Second of Two from the Three and like the First
The second of the two Manfred Mann Chapter Three albums [I
know the Volume Two gives it away, the point being there were only two main albums,
with subsequent editions/variations appearing over time] is more of the same
from the first, so going to my review of that favourite here is more than just
a cheat and does embrace the overall sound.
Opener on this one Lady
Ace by Mike Hugg sounds quite a bit like Travelling Lady from that first so the melody has had a long
extension [read about its origins in the initial review] but this does break
into the explosive horn and saxophone jamboree that I do so like from this
period of Mann’s output: freeform sax solo a la Ornette Coleman and horns that
could be from either the Buddy Rich Big Band or Blood, Sweat and Tears.
Hugg’s pop sensibilities are more to the fore in the next I Ain’t Laughing which is really quite
sweet and folksy, more down the Incredible String Band route, whilst third Poor Sad Sue is still pop but with a
blues rhythm and fuzz, semi-oriental saxophone in the background with more
screaming sax as the track progresses, and the song merges into piano jazz
before more wild and wonderful freeform shenanigans. It really becomes very
playful. African drums underpin some fine bass playing by Steve York on Jump Before You Think, and there is a 15
minute upbeat-pop-into-jazz extravaganza with penultimate [on the original
album] track Happy Being Me, some excellent
Mann piano playing before the beautiful alto saxophone of Bernie Living – and then
the long jam.
The closing song Virginia
– again on the original vinyl – exemplifies the focus on this second outing: a
pop melodic core, sung with Hugg’s feather-light rasp of a voice, and then
sudden hearty stabs of horn and saxophone and some mad Mann organ. Love it.
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