Davy's on the Road Again

Last updated
"Davy's on the Road Again"
Single by Manfred Mann's Earth Band
from the album Watch
B-side "Bouillabaisse"
ReleasedApril 1978 (UK)
September 1978 (US) [1]
Songwriter(s) John Simon/Robbie Robertson

"Davy's on the Road Again" is a 1971 song by John Simon and written by Simon and Robbie Robertson. First released on John Simon's Album, the song charted at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart when covered by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

Contents

Background and original

John Simon produced the Band's first solo album, 1968's Music from Big Pink , [2] which had charted at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. [3] They worked together again for the Band's second album, 1969's The Band; the band's Robbie Robertson wrote The Band's songs very quickly, which gave him free time between sessions, during which he co-wrote "Davey's on the Road Again". [4] The song ended up on Simon's debut album John Simon's Album, which featured many of the musicians he had been working with over the last couple of years. AllMusic wrote that the song "could be a lost Band track in its playing and texture", and complimented Merry Clayton's "soaring backing vocal" for adding "a special wrinkle" and for evoking Leonard Cohen's Songs of Leonard Cohen . [5]

Manfred Mann's Earth Band version

Manfred Mann's Earth Band covered the song in 1977 during a concert at Roxy Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles; Billboard wrote that their "fresh and tender approach to the drastically overused theme of life as a rock musician injected a few moments of alluring sentiment" into the set. [6] A live version of the song appeared on the band's Watch, their 1978 album, as one of two live tracks, the other a take on Manfred Mann's "Quinn the Eskimo (Mighty Quinn)" (itself a cover of a song by Bob Dylan). [7] When released as a single, that version charted at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the biggest of the band's three top ten hits in that country. [8] The single version of the song was used in early pressings of the soundtrack of The Stud, a softcore pornography film featuring Joan Collins as a nymphomaniac; in 2020, the journalist Carl Meyer wrote in Pattaya Mail that his 1978 interview with Manfred Mann had soured due to him mentioning its appearance in the film and that Mann lost his temper after receiving confirmation of its presence from his press secretary. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manfred Mann</span> English rock band

Manfred Mann were an English rock band, formed in London and active between 1962 and 1969. The group were named after their keyboardist Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The band had two different lead vocalists, Paul Jones from 1962 to 1966 and Mike d'Abo from 1966 to 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robbie Robertson</span> Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist (1943–2023)

Jaime Royal "Robbie" Robertson was a Canadian musician. He was lead guitarist for Bob Dylan in the mid-late 1960s and early-mid 1970s, guitarist and songwriter with the Band from their inception until 1978, and a solo artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manfred Mann's Earth Band</span> British rock group

Manfred Mann's Earth Band are an English rock band formed by South African musician Manfred Mann. Their hits include covers of Bruce Springsteen's "For You", "Blinded by the Light" and "Spirit in the Night". After forming in 1971 and with a short hiatus in the late 1980s/early 1990s, the Earth Band continues to perform and tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blinded by the Light</span> 1973 song by Bruce Springsteen

"Blinded by the Light" is a song written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen, which first appeared on his 1973 debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. A cover by British rock band Manfred Mann's Earth Band reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States in February 1977 and was also a top ten hit in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quinn the Eskimo (Mighty Quinn)</span> Song by Bob Dylan

"Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)" is a folk-rock song written and first recorded by Bob Dylan in 1967 during the Basement Tapes sessions. The song's first release was in January 1968 as "Mighty Quinn" in a version by the British band Manfred Mann, which became a great success. It has been recorded by a number of performers, often under the "Mighty Quinn" title.

John Simon is an American music producer, composer, writer and performer. Recognized as one of the top record producers in the United States during the late 1960s and the 1970s, Simon produced numerous classic albums that continue to sell more than 50 years later, including the Band’s Music from Big Pink, The Band, and The Last Waltz, Cheap Thrills by Big Brother & the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin, Songs of Leonard Cohen by Leonard Cohen, and Child Is Father to the Man by Blood, Sweat & Tears.

The discography of British rock band Manfred Mann's Earth Band consists of 17 studio albums, 3 live albums, 7 compilation albums, 5 video albums, and 37 singles. Manfred Mann's Earth Band have been releasing albums and singles since 1971.

<i>Mann Alive</i> 1998 live album by Manfred Manns Earth Band

Mann Alive is a live double album released in 1998 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

<i>The Best of Manfred Manns Earth Band Re-Mastered</i> 1999 greatest hits album by Manfred Manns Earth Band

The Best Of Manfred Mann's Earth Band Re-Mastered is a compilation album released in 1999 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The title of track 4 on the compilation, "Blinded by the Light" is errantly printed as "Blinded by the Night".

<i>Budapest Live</i> 1984 live album by Manfred Manns Earth Band

Budapest Live is an album released in 1984 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The album was recorded on the "Somewhere in Europe" tour in 1983 in support of the "Somewhere in Afrika" album, and despite its title, also featured recordings from the Dominion Theatre in London. It was the final Earth Band album to appear on the Bronze label and also the last album recorded with Steve Waller and Matt Irving.

<i>Somewhere in Afrika</i> 1982 studio album by Manfred Manns Earth Band

Somewhere in Afrika is the eleventh album by Manfred Mann's Earth Band, released in 1982. It is their last studio album recorded for their long time record label Bronze Records. They would record their next studio album, Criminal Tango for Virgin Records. Bassist Matt Irving joined the band, replacing Pat King for this album.

<i>Chance</i> (Manfred Manns Earth Band album) 1980 studio album by Manfred Manns Earth Band

Chance is Manfred Mann's Earth Band's tenth album, released in 1980. The album cover art was an adaptation of Danish artist Ole Kortzau's poster "Strandstole". The album marked the temporary return of guitarist and founding member Mick Rogers to the band. John Lingwood replaced drummer Geoff Britton, who left due to illness. It is also the last album that bassist Pat King appeared on. Although Chris Thompson only appeared as a guest vocalist, he was onboard again for the accompanying tour.

<i>Angel Station</i> 1979 studio album by Manfred Manns Earth Band

Angel Station is the ninth album released by Manfred Mann's Earth Band, released in 1979. Several line-up changes were made for this album. Ex-Wings drummer Geoff Britton replaced founding drummer Chris Slade and Steve Waller replaced guitarist Dave Flett. Britton left the band soon after due to illness, and was replaced by John Lingwood. Also in the line-up were Pat King on bass guitar from the then current line-up and Chris Thompson.

<i>Watch</i> (Manfred Manns Earth Band album) 1978 studio album by Manfred Manns Earth Band

Watch is the eighth album by Manfred Mann's Earth Band, a studio album with two live tracks released in 1978. It is the first album recorded with new bassist Pat King, and the final album for both guitarist Dave Flett and original drummer Chris Slade. In West Germany, it stayed 69 weeks in the charts, receiving platinum status in 1981.

<i>The Roaring Silence</i> 1976 studio album by Manfred Manns Earth Band

The Roaring Silence is the seventh studio album by English rock band Manfred Mann's Earth Band. It was released on 27 August 1976, by Bronze Records in the UK and by Warner Bros. Records in the US. Like other Earth Band albums, this includes material by other composers. "Blinded by the Light", which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, is a cover version of a song by Bruce Springsteen; "Questions" is based on the main theme of Franz Schubert's Impromptu in G flat Major (1827); "Starbird" takes its theme from Igor Stravinsky's ballet The Firebird (1910); and "The Road to Babylon" is based on the canon "By the Waters of Babylon" by Philip Hayes. Lyrics and melody of the intro of "The Road to Babylon" is taken from the song "Babylon"from Don McLean's second album "American Pie", released in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manfred Mann (musician)</span> South African-born musician

Manfred Sepse Lubowitz, known professionally as Manfred Mann, is a South African-born musician, resident in the UK since 1961. He is best known as a founding member of the bands Manfred Mann, Manfred Mann Chapter Three and Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

<i>Nightingales & Bombers</i> 1975 studio album by Manfred Manns Earth Band

Nightingales & Bombers is the sixth studio album released by Manfred Mann's Earth Band in 1975.

The title of this album was inspired by a recording made in Surrey, England during the Second World War, by an ornithologist intending to record nightingales. The bombers flew over at the same time and were recorded by accident. The recording has been incorporated in 'As Above, So Below'.

<i>Manfred Manns Earth Band</i> (album) 1972 studio album by Manfred Manns Earth Band

Manfred Mann's Earth Band is the eponymous debut studio album by English rock band Manfred Mann's Earth Band, released on 24 January 1972 by Polydor Records.

<i>The Good Earth</i> (Manfred Manns Earth Band album) 1974 studio album by Manfred Manns Earth Band

The Good Earth is the fifth studio album released by Manfred Mann's Earth Band in 1974. Its opening song is a cover of "Give Me the Good Earth", written by Gary Wright and released on his 1971 solo album Footprint, while tracks 2 and 3 were originally by Australian progressive rock band Spectrum.

<i>Solar Fire</i> 1973 studio album by Manfred Manns Earth Band

Solar Fire is the fourth studio album by Manfred Mann's Earth Band, released in 1973. It spent 15 weeks on the Billboard 200 charts, peaking at number 96 on 11 May 1974. It was initially intended to be a full adaptation of The Planets Suite but Gustav Holst's heir, who had previously given permission to the adaptation of "Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity" in the hit single "Joybringer", didn't allow this to happen, so the band made their own "cosmic" album using mostly original themes, although the most well known song is the Bob Dylan composition "Father of Day, Father of Night", which is in the Earth Band's live set to this day and remains a popular song on rock radio. "Pluto the Dog" and the two-part "Saturn, Lord of the Ring/Mercury, the Winged Messenger" are instrumentals, and "Earth the Circle Part 2" features only two lines of sung vocals. The album is often considered the peak of the early Earth Band line-up and, for a lot of progressive rock reviewers, the pinnacle of Mann's career in general.

References

  1. ↑ "Great Rock Discography". p. 514.
  2. ↑ Runtagh, Jordan (2018-07-01). "The Band's 'Music From Big Pink': 10 Things You Didn't Know". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  3. ↑ "The Band Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard . Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  4. ↑ Hoskyns, Barney (2003). Across the Great Divide: The Band and America. Pimlico. ISBN   978-0-7126-0540-3.
  5. ↑ John Simon - John Simon's Album Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic , retrieved 2023-10-12
  6. ↑ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1977-03-12.
  7. ↑ "Watch". Manfred Mann's Earth Band. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  8. ↑ "MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND". Official Charts. 1973-09-08. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  9. ↑ Meyer, Carl (2020-11-16). "Life at 33 1/3: Before the Boss, there was Manfred". Pattaya Mail. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.