Manfred Mann Chapter Three (album)

Last updated

Manfred Mann Chapter Three
Manfred Mann Chapter Three UK.jpg
Studio album by
Released7 November 1969 [1]
RecordedJune – October 1969
StudioMaximum Sound Studios, London
Genre Jazz rock, progressive rock
Length50:10(original)
68:25 (bonus track)
Label Vertigo (UK original release)
Bronze (UK 1980 reissue)
Cohesion (UK 1993 reissue)
Polydor (U.S.)
Fontana (Australia)
Producer Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann Chapter Three chronology
Mighty Garvey!
(1968)
Manfred Mann Chapter Three
(1969)
Manfred Mann Chapter Three Volume Two
(1970)
Alternative cover
Manfred Mann Chapter Three (US album).jpg
Manfred Mann Chapter Three (US version)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Christgau's Record Guide C+ [3]

Manfred Mann Chapter Three is the debut album released in 1969 by Manfred Mann Chapter Three. It was one of the first three albums released on the Vertigo record label. The principal members of the group were Manfred Mann and Mike Hugg. Mann played the organ and acted as the group's musical arranger, whilst Hugg handled vocals, played piano and was the chief songwriter. The group was augmented by a five-piece brass section and several distinguished jazz soloists.

Contents

The core songs "Travelling Lady", "Snakeskin Garter", "Devil Woman", and "Time" define the album's sound: long, slow, doomy one chord riffs beneath sections of breathy vocals, powerful brass and free-form improvised solos. "Konekuf" is the same without the vocals, while "A Study in Inaccuracy" is simply freeform. "Sometimes", "One Way Glass", "Ain't It Sad" and "Where Am I Going" are shorter and more melodic, wistful songs centering on Hugg's electric piano, on which he turns in an able solo on "Mister, You're a Better Man Than I".

The title of the instrumental "Konekuf" was Manfred Mann's slightly obscured reaction to Enoch Powell's infamous Rivers of Blood speech about immigration. (Manfred had left his home of South Africa for several reasons, but the country's institutionalized racism was definitely among them.) The musical theme would later re-appear as the middle part of the title track on the third Earth Band album Messin' . Likewise, "One Way Glass" was re-recorded in a more rock-oriented version on the second Earth Band album Glorified Magnified . The song also appeared with a different title and lyric ("Broken-Glass Lives") on the soundtrack of the film Swedish Fly Girls, recorded in 1969 by Chapter Three (although the film wasn't released until 1972). Chapter Three's version of "One Way Glass" was sampled by The Prodigy in their song "Stand Up", and Manfred himself played keyboard over this recording and included the result on Lone Arranger . Another song with connections to other parts of Mann's history is "Travelling Lady"; this song had previously been recorded by Manfred Mann the group and released on the b-side of their final single "Ragamuffin Man", then simply called "A 'B' Side".

Track listing

Tracks written by Mike Hugg except noted

Side one

  1. "Travelling Lady" (Manfred Mann, Hugg) (Lead vocals: Mike Hugg) – 5:48
  2. "Snakeskin Garter" (Lead vocals: Mike Hugg) – 5:48
  3. "Konekuf" (Mann) (Lead vocals: Mike Hugg) – 5:47
  4. "Sometimes" – 2:37 (Lead vocals: Mike Hugg)
  5. "Devil Woman" – 5:24 (Lead vocals: Mike Hugg)

Side two

  1. "Time" – 7:25 (Lead vocals: Mike Hugg)
  2. "One-Way Glass" (Mann, Peter Thomas) (Lead vocals: Manfred Mann) – 3:33
  3. "Mr. You're a Better Man Than I" (Mike Hugg, Brian Hugg, Mann) (Lead vocals: Mike Hugg) – 5:10
  4. "Ain't It Sad" (Lead vocals: Mike Hugg)– 1:57
  5. "A Study in Inaccuracy" (Lead vocals: Mike Hugg) (Mann) – 4:05
  6. "Where Am I Going" (Lead vocals: Mike Hugg) – 2:36

Additional tracks (1999 CD re-issue)

  1. "Sometimes" (single mono version) – 2:22
  2. "Travelling Lady" (single mono version) (Mann, Hugg) – 5:20
  3. "Devil Woman" (single version) – 5:23
  4. "A Study in Inaccuracy" (alternative version) – 5:10

Personnel

Manfred Mann Chapter Three
Wind section
Guest musicians

Technical

Related Research Articles

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

Manfred Mann was an English rock band, formed in London and active between 1962 and 1969. The group was 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. Other band members were Mike Hugg, Mike Vickers, Dave Richmond, Tom McGuinness, Jack Bruce and Klaus Voormann.

Michael Graham Vickers is an English musician who came to prominence as the guitarist, flautist, and saxophonist with the 1960s band Manfred Mann.

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

Messin' is a rock album released in 1973 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manfred Mann (musician)</span> South African-born musician (born 1940)

Manfred Sepse Lubowitz, known professionally as Manfred Mann, is a South African-born musician, residing 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Hugg</span> British musician

Michael John Hugg is a British musician who was a founding member of the 1960s group Manfred Mann, and co-founder of the psychedelic jazz-fusion group, Manfred Mann Chapter Three. He is known for his creativity in his music, and always made jingles for advertisments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Manfreds</span> British pop group

The Manfreds is a British pop group, formed in 1991 as a reunion of former members of the 1960s pop group Manfred Mann, however without their eponymous founder Manfred Mann.

<i>Manfred Mann Chapter Three Volume Two</i> 1970 studio album by Manfred Mann Chapter Three

Manfred Mann Chapter Three Volume Two is the second and final album released by Manfred Mann Chapter Three. It was released in 1970 on Vertigo. Mann's next album, and most of his future albums, would be released under the name Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

<i>Mighty Garvey!</i> 1968 studio album by Manfred Mann

Mighty Garvey! is the fifth and final studio album by Manfred Mann, released on 28 June 1968 by Fontana Records. It was the last recorded by the band after the change of direction and personnel of their 1966 album As Is. It continued a transition away from jazz and blues towards self-composed art-pop. Despite including two UK top 5 hit singles, the album did not chart and the band split up the year after. In the US and Canada, it was released as The Mighty Quinn by Mercury Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manfred Mann Chapter Three</span> British experimental jazz rock band

Manfred Mann Chapter Three were a British experimental jazz rock band founded by South African keyboard player Manfred Mann and long-time partner Mike Hugg, both former members of the group Manfred Mann. "Chapter III" was a reference to the earlier line-ups with singers Paul Jones followed by Mike D'Abo.

<i>Mann Made</i> 1965 studio album by Manfred Mann

Mann Made is the second British and fourth American studio album by Manfred Mann, released in October 1965 on His Master's Voice in the United Kingdom, and November 1965 on Ascot Records in the United States. It was the group's final recording project with original members Mike Vickers and Paul Jones, as well as their last to be recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, England, before switching to Fontana Records.

<i>Manfred Manns Cock-a-Hoop</i> 1964 EP by Manfred Mann

Manfred Mann's Cock-A-Hoop is an EP by Manfred Mann, released in 1964. The EP is a 7-inch vinyl record and released in mono with the catalogue number His Master's Voice-EMI 7EG 8848.

<i>Groovin with Manfred Mann</i> 1964 EP by Manfred Mann

Groovin' with Manfred Mann is an EP by Manfred Mann, released in 1964. The EP is a 7-inch vinyl record and released in mono with the catalogue number His Master's Voice-EMI 7EG 8876.

<i>As Is</i> (album) 1966 studio album by Manfred Mann

As Is is the third British studio album by Manfred Mann, released in the United Kingdom on 21 October 1966 through Fontana Records. It was their fourth overall but their first to feature new members Mike d'Abo and Klaus Voormann.

<i>Soul of Mann</i> 1967 compilation album by Manfred Mann

Soul of Mann is a 1967 compilation album of mostly instrumental recordings by Manfred Mann, released by HMV Records shortly after the company dropped the group from its roster. It was not well publicised and did not sell strongly.

<i>Instrumental Assassination</i> 1966 EP by Manfred Mann

Instrumental Assassination is a 1966 jazz-rock EP by Manfred Mann, produced by Shel Talmy and released by Fontana Records (TE17483). Mann reported that the group "loved it" and the producer was "particularly pleased": Fontana's Jack Baverstock found it full of ideas, humour and new thinking, but the EP sold poorly and was re-released in its entirety on the 1968 Fontana compilation album What A Mann.

<i>Up the Junction</i> (soundtrack) 1968 studio album / Soundtrack album by Manfred Mann

Up the Junction is the first soundtrack and fourth studio album by Manfred Mann, consisting of songs written by Mann and Mike Hugg for the 1968 film of the same name. The album was released on 16 March 1968 on Fontana Records.

<i>Lone Arranger</i> 2014 studio album by Manfred Mann

Lone Arranger is the second solo album by South African keyboardist Manfred Mann. Like its predecessor, 2006, it features various guest musicians, including Kris Kristofferson, Till Brönner and Mick Rogers. It also includes three songs by other artists which sampled Manfred Mann recordings, over which Mann then added new keyboards and other contributions: "One Hand in the Air" is a shortened version of Kanye West's "So Appalled", with an added chorus by Caitlyn Scarlett. "I Came For You" is the Disco Boys remix, slightly shortened and with new synth solos added. Likewise, "One Way Stand-Up" is The Prodigy's "Stand Up", which was based on Manfred Mann Chapter Three's "One Way Glass", with added keyboards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mister, You're a Better Man Than I</span> 1965 single by the Yardbirds

"You're a Better Man Than I", alternately listed as "Mr. You're a Better Man Than I" or "Better Man Than I", is a song first recorded by the English rock band the Yardbirds. It was written by brothers Mike and Brian Hugg, and became the opening track to the group's second American album, Having a Rave Up with the Yardbirds (1965). Three months later in February 1966, it was released in the UK as the B-side to the "Shapes of Things" single.

<i>The Manfred Mann Album</i> 1964 studio album by Manfred Mann

The Manfred Mann Album is the debut American studio album by Manfred Mann, released in September 1964 on Ascot Records. It contains the hit single "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", as well as covers of well-known R&B hits such as "Smokestack Lightning" by Howlin' Wolf, "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" by Muddy Waters, and "Down the Road Apiece" by Will Bradley. Modern reviews of the album are generally positive and consider The Manfred Mann Album an important piece during the heyday of the British Invasion.

<i>The Five Faces of Manfred Mann</i> 1964 studio album by Manfred Mann

The Five Faces of Manfred Mann is the debut British and second American studio album by Manfred Mann. It was first released in the United Kingdom on 11 September 1964 by His Master's Voice. In late October/early November, the album was released in Canada by Capitol Records. The Canadian track listing was almost the same as the UK version, except it included the hit "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" instead of "I've Got My Mojo Working". The record has been called "one of the great blues-based British invasion albums; it's a hot, rocking record that benefits from some virtuoso playing as well".

References

  1. "Album Reviews" (PDF). New Musical Express. 1 November 1969. p. 14. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  2. Allmusic review
  3. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: M". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved 4 March 2019 via robertchristgau.com.