Manfred Mann's Earthband - Philadelphia 1976

This is one of those moments in time. When a band introduces a 'new song', as they did during this performance, one that all these years later we know to be, a 'classic' of theirs, you can begin to plot that occasion with greater clarity.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band have never been superstars. I think it fair to say that was never the intended goal, indeed the choice was taken to move away from 'three minute pop songs' and chart hits, and explore more creative ideas.

By the time of the 'Roaring Silence Tour' they were however well established, but they did not fit that comfortably into any particular rock niche. A bit Prog, a bit rock blues, sometimes just Manfred Mann, growing a little older.

This is a recording of them at the Spectrum, Philadelphia USA, on the 15th October 1976.

They were, and indeed remain a recording band, one of those acts who seem to embrace a lot of contemporary artists, and not detract from the original idea.

They were pretty good to put it mildly - live, as the following concert confirms.

01 - Intro - The Road To Babylon - Spirits In The Night
02 - Davey's On The Road Again
03 - Time Is Right
04 - Father Of Day, Father Of Night - Captain Bobby Stout
05 - Blinded By The Light
06 - The Mighty Quinn
07 - Waiter, There's A Yawn In My Ear - Outro

(click on the links to download)

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The sound quality on this gig is superb, it was broadcast on FM, this is probably a recording of that broadcast, all I can say is, whoever recorded this had one decent tuner to say the least, and recorded it as if they were in the concert hall.

Some Manfred Mann Earthband Cd's HERE.

With hindsight they were typical of the bands Radio Caroline featured in the mid 1970's, and it is no suprise, they survived the punk revolution, because they were genuine, and not on the get rich quick bandwagon...