ODDS & SODS (MIS-TAKES & OUT-TAKES)

Any review of a Manfred Mann's Earth Band compilation album has to begin with the statement that there has yet to be a truly excellent 'Best of' or 'Greatest Hits' release of this band's music. I've personally compiled my own list of what I believe to be their fifteen very best studio works; none of the existing compilation albums contains more than nine of them, and several of these were included as abbreviated 'single' or 'radio' versions. This 'Odds & Sods' collection is the closest thing the band would release to a comprehensive anthology, and even then there are an awful lot of b-sides, previously unreleased tracks and alternate versions of the band's classics.

Despite that this is a pretty solid collection, as it does manage to give a fairly comprehensive and complete picture of the band's evolution over the four decades or so of their existence. Most of the essential tracks are here including the obligatory "Blinded by the Light" although sadly this is the shortened radio edit, an error in judgment that was really inexcusable considering there are four discs worth of music and the band could have easily accommodated the seven-plus minutes of the album version. The version of "California" from 'Watch' is also a shorted one, another disappointing decision considering that was the only song of any note from that album and this cut-down rendition doesn't even match that one (although the lengthy live instrumental version "Martha's Madman", also from 'Watch' sounds much better here than it did on the studio release). "For You" from the otherwise lame 'Chance' release is also chopped down here and is woefully under- produced to boot.

The previously unreleased material includes a few interesting alternate versions including "Ashes to the Wind" which is far superior to the original brief cut from 'Glorified Magnified'. There are also some decent songs that never made it onto any studio albums, most notably the funky "Quit Your Low Down Ways"; the live ballad "S.O.S." which is an amazingly soulful version of the ABBA classic; and the piano-driven "Salmon Fishing", an obscure U.S.-only single from the late 70s period. There are several other outtakes and songs recorded during various studio sessions that didn't make it onto any albums, but for the most part it's pretty obvious why. "To the Limit" for example is a flaccid dance tune that the band should have left to obscurity, and the Gary Numan-like "War Dream" was a b-side in 1982 and didn't deserve even that.

The mix here is pretty wide-ranging and includes something from pretty much every lineup and album the band put together over the years. In that respect it represents a comprehensive view of the group's various permutations and styles and is worth checking out for that reason alone. There are no hidden gems with the possible exception of the creative interpretation of "S.O.S.", but overall I have to say this was worth the price and I would recommend it to any serious Earth Band fan. A solid three stars but not quite four, though I could see where a fanboy might be willing to tack on that extra star and I'm not sure I would fault them.

peace