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Highlighting in album tracklistings denotes 'contains Mellotron'. On 'multi-part' tracks I've tried to indicate which parts contain 'Tron, although this isn't always possible.

Ratings:
The * rating (½-5) is my personal, entirely subjective and completely partisan rating of the music.
The 'T' ('Tron, of course...) rating (0-5) is an only slightly more objective indicator of an album's Mellotronness.

By the way, if you know of any Mellotron albums that aren't listed here, please look at my albums page first! Thanks.


Mahogany Rush
Mahoujin
Malo
Mandalaband
Mangala Vallis
Aimee Mann
Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann's Chapter Three

Mahogany Rush  (Canada)

Mahogany Rush, 'IV'

IV  (1976,  43.40)  ****½/TTT

I'm Going Away
Man at the Back Door
The Answer
Jive Baby
It's Begun to Rain
Dragonfly
Little Sexy Annie
Moonwalk
IV... (the Emperor)

Current availability:

Another hard rock outfit generally ignored by the progressive fraternity (and nothing to do with Rush) are Mahogany Rush; in fact, their 'Hendrix meets the mid-'70s full on' style would be appreciated by many prog fans, particularly with regard to this album and its follow-up, World Anthem. Main man Frank Marino is known for his love of soloing, making later live albums a little hard going if you don't have the same propensity, but he keeps it in check on album, particularly his major-label work.

Marino is credited on the sleeve with 'guitar, vocals, synth bass, Mellotron', and he doesn't pull any punches from the off. Album opener I'm Going Away bursts in with a series of dramatic chords, with Mellotron strings and massive synth bass to the fore. Its Begun To Rain (sic) is a lengthy Hendrix-y ballad with more 'Tron strings, cellos and flutes expertly arranged by Marino himself. Far from being a 'block chords' man, he plays the instrument almost like a string section, although he openly admits to being entirely self-taught. Final track IV... (The Emperor) opens with acoustic guitar and 'Tron strings again, before slipping into a slightly eastern-ish feel with the Mellotron fading in and out of the mix. The track finishes as it began, with the 'Tron fading to nothing at the end. The rest of the album showcases Marino's funky, bluesy take on hard rock with some superb playing and great songwriting. Even without the Mellotron element, this would be a great record, almost certainly Mahogany Rush/Marino's best. Buy.

Official site

Mahoujin  (Japan)

Mahoujin, '"Babylonia" Suite'

"Babylonia" Suite  (1978,  36.59)  ***½/TT

"Babylonia" Suite
  Introduction
  New Babylon I
  New Babylon II
  Last City B.C.538
  Epilogue

Cariot
Tower of Babel
Festival

Current availability:

Mahoujin are one of the earliest Japanese progressive bands proper; for some reason, it took Japan nearly a decade to catch onto the style, rather than the late-'60s type psych that was still regularly being heard in the mid-'70s. They take their cue mainly from ELP, with the unknown keyboardist (sorry, can't read Japanese ideograms) using many of Emerson's organ stylings and chord structures. There's actually a lot of polysynth to be heard on the album; I'd guess it's mostly Yamaha CS80, but it's rather hard to tell. The album is completely instrumental, which is probably a blessing; Japanese-language vocals don't always work that well in a progressive context, and this way the music is left to do the talking.

The side-long title track is probably the album's high point, with part three, New Babylon II having some really nice 'Tron string parts. They use the flutes on two of the tracks on side two, but to rather lesser effect. To sum up, a good, though not great prog album, and some reasonable Mellotron, but not particularly essential.

Malo  (US)

Malo, 'Ascención'

Ascención  (1974)  ***/T

Offerings
A la Escuela
Everlasting Night
Latin Woman
Chevere
Love Will Survive
Think About Love
Tiempo de Recordar
Close to Me
No Matter

Current availability:

Second-division Latin rockers (was there ever more than one band in the first division?) Malo were led by Jorge Santana, brother of the better known... They actually did a fair line in Santana copyism, if their fourth and last album, Ascención, is anything to go by, with plenty of Gregg Rolie-esque Hammond work from Ron DeMasi and the addition to the template of a three-piece brass section, along with the ubiquitous percussion. Unfortunately, the material isn't as good as Santana's, or at least as that on their first three classic albums, although the extended jamming on closer No Matter is pretty cool.

DeMasi was clearly an excellent player, apart from his Hammond chops, with some typically funky clavinet work on Think About Love and a ripping vibes solo on Tiempo De Recordar. He played Mellotron strings on the rather insipid ballad Everlasting Night and the more upbeat Love Will Survive, but we're not talking anything you couldn't live without. So; passable album with a smattering of highpoints; worth picking up cheap if you already own every '70s album by Santana.

Official Jorge Santana site

Mandalaband  (UK)

Mandalaband, 'Mandalaband'

Mandalaband  (1975,  41.02)  ***½/½

Om Mani Padme Hum
Determination
Song for a King
Roof of the World
Looking in
Mandalaband, 'The Eye of Wendor: Prophecies'

The Eye of Wendor: Prophecies  (1978,  39.55)  ***/½

The Eye of Wendor
Florian's Song/Ride to the City
Almar's Tower
Like the Wind
The Tempest/Dawn of a New Day
Departure From Carthilias
Elsethea
Witch of Waldow Wood
Silesandre
Ænord's Lament/Funeral of the King
Coronation of Damien

Current availability:

Mandalaband have all the hallmarks of a studio outfit (although I'm told they toured, at least early on), with much of their material being written by one David Rohl, who didn't actually play in the band, at least initially, and whose sole non-writing credit on Mandalaband is as remix engineer. Rohl's songs sit quite firmly in that 'musicals' style of prog writing, where you get the feeling that he'd have been happier writing stage shows in a Lloyd-Webber vein than that bloody prog stuff, although bassist John Stimpson's are less so. It's not a bad album, actually, if somewhat overblown, with highlights being parts of side one's epic, Om Mani Padme Hum (and no, it isn't a prog version of the Buddhist meditation chant), Roof Of The World and Stimpson's Determination. Now, despite keyboard man Vic Emerson having full instrumental credits, including 'string and choir arrangements', and the notable omission of a Mellotron from his rig, those are quite clearly 'Tron strings on Roof Of The World, unless the string arrangement somehow made a real string section sound like a Mellotron. The string synth has been left off his credits, too, making me seriously doubt their veracity.

Even more so than its predecessor, the preposterous The Eye of Wendor: Prophecies has all the hallmarks of a vanity project, oddly akin to The Intergalactic Touring Band's sole LP, released the previous year. Dozens of musicians, many of them famous, with no crossover with the first album, two years' recording time, a ludicrous concept... Yup, it's a vanity project. The album contains a beautifully illustrated fold-out insert, detailing the concept, a Tolkienesque effort concerning Florian, Ænord etc. etc., which was, of course, completely in keeping with the times. NOT! It seems unbelievable now that anyone might think that an album like this would be a success in the late '70s, but hindsight's a wonderful thing, and the upheavals of the day were probably regarded as a temporary aberration, not a seemingly permanent situation. At the end of the story are the fateful words, "To be continued". I've only once seen this particular prophecy fulfilled, and that's on Rush's A Farewell to Kings and Hemispheres.

Anyway, notable amongst the lengthy musicians list are all four of 10cc and Barclay James Harvest, with Woolly Wolstenholme playing synths and Mellotron, while 'Davy' Rohl plays various keys and sings this time round. I stumbled across a Japanese website detailing what was played by whom and on which track, but I've no idea where the information came from. According to it, Woolly plays Mellotron on over half the tracks, but I can only hear it on a handful, so I'm afraid I'm going to stick to that, so M400 choirs at the end of The Eye Of Wendor itself, Dawn Of A New Day and Witch Of Waldow Wood, although any or all of them could be the real choir that crops up here and there. For what it's worth, the tracks where I can't hear the 'Tron are: Ride To The City, Like The Wind, Elsethea, Silesandre and Funeral Of The King; I rather suspect that the real choir and string section have confused someone, but it's hard to say. So, we'll never know exactly how Florian regained the Eye of Wendor, but you can be sure that he did, as a failed quest isn't much use to anyone, is it?

Well, neither of these albums is exactly classic, but Mandalaband is definitely the more listenable of the two, and sounds less like it should be playing off Broadway. The Eye of Wendor is very silly, although to be fair, it's obviously been created with a lot of love, and considerable attention to detail, so it's difficult to be too hard on it. It really isn't very good, though... Neither album's exactly a 'Tron classic, either, so I'm not even going to attempt to recommend these. You'll just have to decide for yourself.

Mangala Vallis  (Italy)

Mangala Vallis, 'The Book of Dreams'

The Book of Dreams  (2002,  62.05)  **½/TTTT

Ouverture
Is the End the Beginning?
The Book of Dreams
The Journey
Days of Light
Under the Sea
Asha (Coming Back Home)
A New Century

Current availability:

Mangala Vallis formed in the late '90s as a guitar/keys/drums trio, with guitarist Mirco Consolini doubling on bass; they used several guest vocalists on their debut album, The Book of Dreams, including ex-PFM man Bernardo Lanzetti, which is a problem they're going to have to overcome in time. To be quite honest, the album lacks something on the originality front, although those of you more into the neo- side of the prog world will find much here to commend. As for the rest of us... This basically sounds like a cross between Grey Lady Down (who themselves sound an awful lot like the dreaded Marillion) crossed with Spock's Beard trying to play Genesis (just listen to the Supper's Ready cop on A New Century), so we're looking at a pretty well-trodden path here, and not an especially interesting one, at least to those already steeped in the genre. Actually, by about halfway through, I found myself beginning to lose the will to live, with only the occasional decent key modulation to keep my attention - oh, and the Mellotron work, of course. I believe the album has a concept, too; it's apparently based on the work of Jules Verne, though I could only hear the odd reference to his writings.

Enzo Cattini is actually credited with Mellotron (yes, it's real), used loads, with shedloads of strings and choir on most tracks. He also plays it with a modicum of taste (another Banks comparison, then), although his efforts are somewhat wasted when they're plastered over a generic neo-prog chord sequence, with a bass part that Mike Rutherford would've hammered to death with his polo mallet, or at least his Rickenbacker. I'm afraid I really can't recommend something as leadenly uninspired, plagiaristic and wildly overlong as The Book of Dreams to anyone, really, although there is a fair bit of the ol' 'Tron to be heard, which is about this album's only real saving grace. Lots of far better 'Tron-heavy albums about - buy one of those instead.

So; a dodgy neo-prog album, I'm afraid. Mangala Vallis followed-up three years on with the slightly better Lycanthrope, reviewed here, due to their sample use; apparently their 'very old' machine (er, aren't they all?) didn't want to work, so they faked it. Oh well. Decent enough Mellotron on their debut, though not enough to disguise the music's shortcomings.

Official site

Aimee Mann  (US)

Aimee Mann, 'Whatever'

Whatever  (1993,  52.50)  ****½/TTT½

I Should've Known
Fifty Years After the Fair
4th of July
Could've Been Anyone
Put Me on Top
Stupid Thing
Say Anything
Jacob Marley's Chain
Mr. Harris
I Could Hurt You Now
I Know There's a Word
I've Had it
Way Back When
Aimee Mann, 'I Should've Known' CDS  (1993)  ****/TT

I Should've Known
Take it Back

Baby Blue
Aimee Mann, 'That's Just What You Are' CDS  (1994)  ****/TT

That's Just What You Are
Superball
Momentum
Stupid Thing (alternate version)
Jimmy Hoffa Jokes
Aimee Mann, 'I'm With Stupid'

I'm With Stupid  (1995,  56.23)  ****/T½

Long Shot
Choice in the Matter
Sugarcoated
You Could Make a Killing
Superball
Amateur
All Over Now
Par for the Course
You're With Stupid Now
That's Just What You Are
Frankenstein
Ray
It's Not Safe
(unlisted track)
Aimee Mann, 'Magnolia'

Magnolia: Songs From the Motion Picture  (1999,  47.16)  ****/TT

One
Momentum
Build That Wall
Deathly
Driving Sideways
You Do
Nothing is Good Enough
Wise Up
Save Me
Goodbye Stranger [by Supertramp]
Logical Song [by Supertramp]
Magnolia [by Jon Brion]
Aimee Mann, 'Bachelor No.2'

Bachelor No.2 or, the Last Remains of the Dodo  (1999,  53.42)  ****/TTTT

How am I Different
Nothing is Good Enough
Red Vines

The Fall of the World's Own Optimist
Satellite
Deathly
Ghost World
Calling it Quits
Susan
Backfire
It Takes All Kinds
Save Me
Just Like Anyone
You Do
Aimee Mann, 'Lost in Space'

Lost in Space  (2002,  43.05/82.07)  ****/TTT½

Humpty Dumpty
High on Sunday 51
Lost in Space
This is How it Goes
Guys Like Me
Pavlov's Bell

Real Bad News
Invisible Ink
Today's the Day
The Moth

It's Not
['Special Edition' adds:
Real Bad News (live)
The Moth (live)
This is How it Goes (live)


The Scientist (live)
Invisible Ink (live)
Nightmare Girl
Backfire
Fighting the Stall

Observatory
It's Not (BBC session)]


Aimee Mann, 'The Forgotten Arm'

The Forgotten Arm  (2005,  47.13)  ****/T½

Dear John
King of the Jailhouse
Goodbye Caroline
Going Through the Motions
I Can't Get My Head Around it
She Really Wants You
Video
Little Bombs
That's How I Knew This Story Would Break My Heart
I Can't Help You Anymore
I Was Thinking I Could Clean Up for Christmas
Beautiful

Current availability:

Aimee Mann (these days married to Michael Penn, who operates in the same field) had been around seemingly forever, principally with her '80s outfit, 'Til Tuesday, by the time she released Whatever. My personal introduction to her was her guest vocal on Rush's Time Stand Still, from '87's Hold Your Fire, but this doesn't seem to get mentioned too much these days (n.b. it's on her website). However, like a fine wine, Whatever was worth the wait; her take on vaguely '60s-influenced pop-rock bears much repeated listening, with songs of the quality of I Should've Known and the rather wonderful Jacob Marley's Chain, and I think it's fair to say that there are no clunkers on this album, which isn't something you can say too often. There are various musical nods to Mann's forbears, including Roger McGuinn's sly 12-string quote from Mr Tambourine Man on Could've Been Anyone, but her music is far more than the sum of its influences, and she comes across as an original voice in an overcrowded field.

Chamberlin (and, I believe, Mellotron) throughout are played by the redoubtable Jon Brion, who also produces, as well as Ms Mann herself. As usual with Harry Chamberlin's marvellous creation, the instrument's irritating habit of sitting back in the mix means that it isn't always particularly obvious, but some upfront string parts on Put Me On Top and Jacob Marley's Chain more than make up for the 'is it or isn't it?'-ness of, for example, I Should've Known. As always with Mr Brion, its use is supremely tasteful, with immaculate arrangements and superb playing. You might've realised by now that I think this album's absolutely superb, and I find it incomprehensible that Ms Mann isn't better-known than she is, although it seems that her star is finally on the rise. All things come to those who wait?

Finding accurate information on Aimee's single releases from the period is nigh-on impossible, as every source I've seen (her site's discography included) seems to disagree with every other in various respects. What I do know is that three b-sides from Whatever turn up on various releases; the two listed here handily gather together all three relevant tracks, although you may very well find them in different combinations. Take It Back, an I Should've Known b-side, is a decent enough song with a brief string part, with a fab pitchbend at the end, while the harmonium-driven Jimmy Hoffa Jokes is a beautiful song (why was this not on the album?), with a lovely Chamby flute part. The alternate version of Stupid Thing has some strings towards the end that are so quiet they only really show up in the dying seconds of the song, but is still well worth hearing. Jimmy Hoffa Jokes and Take It Back are available on Ultimate Collection, released in 2000, which is doubtless an easier way to find them than tracking down long out of print singles, and can also be found on the Attack of the Killer B-Sides and Return of the Killer B-Sides (ho ho) bootleg compilations of odd Aimee tracks.

By the time I'm With Stupid (remember the '70s novelty t-shirt slogan? No?) came out two years later, Aimee was already suffering label hassles, being dropped by Geffen soon after. The album's opening line is "You fucked it up", just in case anyone was thinking of accusing Aimee of wussing out. Fat chance... While the songs are still excellent, there are fewer stick-in-your-head efforts here, docking the album half a star from its predecessor, although in a saner world, Superball would've been a major worldwide hit. Less (presumably) Chamberlin this time round, with only four obvious tracks on display (track-by-track credits, but no keyboard specifics). Amateur's flutes and strings fit the underlaid vinyl crackle and sort-of '50s vibe rather well, while Par For The Course features Aimee on every instrument, with a little burst of Chamby strings towards the end. There may be some brass on Frankenstein (not that one), along with the flutes, and just a tiny smattering of flute on It's Not Safe, but the last bit of tape-replay on the album is a muckabout unlisted track stuck on the end (thankfully without the obligatory 13-minute gap...).

The soundtrack to '99's Magnolia, a film featuring many of Aimee's songs (some of which reappeared on Bachelor No.2), appears to be largely responsible for her current higher public profile, so hats off to director Paul Thomas Anderson for giving her a much-needed (and much-deserved) break. I've no idea how the songs fit into the film, but they work pretty well on disc, being the by-now usual run of dissertations on people, and why they do. Or don't. Three tracks have Chamberlin specifically credited, but it sounds to me like it might be on some of the other tracks, too, specifically Save Me, which has to be Chamberlin (Patrick Warren this time). Of the credited tracks, You Do features Warren on Chamby strings to reasonable effect, Benmont Tench plays it on Nothing Is Good Enough and Jon Brion gets to have a go on Wise Up. The soundtrack's filled out with a Jon Brion orchestral piece and two well-known (and well-worn) Supertramp songs. At least they didn't use the awful Breakfast In America...

Bachelor No.2 or, the Last Remains of the Dodo carries on in the grand tradition of Aimee Mann songwriting, but confuses the issue by slightly crossing-over with Magnolia, although one of the four common tracks is a different version anyway... Nothing Is Good Enough is dramatically improved by vocals (the original version was instrumental), although the Chamberlin on Red Vines, despite being played by two of the usual suspects, is largely inaudible. A few tracks have Chamberlin specifically credited, but I can hear it on several others; How Am I Different and Satellite have strings from Patrick Warren, and Deathly doesn't even have keyboards credited, despite the fairly obvious string part. Ghost World, Susan... the list just goes on of excellent Chamby parts draped around killer songs; Backfire is a particularly good example of both. Another effortlessly great album, with stacks of Chamberlin to boot.

Lost in Space's faux-'50s booklet graphics seem to suit the music's gentle melancholy and timeless analogue sound perfectly; inspired design choice, Ms Mann. The music's as good as ever although, as with most of her material, it takes several listens to fully appreciate the artistry involved. It's actually quite difficult to pick out highlights, but the title track, Guys Like Me and It's Not are all good starting points. Once again, Chamberlin pretty much throughout, played by Michael Lockwood, Jebin Bruni and the inimitable Patrick Warren, and two of the three Chamby-less tracks have orchestral arrangements anyway. It's odd how Aimee's albums can sound both sparse and lush at the same time, but given the quality of her collaborators, I really shouldn't be surprised at the professionalism of her sound. Superlative. A year after its initial release, a 'special edition' version of the album appeared, with a 40-minute bonus disc of live stuff, b-sides etc. Is it worth having? Of course, although most of the tracks are available elsewhere in their original versions. Chamberlin on two studio tracks, with flutes, strings and brass on Backfire from Jon Brion, and strings on Fighting The Stall from Patrick Warren. There's a fair bit of 'Chamby' on several other tracks, but given that they're live or radio sessions, and aren't specifically credited in the booklet, I suspect they're all samples.

After 2004's Live at St. Anne's Warehouse, featuring Chamby samples, 2005 brought The Forgotten Arm, a concept album of sorts; the title is a boxing reference, which explains the sleeve. As on its predecessor, beautiful artwork, though in a completely different, pulp novel style; in fact the whole CD booklet is designed to look like an old paperback, right down to the fake 'back of the title page' and the lyrics presented as chapters. So, can this woman do no wrong? Another set of great songs, lovingly recorded, in Aimee's standard 'timeless' style (by which I mean, 'not contemporary', I suppose), with no specific highlights (at least initially), but her usual overall warmth and charm. Am I a fan? Well, am I? For the first time, no specific track-by-track credits, although Jebin Bruni is the only credited keyboard player. It takes a while for any tape-replay (presumably Chamberlin) to kick in, with a gorgeous string part on Going Through The Motions, with cellos and more strings on That's How I Knew This Story Would Break My Heart although, oddly, that appears to be it, with Bruni playing more piano and Hammond than anything, making this Aimee's lowest-rated Chamby album yet.

Anyway, all these albums are more than worthy of your attention, if you like great songwriting, so the Mellotron/Chamberlin stuff's really quite secondary, although it often enhances what's already there. Buy.

Official site

Manfred Mann  (South Africa/UK)

Manfred Mann, 'Semi-Detached Suburban Mr.James' 7"  (1966)  ****/TTTT½

Semi-Detached Suburban Mr. James

Morning After the Party

Manfred Mann, 'Ha! Ha! Said the Clown' 7"  (1967)  ***½/TTTT

Ha! Ha! Said the Clown

Feeling So Good

Manfred Mann, 'So Long, Dad' 7"  (1967)  ***/TT

So Long, Dad

Funniest Gig

Manfred Mann, 'Chapter Two'

Chapter Two: the Best of the Fontana Years  (1966-69/1994,  56.47)  ****/TTT½

Just Like a Woman
I Wanna Be Rich
Trouble and Tea
Box Office Draw
Each Other's Company
Semi-Detached Suburban Mr. James
Each and Every Day
Ha! Ha! Said the Clown
So Long, Dad

The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)
It's So Easy Falling
No Better, No Worse
Everyday Another Hair Turns Grey
Cubist Town

Up the Junction
Sing Songs of Love
My Name is Jack
Fox on the Run
Ragamuffin Man
Funniest Gig

Current availability:

Manfred Mann confusingly had his band named after him, making for a slight filing problem; I've opted for surname, although some discographies file under 'Manfred' (they were popularly known as 'The Manfreds', also the name of the current Manfred-less group containing original members). For some reason, they're one of the less-fondly remembered '60s groups, although they had stacks of hits; maybe a lack of psychedelic credibility has scuppered them in the long-term. Who knows? Anyway, they were excellent at what they did, which was clever, literate mainstream pop, light years away from Mann's later adventures with Chapter Three (see below) and the Earth Band.

Semi-Detached Suburban Mr. James was their 11th hit, presumably recorded soon after Mann bought his Mark II 'Tron. It's an excellent song with a spectacularly bitter lyric about an ex-girlfriend, of the kind nobody would even think to write these days. On top of its general excellence, Mann goes for complete Mellotron overkill. It opens with a flute melody, and also features brass and a brief unaccompanied accordion (?) part; there aren't even any other keyboards on the track, although he usually played organ and piano. A definite case of 'new toy syndrome', I think, but who's arguing? Their follow-up, Ha! Ha! Said The Clown, isn't quite the equal of its predecessor, but is still well worth hearing. It also opens with a polyphonic flute part, plus more of those accordions, complete with a superb pitchbent chord utilised a couple of times.

Given the vagaries of the band's discography, with competing UK and US releases, I have no problem in reviewing a compilation CD, at least until I've heard their entire late '60s output. Chapter Two: the Best of the Fontana Years features an hour of music taken from their late '60s albums, plus singles and b-sides. Apart from the singles reviewed above, the As is track Each Other's Company opens with a killer 'Tron strings part, while flop single So Long, Dad, despite its honky-tonk piano, mixes harpsichord and 'Tron flutes in the chorus. Several Mighty Garvey! tracks feature the instrument, with Each And Every Day having some fairly full-on brass (trombones?), It's So Easy Falling having more of the same plus flutes, No Better, No Worse has a major accordion part and Everyday Another Hair Turns Grey really goes for it on the flutes. Looks like this is the one to go for on the 'Tron front, then...

Anyway, the two big hits are essential 'Tron listening, especially for anyone wishing to hear some early use of the machine. What's interesting about both tracks is how 'raw' the Mellotron sounds, with differing volumes between notes and a really 'cranky' feel to it. I suspect it was recorded by mic'ing up the internal speakers rather than DI'ing it, but despite being brand new, it sounds like it could've done with a good set-up. I've no idea what Mann did with it eventually; he bought an M400 for Earth Band use, but maybe his MkII's still sitting in storage somewhere? Incidentally, it seems that the above-named albums have had expanded CD releases, along with the Up the Junction soundtrack LP and the Mannerisms compilation, which mops up several non-LP tracks.

Official Manfreds site

Manfred Mann's Chapter Three  (UK)

Manfred Mann's Chapter Three, 'Volume Two'

Volume Two  (1970,  45.49/56.04)  ***/½

Lady Ace
I Ain't Laughing
Poor Sad Sue
Jump Before You Think
It's Good to Be Alive
Happy Being Me
Virginia
[CD adds:
I Ain't Laughing (single mono)
Happy Being Me (single mono)
Virginia (alternate)

Current availability:

  • Creature

Manfred Mann's Chapter Three was Mann's first 'serious' band, after his pop group of the same name (see above), and before the Earth Band, and seemed to be his attempt to fuse rock and jazz, in a manner vaguely akin to, say, Colosseum. How well it worked has to be a matter for the listener; it doesn't especially grab me, but I've never been big on fusion, assuming that's an appropriate term for this music. Their second and last album, Volume Two, is a mixture of early progressive and jazz-rock involving Latin and African percussion, amongst other styles, and works better as a historical record than as a listening experience, at least to my ears. It has its moments (notably opener Lady Ace) and its horrors (the grotesquely lengthy Happy Being Me), but lacks an overall focus, not to mention melody. Think: 'experiment that didn't really work', and you're probably not too far off the mark.

Mann's Mark II Mellotron on one track, with a brief string part on It's Good To Be Alive that doesn't especially enhance the track, although it's preferable to the squawking sax that maims much of the album. This isn't entirely awful, by any means, but could have done with a little editing, and a lot less brass, although I'm sure I'm heavily missing the point in saying so. Hardly any Mellotron, either, so probably not worth it for most of you.


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