MANN ALIVE

I have always had a soft spot for MMEBs early 70s albums, the later period (from 'Watch' an later) being to "easy-listening" for my taste. However, as a LIVE band, now that's a different story. The role of Mann & co as composers of prog music may undoubtedly be argued, the best tracks on their albums have (almost) without exceptions been cover tunes. Very good covers, though. MMEBs interpretation and arrangement of Dylan and Springsteen classics are nothing but superb music to my ears, and on this album we are served with the best MMEB can offer: many of their best cover tunes in LIVE recordings. Much of the material is from their 1976+ period, but that's OK with me in this context because the versions are good, the live atmosphere is there, the live 'glitches' and improvisations are all there. All in all, a highly recommended album for both newcomers to MMEB as well as the rest of us who love to hear them live.

This is the second Earthband Live Album. I read the Interview with Manfred Mann, and he didn't really likes this record. Why ever... But it sounds like a typical Earthband Live Concert, has a lot of variation in the songs and..... i stop here, it's just Manfred Mann Feeling. This album is not a "Masterpiece" but just great...

If you have seen MM's EB on stage, with the last singer ( Noel Mc Calla) these 2 CDs are a good transcription of Manfred Mann music in concert. It' an interesting way to discover all Manfred Mann' s Earth Band career 'cause all titles on those CDs were written from the end of the 60'ies ( Mightiy queen) to the middle of the 90'ies. It sounds well and clear too ! The post-production (Chris thomson's son) is a fine and very clever job. I saw Manfred mann's for his french tour 4 monthes ago and I bought this live album at the end of the concert. "Double joy" for that unique evening

I must admit when purchasing this album from the record store, I was looking very much forward to getting home and giving it a blast. The recording is good, but this album lacks more of the early stuff. Once again just like Budapest, it covers more of the Chris Thompson period. There are tracks here that are a delight to hear, but others fall way below par. The worst of these below par tracks I would have to say is non other than track 3, You Angel You. To which I was was all geared up for, being a keyboard player myself, the track opens nicely with the moog, then it dissapears into a totally crap played hammond sortish organ. Why the hell Mr. Mann did not use the moog accompanied by strings as totally confused me here, because it would have turned out a damn site better. Instead what we have here, is something that sounds like the geezer cannot play the track at all, unless done in a studio. Which is ver un professional. I could have done a better job myself with it. This kind of lack of keyboard parts, does not stop just on this track either. It also appears on the classic Father Of Day, Father Of Night. To which mick rogers is left to do most of the work, which is very unlike the studio track from Solar Fire.

Al in all though, the album is a good purchase, especially if your into the more later stuff of MMEB's material. To which I would give 3 and a half stars in reality. I cannot give it 4 stars, simply becasue it is not prog music here, there is far to much of the later material on it.

This third live album of the Mann is not significantly different from the other ones but slightly better overall.

OK, it is a double one which could mean that the fan would get the chance to get a full concert available. But there is nothing as such.

The second CD is called "Encore & More". Not the best way to describe a live set...Half a concert and about half of repeated tracks BUT in a shorter format for most of the song.

Some exception like the great "Shelter From The Storm" from their latest studio album (Vengeance) which is by far my fave track from this second CD. And to have two versions of the very average Marley "Redemption Song" is not a great experience.

I have never liked "Demolition Man": nor "The Police" original, nor the Mann studio version, nor any live versions. On the contrary of course of a jewel like "Blinded By The Light". A great pop song, with feeling like I enjoy a lot. And the shorter version works very well since it avoids some useless repetitions.

But there are other enjoyable songs on this live album like "Davy's On The Road Again" with its heavy & pumping organ play, the hard and soul-ish "The Mighty Quinn" and a good (but not exceptional) rendition of "Father Of Day, Father Of Night" (even if the great guitar of the studio version is not really on par). The fully expanded version of "Blinded" on the first CD is also well achieved. As the spacey instrumental She Was (one of my fave, but too short).

There are also some down points, unfortunately (Nothing Ever Happens, Sikelele).

All in all, this is probably the best Mann live album available. Three stars.