Originally formed by Mann (b. Mike Lubowitz in Johannesburg, South Africa, 21 October 1940) and Hugg (b. Andover, Hampshire, II August 1942) as jazz-band called Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers.
In 1964 started playing R & B, and consolidated themselves into five-piece with line-up as above, though Dave Richmond was original bassist. Jones (real name Paul Pond) was undergraduate at Oxford University.
Signed to HMV, and released unsuccessful, but promising instrumental, Why Should We not?, and then found their niche with fast-moving Cock-A-Hoop. Was not until third single, 5-4-3-2-1, with Jones’ harp-playing prominently featured, that band established themselves as chart act.
5-4-3-2-1, which reached No.5 in charts, was assisted by the fact that it was used as theme tune for TV programme, Ready Steady Go, until it was replaced by band’s follow-up, Rubble Bubble Toil And Trouble, also a major hit.
Group had fifteen hits in following years, with high-class pop material, reserving their more special instrumental skills for use on albums like blues-oriented (I). Hits included Do Wah Diddy Diddy, No. I on both sides of Atlantic, Come Tomorrow, Oh No Not My Baby, and Pretty Flamingo.
Meanwhile, Vickers left to pursue solo projects, McGuinness moved up to lead guitar, with Jack Bruce coming in on bass. Also recorded popular EP which included Jones’ composition about the band-and himself The One In The Middle, as well as cover of Dylan’s With God On Our Side.
Within six months, Bruce left to form Cream, and Jones opted for solo career. (Had two solo hits, High Time and I’ve Been A Bad Bad Boy, latter of which came from movie in which Jones starred, Privilege)
Replacements were Klaus Voormann and Mike D’ Abo respectively. Band signed to Fontana, and resumed chart success with Semi-Detached Suburban Mr. James, Ha Ha said The Clown, and My Name Is Jack.
Band always did well covering Dylan songs (With God On Our Side, If You Gotta Go, Go Now; and later Just Like A Woman and The Mighty Quinn, band’s third No. I). Dylan himself was quoted as saying that he thought Manfred Mann provided best cover versions of his songs.
Meanwhile, band becoming jaded with automatically churning out hit singles. Like Vickers, many members yearned to absorb them-selves in ‘heavier’ projects; Hugg wrote score for Up The Junction.
In 1969 Mann broke up band and he and Hugg formed more ambitious Manfred Mann Chapter Three with full brass section; group did not work out and was dissolved in 1971.
(1) Five Faces Of Manfred Mann (HMV 1964)
(2) Mann Made (HMV 1965, reissued Starline 1969)
(3) Soul Of Mann (HMV 1967)
(4) As Is (Fontana 1967)
(5) Up The Junction (sound track) (Fontana 1967)
(6) Mighty Garvey (Fontana 1968).
Compilations:
(7) Mann Made Hits (HMV 1966)
(8) This Is Manfred Mann (Philips 1971).
Manfred Mann Chapter Three:
(9) Manfred Mann Chapter Three (Vertigo 1969)
(10) Chapter Three, Volume Two (Vertigo 1970)
Leave a comment