"Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In?" by MAN (October 2007 Esoteric Recordings 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue – Paschal Byrne Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...All Good Clean Fun..."

Already on their 4th album in late 1971 (their 2nd record that year) – MAN were properly hitting their stride as a band by the time they released the wonderfully titled "Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In?" 

In fact when United Artists decided to issue their own specially priced double-album sampler for the label (following in the illustrious footsteps of "Bumpers" on Island, "A Breath Of Fresh Air" on Harvest and "El Pea" on Chrysalis) - they used a MAN track as its title - calling it "All Good Clean Fun" (that double was released in May 1971 on United Artists UDX 202 and the "All Good Clean Fun" track was exclusive to that double LP sampler at the time).

In truth Man’s 4th album from November 1971 s largely forgotten now by the Rock buying public (and has always been hard to find on original vinyl) - but this superb CD reissue brings to mind as to why this Welsh legendary group engenders so much affection. It’s a proper belter of a record and in extended form here (three great live tracks) – offers even more that’s worth returning to. Let’s get to why many are called, but few get up...

UK released October 2007 – "Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling in?" by MAN on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2013 (Barcode 5013929711327) is an 'Expanded Edition' Single CD Reissue and Remaster that pans out as follows (73:30 minutes):

1. Angel Easy [Side 1]

2. All Good Clean Fun

3. We’re Only Children

4. Many Are Called, But Few Get Up [Side 2]

5. Manillo

6. Love Your Life

Tracks 1 to 6 are their 4th album "Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In?" – released November 1971 in the UK on United Artists UAS 29236 (no USA issue). Production and all compositions are by MAN.

BONUS TRACKS:

7. Many Are Called, But Few Get Up

8. Angel Easy

9. Romain

Tracks 7 to 9 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED and were recorded live at the Gugenhaalle, Essen, Germany in November 1971

The band at the time consisted of MICKEY JONES on Guitars & Vocals, DEKE LEONARD on Guitars, Piano and Vocals, CLIVE JOHN on Organ, Piano & Vocals, MARTIN ACE on Bass with TERRY WILLIAMS on Drums.

Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red) have handled the whole MAN catalogue reissue program with full-on involvement from the band – so Deke Leonard’s liner notes in the 16-page booklet are a great read – witty, informative and proud of the band’s recorded achievement. Visually the booklet is a feast of concert tickets, trade magazine reviews, flyers and business cards – they also include the lyrics and detailed recording/reissue credits at the rear. But the big news for fans is a PASCHAL BYRNE remaster from original master tapes that brings out all that intricate playing – "All Good Clean Fun" sounds amazing.

While associated with a stoner sound at the time (especially live) – most of Side 1 is actually very Prog – complicated Rock tunes given space to stretch out. It opens with the chugging guitars of "Angel Easy" where the two lead players riff off of each other as they run up and down the frets. "All Good Clean Fun" is a weird little tune but I always liked it. The eight-minutes plus of "We're Only Children" is the mellow side finisher where half way through it goes all Moody Blues and Genesis in the vocal department – it's even a little Gentle Giant (gorgeous guitar solo in there too).

"Many Are Called, But Few Get Up" has been a concert standard for the band ever since its release here – and its intricate seven-minutes virtually defines MAN’s sound for the whole decade to come. When it breaks into that Rock groove and the lyrics kick in – it’s brilliant stuff (it became a highlight on the live "Maximum Darkness" set in 1975). For me "Manillo" is one the great undiscovered Rock tunes of the early Seventies – very Kevin Ayers somehow in the treated vocals and fuzzed-up wailing guitars and that slinky almost sinister groove (heady stuff). Side 2 then ends with the nine-minute twin-guitar boogie battle of "Love Your Life" – very MAN.

The extras add very nice icing to the cake. After telling the crowd (in both Welsh and German) to sit down so punters at the rear can see – they launch into "Many Are Called, But Few Get Up". The audio is better than bootleg but not quite live album standard – it still rocks though. "Angel Easy" is good too but far better is the slide guitar work on "Romain" – a standout track on the "Man" album from March 1971 - their 3rd LP. Here it stretches out to a crowd-pleasing 18:33 minutes and is everything that was great about the band at the time. It’s crudely recorded for sure but the power of the band is there in spades.

"...The Trip's just begun, we've broken the ice..." - they sang on "All Good Clean Fun". Break the ice and start your trip here...

MAN Reissue CDs on 'Esoteric Recordings' of the UK 

(Released 2007 to 2014)

1. Revelation (January 1969) – 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 (October 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 which 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 and a repro of the “History Of Man” insert that came with the first 5000 copies of the original vinyl album)