Search - Manfred Mann :: Wired: Live

Could have picked stronger nights from the tour

WaltSnipe | Austin, Tx United States | 11/13/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"As the brief liner notes state, this is a worthy archive document from a band at the height of its popularity. Still, it is evident from this recording that there could have been a better live document assembled from the tour. I realize this is a radio broadcast, and may be the only recordings they have, but this set comes across as one of those "well, at least we got through it" gigs......Chris Thompson is not "on" at all, with multiple blown vocal cues, missed phrasings, and a tired-sounding voice. There are little screw-ups at various points of the proceedings, but there are also some really nice jams. This band was always known for their tight arrangements, but some of the marks are blown by various players on this night. One can guess from the quality of the overall playing, though, that a better live disc could have been assembled by using various nights from the tour. Also, the remastering does not seem to have done a whole lot for the overall sound quality."

Rare example of a stellar band in concert.

Metaljim | Kansas USA | 03/27/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Forget the naysayers who complain about the recording quality or a mistake or two by the musicians here. This is an energetic,superb and sadly,rare example of Manfred Mann's Earth Band in concert in the 1970's. There are numerous bootlegs floating around out there that may indeed show the band on better nights, but this is the only show that is available officially. The interplay between the musicians is excellent and the energy is almost visible through the speakers for this show. MMEB were (and still are) a severely underrated and overlooked band. Radio shows like this should have broken them to a much bigger audience, by displaying their extraordinary musical chops far exceeded the public's perception that they "just covered other people's songs". Buy this if you're interested in a real band, who can play their instruments and improvise in a live setting. You won't be disappointed."

Lead Singers should be awake during concerts!

Jason Meyer | Blacksburg, VA | 10/30/2003

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Opinions: I was rather amazed to hear this live set of Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The jams feel uninspired. The instruments tend to just disappear into darkness. The vocal stylings are struggling to sound enthusiastic. Even the audience sounds like they left the arena after the announcement, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Manfred Mann's Earth Band." The reason why I bought this was because I thought a band that could create that inventful instrumentation in the middle of their cover, Blinded by the Light, could be a band that may have some good live stuff.I was wrong.I think everyone was wrong here.I have listened to this CD possibly three times in order to give it a decent chance at survival. It's not good.Buy something else with your money."