"Original Album Series" by MANFRED MANN and PAUL JONES – Four Band Albums and One Solo Studio Album Issued 1964 to 1967 in Mono and Stereo (Mostly Stereo Used For CDs) - Featuring Manfred Mann, Paul Jones, Mike Vickers, Tom McGuinness and Mike Hugg (August 2014 EU-UK Parlophone/Warner Brothers 5CD Capacity Wallet With Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves with Mostly Stereo and Some Mono Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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This Review And Many More Like It 

Available In my Kindle e-Book (June 2022 Version)

 

LOOKING AFTER NO. 1 

Volume 2 of 2 - M to Z...

 

Your All-Genres Guide To

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 
For Music from 1956 to 1986

Over 1,760 E-Pages of In-Depth Information
240 Reviews From The Discs Themselves

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"...Pretty Flamingo..."

 

There's a lot of really great Sixties British Rhythm and Blues on offer here and much of it remastered in Stereo too. And you can sequence both variants of their fantastic 1964 debut album - "The Five Faces Of..." (UK) and "The Manfred Mann Album" (USA) - by using two of the discs in this 5CD set of Remasters. Unfortunately, there are clunkers too. To the Pretty (and not so pretty) Flamingos...

 

UK/EU released August 2014 - "Original Album Series" by MANFRED MANN and PAUL JONES on Parlophone/Warner Brothers 2564628529 (Barcode 825646285297) is a 5CD Card Capacity Wallet of Stereo and Mono Remasters in Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves for Albums released between 1964 and 1967. It plays out as follows...

 

CD1 "The Five Faces Of Manfred Mann" (39:18 minutes):

1. Smokestack Lightning [Side 1]

2. Don't Ask Me What I Say

3. Sack O'Woe

4. What You Gonna Do?

5. Hoochie Coochie

6. I'm Your Kingpin

7. Down The Road Apiece

8. I've Got My Mojo Working [Side 2]

9. It's Gonna Work Out Fine

10. Untie Me

11. Mr. Anello

12. Bring It To Jerome

13. Without You

14. You've Got To Take It

Tracks 1 to 14 are their British debut album "The Five Faces Of Manfred Mann" – released 11 September 1964 in the UK on His Masters Voice CLP 1731 (Mono) and CSD 1539 (Stereo). The STEREO MIX Remaster is used.

 

In the USA, their debut LP was called "The Manfred Mann Album" and issued 17 September 1964 (a week after the UK) on Ascot AM 13015 in Mono and ALS 16015 in Stereo. It had different artwork, 12 songs instead of 14 and included the big hit "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" opening Side 1, which was not on the British LP. Using both CD1 and one song from CD3 "Mann Made Hits", you can sequence the "The Manfred Mann Album" 12-song variant by using the following [3/7] = CD3, Track 7, [1/2] = CD1, Track 2 etc

 

Side 1:

1. Do Wah Diddy Diddy [3/7]

2. Don't Ask Me What I Say [1/2]

3. Sack O'Woe [1/3]

4. What You Gonna Do? [1/4]

5. I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man [1/5]

6. Smokestack Lightning [1/1]

Side 2:

1. Got My Mojo Working [1/8]

2. It's Gonna Work Out Fine [1/9]

3. Down The Road Apiece [1/7]

4. Untie Me [1/11]

5. Bring It To Jerome [1/12]

6. Without You [1/13]

 

NOTE: In March 1965, the USA finally saw an LP released called "The Five Faces Of Manfred Mann" on Ascot ALM 13018 (Mono) and Ascot ALS 16018 (Stereo) with unique US artwork – but this is not to be confused with the British debut of the same name. Only two songs from the British 1964 LP remained – "Did You Have To Do That" and "You've Got To Take It" – four others were from the "Mann Made Hits" LP – "Sha-La-La", "Come Tomorrow", "John Hardy" and "Groovin'" – whilst the other six tracks were new and are not covered by any disc in this box set.

 

CD2 "Mann Made" (39:59 minutes):

1. Since I Don't Have You [Side 1]

2. You're For Me 

3. Look Away 

4. The Abominable Snowmann

5. Watch Your Step 

6. Stormy Monday Blues 

7. I Really Do Believe

8. Hi Lili, Hi Lo [Side 2]

9. The Way You Do The Things You Do 

10. Bare Hugg 

11. You Don't Know Me

12. L.S.D. 

13. I'll Make It Up To You 

Tracks 1 to 13 are second studio album "Mann Made" – released October 1965 in the UK on HMV Records CLP 1911 (Mono) and CSD 1628 (Stereo) – Ascot ALM 13024 (Mono) and ALS 16204 (Stereo) in the USA with the same tracks - the STEREO MIX is used for this CD.

 

CD3 "Mann Made Hits" (38:09 minutes):

1. Pretty Flamingo [Side 1]

2. The One In The Middle 

3. Oh No, Not My Baby 

4. John Hardy 

5. Spirit Feel 

6. Come Tomorrow 

7. Do Wah Diddy Diddy 

8. There's No Living Without Your Loving [Side 2]

9. With God On Our Side 

10. Groovin' 

11. I'm Your Kingpin 

12. Sha La La 

13. 5,4,3,2, 1 

14. If You Gotta Go, Go Now

Tracks 1 to 14 are their first compilation album "Mann Made Hits" (credited to Manfred Mann and Paul Jones) – released September 1966 in the UK on HMV Records CLP 3559 (Mono) and CSD 1539 (Stereo) – no US equivalent - a mixture of both MONO and STEREO MIXES are used for this CD.

 

CD4 "Soul Of Mann (Instrumentals)" (39:02 minutes):

1. The Abominable Snowmann [Side 1]

2. I Got You Babe 

3. Bare Hugg 

4. Spirit Feel 

5. Why Should We Not 

6. L.S.D. 

7. (I Can't get No) Satisfaction 

8. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemenn [Side 2]

9. My Generation 

10. Mr. Anello 

11. Still I'm Sad 

12. Tengo, Tango

13. Brother Jack 

14. Sack O'Woe

Tracks 1 to 14 are their fifth compilation album "Soul Of Mann" (all Instrumentals) – released January 1967 in the UK on HMV Records CLP 3594 (Mono) and CSD 3594 (Stereo) – the MONO MIX is used for this CD

 

CD5 "My Way" (33:45 minutes):

1. My Way [Side 1]

2. Lady Godiva

3. It Is Coming Closer

4. I Can't Hold On Much Longer

5. Baby Tomorrow

6. You've Got Too Much Going For You, Girl

7. Very, Very Funny [Side 2]

8. High Time

9. She Needs Company

10. When My Little Girl Is Smiling

11. Wait 'Til Morning Comes

12. I Can't Break The News To Myself

Tracks 1 to 12 are the PAUL JONES debut solo album "My Way" – released December 1966 in the UK on HMV Records CLP 3586 (Mono) and CSD 3586 (Stereo) – no US version - the STEREO MIX is used for this CD.

These capacity wallets all look the same - in this case five Mini LP card sleeves approximating the original artwork of the British LPs - four in STEREO with "Soul Of Mann" being the odd-one-out for being in MONO. There is no annotation but they are very clear Remasters stretching back to 1997 when they were done at Abbey Road. But fans of the band will quickly work out that this run is not their very best - the Paul Jones' dreadful saccarhine "My Way" LP in particular letting proceedings down a lot. To the music...

 

In British or American form, the Mann's debut LP "The Five Faces Of Manfred Mann" is a wee corker of a 60ts album that stamps their R&B credentials firmly on your lugholes. You can feel their young enthusiasm and even awe as they hammer through Howlin' Wolf's "Smokestack Lightning" (Jones trying to ape that famous growl). The Willie Dixon-penned Muddy Waters Chess Blues masterpiece "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" (here shortened to "Hoochie Coochie" but given the full spelling on the American Ascot Records copies) gets a go-around as does Morgan McKinleyfield's "I've Got My Mojo Working" over on Side 2 - a frantic-paced dancer liable to wake up any wake. We should also state that the second "Smokestack Lightning" comes sailing out of your speakers in GLORIOUS STEREO - the Audio is fantastic - muscular and amplifying the musical chops of these rivals to the authenticity of The Rolling Stones. 

They tackle Nat Adderley's "Sack O'Woe" instrumental with aplomb - kick-ass Saxophone, Harmonica, Piano and Vibes doing battle against a ferocious rhythm section back-beat. Train-kept-a-rollin' boogie comes piano dancing into your man-cave for "Down The Road Apiece" - a rib-removing hipshaker originally penned by Don Raye. For the first time on the LP, the Manfred's get mellow over on Side 2 with their take on Ike & Tina Turner's "It's Gonna Work Out Fine". They also do a shockingly Soulful take on Joe South's "Untie Me" - gorgeous Stereo again. But genius choice has to be "Bring It To Jerome" - a Bo Diddley cover that first appeared on his 1958 "Bo Diddley" debut LP on Chess Records. Written by American Percussionist Jerome Green, he would have a long and fruitful songwriting relationship with the Bo Diddley Daddy himself - Elias McDaniel. 

 

Not to be totally outdone by American Blues and Rhythm 'n' Blues giants -  Paul Jones throws in some super cool boppin' R&B with his hand-clapping whistle-blowing dancer "Don't Ask Me What I Say" - a track I suspect fills Mann lovers with aging pride. Great menace too in "What You Gonna Do?" - a co-write for Paul Jones with Manfred Mann and again that lethal combo of his Harmonica with that so-60ts organ sound. Tail-ending a perfect 60ts R&B Side 1 is "I'm Your Kingpin" - another Jones-Mann co-write with gorgeous Stereo - Vibes plinging, Saxophone wailing, Jones great phrasing and vocals. 

 

All five are listed as writers in the let's-have-a-party "Mr. Anello" - a great instrumental that was left off their American Debut LP "The Manfred Mann Album". And although it might court controversy among Jethro Tull fans, but that Flute Solo in the Paul Jones-penned "Without You" could easily be the starting point for their whole sound - a precursor to "This Was" in 1968 only four years earlier? And how you wish a rocking track like "You've Got To Take It" (shades of Prog even in its soundscape) was on his reaching-for-Tom-Jones "My Way" album of 1966. 

 

To sum up "The Five Faces Of Manfred Mann" is a fantastic debut album for 1964, but for me what lifts it into the sexy sonic stratosphere is the STEREO MIX that's on offer here. 

 

Their second album "Mann Made" had been a year on from the debut (September 1964 to October 1965) and as Tom McGuinness prodded on the rear-sleeve liner notes "...we hope we've progressed..." Well, their rather sappy cover of The Skyliners' "Since I Don't Have You" sounds like a step back to be truthful from the sheer R&B joy of "The Five Faces..." debut album. Better is the jazzy-saxophone Georgie Fame mod anthem feel to "You For Me" - a Mike Vickers original. Under the umbrella of twin pseudonyms - Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns penned "Look Away" - another neither-here-nor-there Pop tune that somehow feels dangerously in-between progress and regression. 

 

Things improve with the Ray Charles slink of "The Abominable Snowmann" - another Mick Vickers original instrumental with a deliberately two-nn'd snowman in its title. Speaking of Ray Charles, his "What I'd Say" haunts the funky keyboard driven "Watch Your Step" - the Manfred's covering Little Bobby Parker's from 1961 (originally on V-Tone Records 223). Very cool Bluesy take then on Billy Eckstine's fabulous "Stormy Monday Blues" - Jones giving it some "I'm gonna pray a little..." before he goes into a great Harmonica solo. They end Side 1 on Jones' own "I Really Do Believe" - a yes-I-do-believe-it bopper that sees them still R&B-ing the shit out of everything. 

Side 2 opens with a bird singing in a tree on "Hi Lili, Hi Lo" - a dreadful running on empty ditty that's best forgotten. Things improve only marginally with Smokey Robinson's "The Way You Do The Things You Do", but not for the first time, it feels like they are already going through the motions. Mike Hugg gives it some Flute and Vibes slink on "Bare Hugg" - a Jazzy Lounge Lizard instrumental that might have turned up on some "Goldfinger" James Bond pastiche album. Things dip into the woeful again with "You Don't Know Me" - Jones killing this famous ballad with a vocal that just doesn't work (gorgeous audio though). Tom McGuinness plunders some Chess Records R&B groove for his supposedly self-penned "L.S.D." - a clever set of lyrics talking about money and loving you much too well. A patchy album ends on a ballad "I'll Make It Up To You" - gorgeous audio and a cool Harmonica solo just about saving its sorry ass.

The artwork to "Mann Made Hits" (their first compilation LP) clearly states Mono/Stereo without telling you which track is which. Opening with a Mono "Pretty Flamingo" (such a lovely song) - that is quickly followed by the crude Stereo separation of "The One In The Middle" – Jones going all Doors debut as he slags off his own boyish good looks in a tune that name-checks members of the band. They then take a shot at the Maxine Brown classic "Oh No, Not My Baby" with half-successful results – the just-wrong faster tempo and his R&B-suited voice not nearly soulful enough for a very soulful song.

"John Hardy" doesn't impress much either and their already Prog-Rock leanings are evident in the sexy stereo of "Spirit Feel" – a blatant Jazz soloing instrumental that wouldn't be out of place on a Blue Note album of the period (cool tune though). "Come Tomorrow" is forgettable ballad cack, Side 1 ending on something altogether better – their catchy-as-a-cold "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" number 1.

Side 2 of "Mann Made Hits" opens with the melodrama of "There's No Living Without Your Loving" – girly backing vocals making you feel you could quite easily live without this period naff. They try to sound like they have relevance by doing spokesperson Dylan on "With God On My Side" – a good Stereo stab and a different vibe for the band. A frantic-paced "Groovin'" tries hard, but the older "I'm Your Kingpin" sounds much more in keeping. They rush into 1964 Pop with two Mono boppers - "Sha La La" and "5, 4, 3, 2, 1" - finally ending with a Stereo Dylan ballad in "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" – by far the best cover version on the album. To sum up, "Mann Made Hits" is good without ever being great and the mixture of dead Mono against the alive Stereo doesn't help much either, but there's still much to enjoy. 

You wouldn't think an entire album of instrumentals would make for a cool Manfred Mann listening experience - but "Soul Of Mann..." surprises - even if the audio is compromised to my ears being in MONO. You can just hear the coolsville of "The Abominable Snowmann" featuring in some Mad Men episode where Don Draper shimmies across an off-Broadway showgirl's NYC crash pad. Their cover of Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe" is good too, but not as schmooze as the Lounge Lizard that is "Bare Hugg". Not for the first time does a manic Georgie Fame Jazz Band vibe creep into the album - "Spirit Feel" letting all the solos shine. 

New comes in the Saxophone and Shaker rhythms of "Why Should We Not" - a Manfred Mann original that adds in Organ and echoed Harmonica passages as it Running Bear's its way around your speakers. What's this - vocals on the supposed instrumental version of "L.S.D." - someone not quite paying attention to the LP's raison detre. Fuzz-Guitar freaks will dig the hey-hey-hey take of The Rolling Stones "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - a version I'm torn between seeing as genius and travesty. 

Bizarre-o follows with the seriously naff Good King Wencer of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemenn" - a Vibes version of a Christmas classic old Rudolph has put a cease and desist order on. And again - as with "...Satisfaction" - the Manfred's version of The Who's anthemic "My Generation" as a Jazz Vibes dance-along will probably both appal and enthral in equal measure.  . And on it goes. And the less said about the reaching for Tom Jones solo album "My Way" by Paul Jones the better - a really bad bid for Pop Pretty Boy stardom. 

So "Original Album Series" isn't wall-to-wall genius for sure, but there are enough goodies to Mann by Manfred musical turrets any day of the week...