Very nice "unplugged" type CD
kireviewer | Sunnyvale, Ca United States | 05/22/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is mostly an unplugged type CD. Six songs were recorded in 1996 and 5 in 2001. The long Man band of Martin Ace, Micky Jones and Deke Leonard are on all tracks. The drummer changed in between and a keyboardist was added in 2001.
The CD is 49 minutes long and has a cheap independent release feel to it. The cover art is almost nonexistant. But, it does fold out and there are liner notes from Deke Leonard, touting the use of pot and saying that "undrugged is a terrible state to be in".
The sound quality is OK, but not great. It has that garage band, independent release quality. It actually adds some atmosphere to songs recorded in 1996 (almost gives it a 50's blues sound). The sound quality is much better than many of the other Man CD releases, like Welsh Connection.
Four of the songs on the CD are new. There are 3 covers, including Georgia (made popular by Ray Charles) and the Beach Boys, Sail on Sailor. The rest are new versions of older Man songs.
1. 6:33 Scotch Corner
2. 5:04 Babe, I'm Gonna Leave
3. 3:25 I Always Thought The Walrus Was Protected
4. 6:04 Dream Away
5. 4:33 Manillo
6. 4:10 Asylum
7. 2:52 Trying To Get To You
8. 3:44 Listen To Me, Sister
9. 4:42 Georgia On My Mind
10. 3:35 Sail On Sailor
11. 4:31 Day And Night
The tracks recorded in 1996 are very good. They have that retro-blues rock sound. They sound like something that could have come from the Yardbirds, or Quicksilver (Man's sister band from the US). Most are five star songs.
The 2001 songs are a little lusher with the keyboards added. I don't think they are quite as effective. These mostly are only three stars. Day and Night sounds like it could have come from Molly Hatchet.
I think this is one of the best studio albums from Man. Stripping out all the hard rock and pscyhodelic stuff allows the songs and guitar playing to come through. (Normally, I like hard rock and psychodelic music, but Man was not always so successful at it.) I think they are at their best live. Check out Back Into the Future or 1999 Tour Party.
"
Track Listings (3) - Disc #1