Mick's vocals are tasteful and pretty. BUY THIS CD!!! It may be hard to listen to at first, but it will grow on you till you can't stop listening...."
Manfred mann nightingales&bombers
James B Lee | 06/08/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Have listened to this once a month for 25 years. One of my very favorites.If you like The "MANN". This is the one of their best.I am looking forward to adding this to my CD collection."
Available on german import
STEVE CHRISTENSEN | CARSON CITY, NV United States | 09/24/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"i'm so thankful that amazon is able to obtain these gems for us listeners. the sound is excellent. my favorite tune on the cd, "Visionary Mountains" sounds better than ever, especially since i have'nt heard it in years. the synthesizer is awesome."
Excellent prog rock with great jams
Jeffrey J.Park | Massachusetts, USA | 08/26/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It amazes me that I waited so long to get into Manfred Mann and his Earth Band. This is great stuff that blends a broad range of styles in a nice proggy mix. This 1975 album shows the band continuing in the vein of albums such as Solar Fire (1973), and as such features a few adaptations of popular rock songs in addition to original material.
The lineup on this album is regarded by a lot of fans to be the best and I certainly do not disagree: Manfred Mann (Hammond organ, mellotron, and synthesizers); Mick Rogers (electric guitars, vocals); Colin Pattenden (Rickenbacker bass); and Chris Slade (drums and percussion). The whole band is very good and there is some very tight ensemble work with great playing by all members. As a bassist who happens to own a Rickenbacker 4003, I was especially pleased to hear its distinctive thick and trebly sound throughout the album. In fact, the overall sound of this album is very proggy and there are some great vocals by Mick Rogers.
The opening track of this album is a cover of Bruce Springsteen's Spirits in the Night. Unfortunately (for me), I am not much of a Springsteen fan so even the progged up version did little for me although it is not bad. The other cover is Joan Armatrading's Visionary Mountains. This piece on the other hand is excellent, with wonderfully spacey and moody textures. My favorite tracks however, include the incredible instrumental track Countdown, although Time is Right is great too and fuses a slightly hard rock introduction with a great prog jam (the instrumental Crossfade is another piece that features a blistering prog jam). I think it's worth noting that the Manfred Mann compositions are much stronger than the cover songs on this album. Compositionally, the band was right on the mark and the performances are extremely inspired (that goes for the gruesome and macabre Fat Nelly too - the music is an incredible blend of prog with some jazz rock and is another favorite). Fat Nelly actually features structural elements that would turn up on the track Blinded by the Light (yet another Springsteen cover) from the followup album The Roaring Silence. The title track is quite a band tour de force and is an excellent composition with great synth work from Manfred.
This remastered album is fantastic (especially given the fact that I only spent $2.50 on the CD) and features great sound quality, the lyrics, and informative liner notes. The bonus track Quit Your Low Down Ways is not bad but is not up to the high quality of the tracks on the original album. I have already mentioned my problems with the Springsteen song, so the single edit of Blinded by the Light did nothing for me.
Nightingales and Bombers is highly recommended along with Solar Fire."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1