In today's article we are going to talk about The Five Faces of Manfred Mann. This is a topic that has gained great relevance in recent years and has aroused the interest of many people. The Five Faces of Manfred Mann is a topic that covers a wide range of aspects and can be applied to different areas of life. In this article we will explore different aspects of The Five Faces of Manfred Mann, from its historical origin to its impact on today's society. Furthermore, we will analyze how The Five Faces of Manfred Mann has evolved over time and what are the future perspectives on this topic. Do not miss it!
The Five Faces of Manfred Mann (UK) | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 11 September 1964[1] | |||
Recorded | 17 December 1963 – 5 June 1964[2] | |||
Studio | EMI Studios, London | |||
Genre | R&B[3] | |||
Label | His Master's Voice | |||
Producer | John Burgess[4] | |||
Manfred Mann chronology | ||||
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Manfred Mann album chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
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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[1] by His Master's Voice. In late October/early November, the album was released in Canada by Capitol Records.[7] 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".[1]
The songs on the original version of the Five Faces of Manfred Mann are R&B, including the band's cover versions of Howlin' Wolf's "Smokestack Lightning", Muddy Waters' "Got My Mojo Working", and Bo Diddley's "Bring It to Jerome", as well as a few of the group's own jazzy compositions. Particularly noticeable in the instrumental sections are Manfred Mann's keyboard work, Mike Vickers' flute and saxophone work, and Mike Hugg's vibes. The album includes the Cannonball Adderley song "Sack O' Woe" from the R&B-influenced school of early 1960s jazz.[4]
Bruce Eder of AllMusic writes:
The debut album by Manfred Mann holds up even better 40 years on than it did in 1964. It's also one of the longest LPs of its era, clocking in at 39 minutes, and there's not a wasted note or a song extended too far among its 14 tracks.[1]
In his retrospective review of the US release, critic Bruce Eder wrote, "The band's second American LP (which shares its title with their first British album) was slightly less impressive than their first, but was still a respectable mix of R&B and pop. For pop, there were 'Sha La La' and 'Come Tomorrow,' two of their biggest mid-'60s hits, and 'She,' one of their best self-penned efforts in that vein. For R&B, there was the original 'Hubble Bubble (Toil and Trouble),' a British hit, and some good covers, notably 'I'm Your Kingpin,' 'Groovin',' and 'Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron,' drawn from a then-recent British EP release."
The Five Faces of Manfred Mann (US) | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 8 February 1965 | |||
Recorded | 5 February–26 November 1964[2] | |||
Studio | EMI Studios, London | |||
Genre | ||||
Label | Ascot | |||
Producer | John Burgess | |||
Manfred Mann US chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Five Faces of Manfred Mann (US) | ||||
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The American version of the album (their second U.S. release following The Manfred Mann Album) was released on 8 February 1965 by Ascot Records (a subsidiary of United Artists)[8] with a very different track listing. This version is more pop-oriented than its predecessor, The Manfred Mann Album, as it features "Sha La La", "Come Tomorrow",[9] and "Hubble Bubble (Toil and Trouble)"; as well as compositions made by lead singer Paul Jones and the traditional American folk number "John Hardy". It also features a smaller section of the band's R&B and jazz influences.[10][11] It is essentially a whole different album, sharing only two songs with the UK release ("I'm Your Kingpin" and "You've Got to Take It"): the majority of the album already appeared on The Manfred Mann Album.
According to the Sundazed reissue:[12]
Manfred Mann
Production
The Five Faces of Manfred Mann peaked at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart and is the band's highest charting release on that chart.[13] The U.S. version also charted on the Billboard 200, spending four weeks on the chart and peaking at number 141 on 20 March 1965.[1][14]
Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
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United Kingdom | 11 September 1964 | His Master's Voice | mono LP | CLP 1731 |
Canada | October 1964 | Capitol Records | mono LP | T-6093 |
United States | February 1965 | Ascot Records | mono LP | ALM 13018 |
stereo LP | ALS 16018 | |||
Canada | circa 1966 | Capitol Records | duophonic LP | DT-6093 |
their accomplished take on R&B that was neatly caught on their strangely hit-free debut album