Masque | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 16 October 1987 | |||
Recorded | 1987 | |||
Studio | Workhouse Studios 1 and 2, 488–490 Old Kent Road, London | |||
Genre | Jazz rock Progressive rock Pop rock | |||
Length | 39:02 | |||
Label | 10/Virgin (original release) Cohesion (1999 reissue) | |||
Producer | Manfred Mann Steve Forward Mick Rogers | |||
Manfred Mann's Earth Band chronology | ||||
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Singles from Masque | ||||
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AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Masque is the thirteenth studio album by Manfred Mann's Earth Band, released in 1987 on Virgin Records. Chris Thompson had left the band after their previous album Criminal Tango and the band was now at three permanent members. After this album the Earth Band name was retired until 1991.
The album is subtitled Songs And Planets and features some parts of Gustav Holst's Planets Suite . It represents the completion of an original project started back in 1973, which planned to use Holst's work as a basis. This was ultimately shelved because the band were unable to obtain formal permission from Holst's estate, although some of the idea of a concept album dealing with the solar system could be seen on the band's 1973 album Solar Fire .
The opening track is a re-recording of Joybringer (from Jupiter), which had previously been a single hit in 1973, although the LP version omits the bridge (which is included on some alternative versions) and includes a different instrumental part than the 1973 recording. It also starts with a few bars of strummed guitar instead of opening cold with the vocals.
One of the Holst adaptations, Two Friends (from Mars and Saturn), was only included as a b-side on the single release of Geronimo's Cadillac and had to wait until 2021's Mannthology set for its CD debut.
Despite its title, Planets Schmanets does not have a "cosmic" background; as the Leftovers CD in the 40th Anniversary box set revealed, it is simply the instrumental coda of What You Give Is What You Get.
Another common thread of the album are jazz homages, in form of two collages that combine Billie's Bounce (featuring newly written lyrics) with Sister Sadie and Ornithology , respectively. Geronimo's Cadillac, which eventually gave way to Manfred Mann's Plains Music , also includes a jazz piano solo.
We're Going Wrong is a cover of the Cream song. Telegram to Monica was Denny Newman's third song written for the Earth Band (after Lies (Through the 80s) and Killer on the Loose) but the only one sung by him.
The track listing was changed at a late stage. The sleeves as first printed, and the record labels, indicated the following order:
The actual playing order was shown on a sticker which covered the track list printed on the sleeve; there were no composer credits:
This order of tracks was also used on the cassette version. The CD, instead, differs greatly from both the initial and final LP order:
The CD uses the spelling "Billy's" on tracks 2 and 5, instead of "Billies" used on the vinyl version. The original Charlie Parker composition uses "Billie's". [3]
Chart (1987) | Peak position |
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German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [4] | 44 |
Gustav Theodore Holst was an English composer, arranger and teacher. Best known for his orchestral suite The Planets, he composed many other works across a range of genres, although none achieved comparable success. His distinctive compositional style was the product of many influences, Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss being most crucial early in his development. The subsequent inspiration of the English folksong revival of the early 20th century, and the example of such rising modern composers as Maurice Ravel, led Holst to develop and refine an individual style.
The Planets, Op. 32, is a seven-movement orchestral suite by the English composer Gustav Holst, written between 1914 and 1917. In the last movement the orchestra is joined by a wordless female chorus. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System and its supposed astrological character.
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.
"I Vow to Thee, My Country" is a British patriotic hymn, created in 1921 when music by Gustav Holst had a poem by Sir Cecil Spring Rice set to it. The music originated as a wordless melody, which Holst later named "Thaxted", taken from the "Jupiter" movement of Holst's 1917 suite The Planets.
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.
Christopher Hamlet Thompson is an English singer and guitarist known both for his work with Manfred Mann's Earth Band, specifically for his lead vocal on the classic hit "Blinded By the Light" and for his solo accomplishments.
Procession were an Australian psychedelic band formed in Melbourne in 1967. The band was composed of Australian Craig Collinge (drums), New Zealander Brian Peacock (bass), and Englishmen Trevor Griffin (organ) and Mick Rogers, all members of previous bands. They were described by Glenn A. Baker as one of the most ambitious bands in the Australian music scene in their time, although they enjoyed only moderate commercial success. They were regularly championed in Go-Set magazine and had their own segment on music TV show Uptight, of which their manager was the producer.
The Best Of Manfred Mann's Earth Band Re-Mastered Volume II is a compilation album released in 2001 by Manfred Mann's 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".
Criminal Tango is the twelfth studio album released in 1986 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band with Chris Thompson. Founding guitarist/vocalist Mick Rogers returned to the band for this album and is still an active member. The new bassist Steve Kinch joined the band only when parts of the album were already recorded. Kinch therefore shared the bass parts on this album with bassists Durban Betancourt-Laverde and John Giblin. This is their first album for the Virgin Records label after eleven years with Bronze Records.
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.
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.
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.
Odds & Sods – Mis-takes & Out-takes is a four-CD box set compilation album released in 2005 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. It features alternate takes, outtakes and other assorted rarities, recorded over the 35-year career of the band.
Mick Rogers is an English rock guitarist, singer and songwriter, chiefly known for his time with Manfred Mann's Earth Band from 1971 to 1975 and again since 1984.
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.
Jupiter is a planet in the Solar System.
In Performance 1970–1974 is a four CD box-set of live Mott the Hoople concerts between 1970 and 1974. Playing were the original members of the band and also, the new members incorporated in 1973 after Verden Allen's May departure, and Mick Ralph's August departure.
"Geronimo's Cadillac" is the debut single by American country folk singer-songwriter Michael Martin Murphey, then billed as Michael Murphey. It was the title cut of his 1972 debut album which was an A&M Records release.
Gustav Holst's suite The Planets has been the subject of frequent adaptations and additions, and many later works, particularly in popular music, have been derived from it. There are numerous references to the suite in popular culture.