At The Manne Hole Vol.1 - Shelly Manne & His Men

Advantages: Easy to listen to Songs
Disadvantages: CD2 a bit poor

.... A once heard never forgotten song, when it was originally released a few radio stations would not play it because they thought the lyrics were unsuitable. “Pretty Flamingo” was released as a single in 1966 and became Manfred Mann’s 2nd No.1, staying at the top spot for 3 weeks. 1967 saw the single release of “Ha Ha Said the Clown”, a lively pop song that got to No.5 in the charts. Bob Dylan came to the rescue again in 1968 when Manfred Mann released his composition “Mighty Quinn”. This was to be their 3rd and final No.1 in the UK where it stayed for 2 weeks as well as reaching No.10 in America. The next song was “My Names Jack” from the film – You Are What You Eat. This song reached the top 10 in 1968. “Fox on the Run” always makes me smile. Anyone who watches Shooting Stars on BBC2 will recognise this as the song that Vic Reeves & Bob... Read review

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Advantages: Rich dark and adult music with an intoxicating sense of melody
Disadvantages: Occasional problems with one speed tempo, The odd misplaced lyrical image

..., resulting in the record being buried both critically and commercially in the fall out. Not that Mann would let a simple problem like a disintegrating record label stop her. Two years later she released ‘I’m With Stupid’ on Geffen, who also bought the rights to her back catalogue. The experience with Imago however, undoubtedly left its mark. ‘I’m With Stupid’ is a far darker, bleaker and altogether murkier record then its predecessor. The albums opening line “You f*****ed it up / You should have quit / Til circumstances changed a bit”, is a shock from the previously demur Mann and can be read as a wry comment on her previous label or perhaps herself. The Bernard Butler collaboration, ‘Sugarcoated’ is a pop highlight and his spidery guitar lines influence huge swathes of the playing therein. However, it is the desolate ballads... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Nearly 30 years of rock's seminal singer-songwriter
Disadvantages: None

...of us who had followed him since the 60s and had had to adopt an air of forgiveness for years of pretty dodgy product, this was a timely reminder of why we got into him in the first place. How do you pick highlights out from this lot? Almost impossible, but I'll go for the suureal, vitriolic "She's Your Lover Now", the powerful "Blind Willie McTell", and the lighthearted, early "Talkin'Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues". Some of the songs may be familiar, but not these versions. Here you'll find an arguably superior version to the take on the "New Morning" LP of "If Not For You" with George Harrison on slide guitar, the original 1-minute, 1-verse waltz-tempo try-out of "Like A Rolling Stone", and at last an official release for "If You Gotta Go, Go Now", which you may remember as a Manfred Mann favourite - for some bizarre version... Read review

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