Radio Days Vol 4 – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band

The fourth instalment in Manfred Mann’s “Radio Days” series covers the highly regarded first lineup of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band: Manfred Mann (keyboards), Mick Rogers (guitar, vocals), Colin Pattenden (bass), and Chris Slade (drums). Volume 4 spans the early Earth Band material which put the band on the map as a live concert attraction, with every track on this release making it’s official release debut. The band’s earliest BBC appearance, when they were still called Manfred Mann, took place on 23 June 1971 when they recorded three tracks for Dave Lee Travis’ programme: “Living Without You,” “Big Betty,” and “Mighty Quinn.” The latter only exists as a fragment, but all three have been included on this release. The centrepieces of this collection are the “in concert” appearances from 1971 (Paris Theatre, London) and 1973 (Golders Green Hippodrome, London), widely regarded as one of the all-time best Earth Band performances captured on tape. “Ashes To The Wind,” “Black Betty” and the Chapter Three favourite “Happy Being Me” were part of the 1971 session hosted by John Peel that was later made available through the BBC transcription disc “Pick Of The Pops For Your D.J.” On 10 January 1972, the band performed a short BBC live set of “Meat” and “Mighty Quinn.” To promote their “Messin’” album, a further BBC gig for “Pete Drummond’s Sequence” on 3 April 1973 produced “Dealer,” “Glorified Magnified,” “Messin’,” “Get Your Rocks Off,” and “Cloudy Eyes.” In 1973, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band were laying down their next album “Solar Fire” – works-in-progress versions of “Father Of Day, Father Of Night,” “Solar Fire,” and “Bubblegum And Kippling” (the latter of which became known as “Earth The Circle, Part 2”) were recorded during that September for airing on “Sounds On Sunday.” “Stereo Pop Special – 59: Pop Spectacular Featuring Manfred Mann’s Earth Band In Concert.” The Radio Days series is being released under the “Artist Approved” banner, newly remastered and issued with the full approval of the featured artists.  2xCD set. 3xLP set.