The Manfreds

Last updated

The Manfreds
OriginLondon, England
Genres Beat, R&B
Years active1991–present
Labels BMG/Camden
Members
Past members
Website http://www.themanfreds.com

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.

Contents

History

The original members of Manfred Mann, minus keyboard player Mann, reformed in 1991 to celebrate guitarist Tom McGuinness's 50th birthday, and to promote a Manfred Mann compilation released around the same time. [1] The absence of Mann forced them to adopt a different name. [1] [2] Original singer Paul Jones, and his late-1960s replacement Mike d'Abo were involved, along with other members of Manfred Mann from their 1960s heyday including keyboard player Mike Hugg, Tom McGuinness and Mike Vickers with drummer Rob Townsend and originally Benny Gallagher on bass guitar. [1] [3] They decided to continue the reunion, and in 1999 released the album 5-4-3-2-1 on the BMG sublabel Camden, described by Allmusic as "very close to their original sound, only a bit slicker". [1] [4] Live album L.I.V.E. followed in 2000. [1] They went on to release further albums in 2000 and 2003. The group later included Marcus Cliffe (bass) and Simon Currie (flute and sax). [5]

They continued to perform live, fitting it in between their other individual commitments, with Jones, McGuinness, and Townsend also members of The Blues Band, Jones also continuing his solo career and acting, radio and television work, Hugg and Cliffe performing as part of a jazz trio, and D'Abo presenting radio shows and performing with The New Amen Corner. [5] [6]

In 2013 they toured nationally to support a new Manfred Mann compilation, [3] and did so again in 2014 and 2016, [7] [8] [9] and in 2017 to promote their new album, Makin' Tracks, featuring both Jones and D'Abo on vocals, as well as performances in Ireland.

Mike Hugg retired from touring in 2022 and was replaced by Mike Gorman on keyboards.

Rob Townsend was advised not to undertake the 2023 Autumn 60th Anniversary tour on medical grounds and was replaced by Pete Riley on drums.

[5] [10]

Personnel

Ticket for the Pavilion Theatre on Cromer Pier, Show: The Manfreds. Cromer Pavillion Ticket.jpg
Ticket for the Pavilion Theatre on Cromer Pier, Show: The Manfreds.

Current members [11]

Former members [13]

Discography

YearAlbum UK albums US albums Additional information
19985-4-3-2-1--Catalogue No. BMG CD 74321 566632.
1999Live--Catalogue No. MANFREDS CD001.
2000Maximum Manfreds--Catalogue No. MANFREDS CD002.
2003Uncovered--Catalogue No. MANFREDS CD003.
2014Let ‘em Roll--Catalogue No. MANFREDs CD004.
2016Makin' Tracks--

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.

Michael David d'Abo is an English singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of Manfred Mann from 1966 to their dissolution in 1969, and as the composer of the songs "Handbags and Gladrags" and "Build Me Up Buttercup", the latter of which was a hit for The Foundations. With Manfred Mann, d'Abo achieved six top twenty hits on the UK Singles Chart including "Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James", "Ha! Ha! Said the Clown" and the chart topper "Mighty Quinn".

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

<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, 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.

Michael John Hugg is a British musician who was a founding member of the 1960s group Manfred Mann.

Thomas John Patrick McGuinness is a guitarist, songwriter, author, record and TV producer, who played bass and later guitar with popular 60s rock band, Manfred Mann.

<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.

"5-4-3-2-1" is a 1964 song by British band Manfred Mann. It was written by Mann, Mike Hugg and Paul Jones, and peaked at #5 on the UK Singles Chart thanks to weekly television exposure from being the theme tune for the ITV pop music television programme Ready Steady Go!. This would be the last single released before bass player Dave Richmond left the band.

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

Instrumental Asylum is an EP by Manfred Mann, released in 1966. The EP is a 7-inch vinyl record and released in mono with the catalogue number His Master's Voice-EMI 7EG 8949.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ha! Ha! Said the Clown</span>

"Ha! Ha! Said the Clown" is a song written by Tony Hazzard, first recorded by British pop group Manfred Mann. Hazzard claims the song "came out of the blue" though he did not demo it for weeks. Following recording a demo, he approached manager Gerry Bron, who liked it enough to want one of his groups, Manfred Mann, to record it. Manfred Mann recorded their version of the single on 10 February 1967 at Philips Studio in Marble Arch, London, together with producer Shel Talmy. It was the second of three singles Manfred Mann recorded to feature the Mellotron.

<i>As Was</i> 1966 EP by Manfred Mann with Paul Jones

As Was is an EP by Manfred Mann, released in 1966. The EP is a 7-inch vinyl record and released in mono with the catalogue number His Master's Voice-EMI 7EG 8962.

<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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James</span> 1966 single by Manfred Mann

"Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James" is a song written by songwriters Geoff Stephens and John Carter, recorded by English pop group Manfred Mann in 1966. Previous to this, it was recorded by the band Herbie's People who were signed to CBS and had recorded other John Carter songs. The original title was ....Mr Jones and was recorded that way by Herbie's People. Their version was pulled by CBS when Manfred Mann said they'd record it. It was subsequently issued but only in the USA on the Okeh label. Stephens and Carter, who were writers for a publishing company on Denmark Street, London, wrote the song in a style different from their usual compositions, as love was not the prevalent theme. Introduced to the song by producer Shel Talmy, Manfred Mann recorded it at Philips Studio in August 1966. Released by Fontana Records on 21 October 1966, the song was backed by drummer Mike Hugg's composition "Morning After The Party" as the group's second single on the label. Keyboardist Manfred Mann plays the Mellotron on the recording; it was one of the earliest recordings featuring the instrument. Following a trend set by Bob Dylan, the song tackles the subject of life in British middle class suburbia from the perspective of a narrator, who laments the loss of a lover after her marriage to another man.

Ragamuffin Man is a 1969 single by Manfred Mann. It was the last song they released before breaking up the same year.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Eder, Bruce "The Manfreds Biography", AllMusic. Retrieved 2 September 2017
  2. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2011) The Encyclopedia of Popular Music 5th edn., Bish Bash Books, ISBN   978-1846098567
  3. 1 2 Eaton, Duncan (2013) "INTERVIEW: The Man Behind the Manfreds", Southern Daily Echo , 21 August 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2017
  4. ↑ Eder, Bruce "5-4-3-2-1 Review", AllMusic. Retrieved 2 September 2017
  5. 1 2 3 Hutchinson, Martin (2017) "The Manfreds are still Makin’ Tracks", Welwyn Hatfield Times, 9 April 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017
  6. ↑ Barr, Gordon (2012) "Top British R&B band The Manfreds back for Gateshead gig", Evening Chronicle, 14 August 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2017
  7. ↑ Nutall, James (2014) "Music interview: Mike d'Abo of The Manfreds", Yorkshire Evening Post , 6 November 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2017
  8. ↑ Walker, Graham (2016) "PREVIEW: 5,4,3,2,1...Sixties icons The Manfreds on UK tour", Sheffield Star , 25 October 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2017
  9. ↑ Roycroft-Davis, Chris (2016) "Return of the Manfred Men", Daily Express , 6 August 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2017
  10. ↑ Clayton-Lea, Tony (2017) "Pack your Picnic basket: the best rock and pop gigs this week", The Irish Times , 31 August 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017
  11. ↑ "The Manfreds - THE OFFICIAL MANFREDS WEBSITE - Home". Themanfreds.com. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  12. ↑ A Sideman's Journey (liner notes). Voormann & Friends. Universal Music. 2009. 602 2706805.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ↑ "The Manfreds Tickets & Tour Dates - StubHub UK!". StubHub. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
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