"Maximum Darkness" by MAN – September 1975 UK Tenth LP on United Artists (a 5-Track LIVE Set) featuring Deke Leonard, Micky Jones, John Cipollina (ex Quicksilver Messenger Service), Terry Williams and Martin Ace (May 2008 UK Esoteric Recordings Expanded Edition CD Reissue – Paschal Byrne Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Many Are Called..."

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It seems that suddenly (if you could call it that) - MAN had begun to gain actual notice from the buying public when the critical and commercial success of "Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics" in May 1974 was rapidly followed by "Slow Motion" in November of that productive year. Their 9th and 10th studio sets had finally struck a chord and their weird Welsh Rock rhythms were even beginning to sound – dare we say it – kinda cool. 

Time therefore of course to stop, take stock and release yet another live one. Time maybe too, to even take in a third axeman of repute to stand out front alongside the twin lead guitars of Deke Leonard and Micky Jones - John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service. The Welsh and The American – what could go wrong? 

And that's where the beautifully realised "Maximum Darkness" live album with its laminated gatefold sleeve and foldout poster came a Prog-rocking in...

Between 2008 and 2014, Esoteric Recordings of the UK (part of Cherry Red) colluded and canoodled with remaining band members, relaunching their entire album catalogue from 1969 through to 1977 in real CD-reissue style (see detailed list below). Here are the details for entry number ten...

UK released 26 May 2008 (9 June 2008 in the USA) – "Maximum Darkness" by MAN on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2061 (Barcode 5013929716124) is an Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster with Two Bonus Tracks that pans out as follows (79:42 minutes):

1. 7171 551 [Side 1]
2. Codine
3. Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You
4. Many Are Called, But Few Get Up [Side 2]
5. Bananas
Tracks 1 to 5 are their 10th album – the live set "Maximum Darkness" – released July 1975 in the UK on United Artists UAG 29872 and in the USA on United Artists UA-LA345-G. It was recorded at The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm in London on 26 May 1975 by VIC MAILE and Produced by MAN.

BONUS TRACKS: 
6. C'mon (Live) – Previously Unreleased
7. Romain (Live) – Previously Unreleased
Both tracks recorded live at The Keystone, Berkeley, California in April 1975

For "Maximum Darkness" MAN was:
DEKE LEONARD – Lead Guitars, Keyboards and Vocals
MICKY JONES – Lead Guitars and Vocals 
JOHN CIPOLLINA – Lead Guitars
MARTIN ACE – Bass and Vocals 
TERRY WILLIAMS – Drums and Percussion 

As well as reproducing Deke's copious original liner notes to the September 1975 UK LP (Pages 16 to 19, albeit in tiny print) - the 20-page booklet features new liner notes by band guitarist DEKE LEONARD recalling how the collaboration with Cipollina came about and their musical meetings of minds. And like all of the booklets in this exemplary reissue series, the text is peppered with period memorabilia like stage passes, trade adverts, gig flyers, the LP artwork and poster and the press buzz around Cipollina joining the band for their tour dates. All is tastefully laid out as Deke recalls hotel room shenanigans when JC first came to meet them (they shoot the door in his face thinking he was some imposter – nice). 
But the really big news is a superb new remaster handled by PASCHAL BYRNE at Audio Archiving using original master tapes. And that pair of Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks are actually that – bonuses - especially "Romain" – a slide-guitar chugger that had opened Side 1 of their third album "Man" way back in the spring of 1971.

While "7171 551" was new, Quicksilver aficionados would recognize two of their songs in "Codine" and "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You" – tunes that had turned up on the 1968 Psych Soundtrack album "Revolution" (again on United Artists). In the new liner notes, Deke Leonard explains that Cipollina leaving the band to return to America after the British Tour left a musical hole in Man. And you can so hear why on the two Side 2 live works outs - "Bananas" and "Many Are Called, But Few Get Up" (originally on the albums "Do You Like It Here Now? Are You Settling In?" and "Be Good to Yourself At Least Once A Day" from 1971 and 1972). They go to eleven and half minutes and nearly fourteen – the blend of musicianship being exactly what you would imagine it to be – a hybrid of Man vs. QMS amalgamated – such sympatico in the playing and ideas. The combined sound is one of both Classic Seventies Rock sidling up to Prog Rock elements and both winning in the antler rut. 

Bonuses - the eleven-minute studio version of "C'mon" originated on the "Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day" LP in November 1972, while "Romain” had been on the "Man" album that preceded it in March 1971. "C'mon" scoots along with typical Man guitars until it reaches about four minutes in and slows to a Blues pace where the introduction of Brian Auger/Graham Bond type organ give it a very mellow Prog/Jazz feel. "Romain" is a guitar vehicle where the band gets to stretch out. Great extras and cleverly chosen too. 

So there you have it – a largely forgotten 70s live set that should be rediscovered - reissued by a label that cares...

Deke Leonard put out three Solo LPs in 1973, 1974 and 1981 (also on UA), Terry Williams later joined Dire Straits and Guitarist Micky Jones passed away in 2010. 
Esoteric have reissued and remastered the entire MAN catalogue in the same upgraded manner with full co-operation from the band (see list below) and I’ve reviewed 4, 6, 9 and 10 and now 11 to date.

MAN DISCOGRAPHY for Esoteric Recordings CD Reissues

1. Revelation (January 1969 debut) – Esoteric ECLEC 2127 (2009 Remaster with 4 Bonus Tracks)

2. 2 Ozs Of Plastic With A Hole In The Middle (September 1969) – Esoteric ECLEC 2128 (2009 Remaster with 3 Bonus Tracks)

3. Man (March 1971) – Esoteric ECLEC 2012 (2007 Remaster with 2 Bonus Tracks)

4. Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In? (November 1971) – Esoteric ECLEC 2013 (2007 Remaster with 3 Bonus Tracks)

5. Live At The Padget Rooms, Penarth (September 1972) – Esoteric ECLEC 2014 (2007 Remaster with the original 3-track album expanded onto 6 tracks across 2CDs)

6. Be Good To Yourself A Least Once A Day (November 1972) – Esoteric ECLEC 2019 (2007 Remaster In Card Digipak with "Map Of Wales" insert and 2 Bonus Tracks)

7. Christmas At The Patti by MAN and FRIENDS (July 1973) – Esoteric ECLEC 2018 (2007 Remaster. The original vinyl was a live double 10” Record that featured FLYING ACES, DUCKS DELUXE, THE JETS, PLUM CRAZY with DAVE EDMUNDS, HELP YOURSELF with DEKE LEONARD and B.J. COLE and finally MAN with DAVE EDMUNDS and STAN PHIFER. The CD contains the full double with no extras)

8. Back Into The Future (September 1973 – Half Live/Half Studio Double-Album) – Esoteric ECLEC 2060 (2008 3CD Remaster with the 2LP set on CD1 whilst CD2 (June 1973) and CD3 (August 1973) have 10 Bonus Tracks)

9. Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics (May 1974) – Esoteric ECLEC 2020 (2007 Remaster with a Bonus 7” single cut on Disc 1 and a Previously Unreleased 5-Track Live Concert at The Whiskey A Go Go in LA on Disc 2)

10. Slow Motion (November 1974) – Esoteric ECLEC 2062 (2008 Remaster 6 Bonus Tracks)

11. Maximum Darkness [Live] (September 1975) – Esoteric ECLEC 2061 (2008 Remaster with two Live Bonus tracks)

12. The Welsh Connection (March 1976) – Esoteric ECLEC 22403 (2013 Remaster with a Bonus 7” single B-side ad 5 live tracks on CD1 and a 2nd CD of 9 tracks)

13. All's Well That Ends Well [Live] (November 1977) – Esoteric ECLEC 32431 (2014 Remaster of the album on CD1 with 2 Previously Unreleased CDs of the entire show from December 1976 (Discs 2 and 3) newly mixed from the 24-track tapes. There is also a repro of the "History Of Man" insert that came with the first 5000 copies of the original vinyl album)