PERFECT TIMING (THE U.A. YEARS: 1970 - 1975)

As a teenager I saw them on stage for the first time in the early 70s. A compilation is a good cause for a short review about the history of this outstanding welsh band. They are still (2007) on the run and what I am writing about is the phase from 1970 until 1975. One year later the band split for several years. 'Perfect Timing' was produced with the subtitle 'The U.A. Years' because of the fact they were contracted by United Artists at this time.

The band was built up by four wellknown long time members: Micky Jones - the only constant presence during 35(!) years - Deke Leonard, Martin Ace and drummer Terry Williams. And also Clive John - very talented - playing keys as well as guitars. It starts with Daughter of the fireplace from 1970. The song is a rock n' roller with some psychedelic moments and overburdened vocals by Deke Leonard. The next track Romain from the same album is an alltime standard in their live performances. Both songs are important for the MAN history but I don't like them very much. I would have prefered the space/psychedelic 'Would the christians wait 5 minutes' which is a preview to the beginning of the best phase of MAN starting with 'Do you like it here now' one year later.

Many are called but few get up is one of my favourite MAN songs - perfectly arranged and very complex. Martin Ace plays more than simple bass lines. Manillo is a nice laid back piece accompanied by good piano playing. All good clean fun has a funny remarkable outro with vocals played backwards. Deke Leonards songwriting is less dominant on this release. Later he left the band together with Ace to form ICEBERG.

'Be good to yourself' was released 1972 and the MAN band has arrived the peak. Will Youatt (bass) and Phil Ryan (keyboards) entered the band and Clive John changed to the guitar. Two songs were taken for this compilation and they are mellow classics - played also on nearly every stage including extended improvisations. C'mon has a happy groove and suddenly is interrupted by an excellent psychedelic laid back part. Bananas is also a fantastic played song with some jamming about eating bananas and smoking mariuhana. Back into the future follows as the short title song of a MAN masterpiece from 1973 with very good studio and also two brillant live tracks. Clive John had left and Tweke Lewis (guitar) had a short but outstanding time with the band.

In 1974 nearly the complete crew changed. Deke Leonard came back to the band. The space/psychedelic style decreased and the following studio outputs cannot convince me much. But with The thunder and lightning kid is another good song considered - excellently arranged and played. The second excerpt from 'Rhinos, Winos And Lunatics' Scotch corner happens to be not a very spectacular rock song with some american shuffle feeling. From the album 'Slow Motion' is selected Hard way to die, another classic MAN song with more Hard Rock portions. The last song Babe I'm gonna leave you is the only live song - a track from the album 'Maximum Darkness', recorded in May 1975. They played with special guest John Cippolina, a member of the US west coast band QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE. This song manages excellent interacting of three guitars - brilliant.

'Perfect Timing' offers a good overview about a very innovative and turbulent phase of the MAN Band. I would have selected some other songs but nevertheless it is worth enough to be added to any extensive prog music collection.

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