Post Description

Manfred Mann's Earth Band combines hypnotic instrumentals ("Tribute"), exhilarating original songs ("Captain Bobby Stout"), and three definitive covers all laden with hooks worthy of "Do Wah Diddy Diddy." Mann mines Dylan's basement tapes again for "Please Mrs. Henry" (see "Quinn the Eskimo" and "Get Your Rocks Off" on other releases). An obscure Dr. John song, "Jump Sturdy" nearly jumps off the record. The synthesizer solo "Sloth" segues into the album's centerpiece, "Living Without You." With its thumping bassline and "So hard" chorus, this might be the best version of a Randy Newman song ever recorded. Closing the album, the Mann himself takes vocal turns on "Part Time Man" and "Up & Leaving," quiet acoustic tales that contrast with the complex instrumentals of the rest of the record. On whole, Manfred Mann's Earth Band is a completely satisfying album and one of the most underrated of the '70s. 

Poster: Johanna

Track listing
"California Coastline" (Walt Meskell, Tim Martin) ? 2:48 
"Captain Bobby Scout" (Lane Tietgen) ? 6:54 
"Sloth" (Manfred Mann, Mick Rogers) ? 1:27 
"Living Without You" (Randy Newman) ? 3:36 
"Tribute" (Mann) ? 5:32 
"Please Mrs Henry" (Bob Dylan) ? 4:32 
"Jump Sturdy" (Dr. John Creaux) ? 4:49 
"Prayer" (Mann) ? 5:41 
"Part Time Man" (D. Sadler, Mann) ? 3:05 
"I'm Up And I'm Leaving" (Mann, Sadler) ? 3:11 

Personnel
Mick Rogers - guitar, vocals 
Manfred Mann - organ, Synthesizer, vocals 
Colin Pattenden - bass 
Chris Slade - drums