PLAINS MUSIC

First off if you want to listen to Manfred Mann's Earth Band delivering great African ethnic sounds then get Somewhere In Afrika from 1982 and play side two of the album. Pretty decent music and very appropriate for the times in Southern Africa. Secondly if you want to listen to North American ethnic music then don't listen to Manfred Mann's Plains Music either because I must stress, the majority of the music on this offering is second rate African ethnic music at best.Granted there are some decent tunes like ' Wounded Knee and Kiowa but Sikilele I and Sikilele II are poor versions of something Jaluka or even Savuka may have produced with the great Johnny Clegg.' Medicine Song' has some nice upbeat melody with Noel McCalla on vocals ( He sang on Smallcreep's Day for Mike Rutherford). I guess 'Plains' music could relate to both continents but I am pretty sure the missive of this album was supposed to have focussed on North American Indian themes. The album excluding bonus tracks is about thirty minutes long so I am afraid not much to offer all round. Far better to recommend Manfred Mann's Earth Band for some great progressive works. Confusing review? It is meant to be, I still cannot work this one out. Watch out for the Kenny G type sax too on ' Salmon Fishing'. Keyboard work as always exemplary as one would expect from Manfred Mann.