Man
Man were one of the most promising rock bands to come out of Wales in the early '70s. Along with Brinsley Schwarz, they helped establish the core of the pub rock sound, but they played louder and also had a progressive component to their work that separated them from many of their rivals. The group originated as a Four Seasons-cum-Beach Boys vocal outfit, based in Swansea, Wales, called the Bystanders, who began experimenting with a tougher, more progressive sound on-stage. They were encouraged to pursue this direction, and Man were formed -- Micky Jones (lead guitar, vocals), Deke Leonard (guitar, vocals), Clive John (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Ray Williams (bass), and Jeff Jones (drums).
Their first release, Revelation, issued in 1969 on Pye, was a concept album that yielded a successful European single, "Erotica," which contained the sound of an orgasm and thus failed to chart in England. Their second album, 2 Ozs. of Plastic with a Hole in the Middle, showed a slightly new direction for the band, with a nearly live-in-the-studio sound and more creative interplay between the guitars, that some critics compared to early Quicksilver Messenger Service and other West Coast bands. Deke Leonard, in particular, whose playing was heavily influenced by Mick Green of the Pirates, became the star of the group by popular acclaim. When their contract with Pye Records ended in 1969, the group signed with United Artists-Liberty, with a new rhythm section consisting of Terry Williams on drums and vocals and Martin Ace playing bass. Their third album, Man, was a critical success, and their follow-up, 1971's Do You Like It Here, Are You Settling In, yielded several popular concert numbers.
In February 1972, the group appeared at the Greasy Truckers' Ball, a benefit concert held in London that was taped for posterity, alongside Brinsley Schwarz and Hawkwind. Their performance was so impressive that United Artists chief Andrew Lauder (who was also responsible for helping the post-Roy Loney Flamin' Groovies get their sound together) encouraged them to do a full live album. The result was Live at the Padget Rooms, Penarth, the band's breakthrough album, even though it was originally released in a limited-edition pressing of 8,000 copies. The album became a much sought-after collector's item in England, and suddenly the group had the attention of most of the record-buying public.
Unfortunately, it was at after the release of that album that Deke Leonard decided to exit the lineup to pursue a solo career, which he launched with the successful album Iceberg. Man were making a reputation for themselves and their next album, Be Good to Yourself at Least Once a Day, yielded some good songs (including "Bananas"). At that point, Pye released a retrospective of their first two albums, while the group's current lineup began shifting again -- Deke Leonard was back for Rhinos, Winos and Lunatics, and Slow Motion led to the group's first American tour. They followed this up with their first serious misstep, a hookup with Quicksilver's John Cippolina as producer for what proved to be a disappointing album, Maximum Darkness. The Welsh Connection, released by MCA in 1976, marked the end of the original group's history, although the band did get one more album out, entitled All's Well That Ends Well.
During the 1980s, Micky Jones reunited the group and those interested members (including Deke Leonard) and found a steady living on the pub rock circuit. Meanwhile, Terry Williams went on to join Rockpile and Dire Straits. Interest in Man was strong enough to justify the release of a compilation, Perfect Timing: The UA Years, in 1991. In the mid-'90s, Beat Goes On began reissuing Man's individual albums and Deke Leonard's solo work on compact disc. Various lineups continued performing and recording into the 21st century, although the diagnosis and treatment of a brain tumor led Jones to exit, reenter, and then exit the lineup again during the 2000s. Sadly, Jones lost his struggle with cancer on March 10, 2010; former bandmember Clive John died the following year, on August 24, 2011, after his own lengthy struggle with emphysema.
© Bruce Eder /TiVo
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Discografía
95 álbum(es) • Ordenado por Mejores ventas
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Blues Festival - Live in Bonn September '87 (Live)
Dr. Feelgood, Canned Heat, Stan Webb's Chicken Shack, Man
Blues - Editado por Music Manager el 22 jun. 2021
Disponible en24-Bit/48 kHz Estéreo -
Лифт
Dance - Editado por Multiza Distribution Audio el 30 jun. 2019
Disponible en24-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
The Genesis of Man
Rock - Editado por Columbia - Legacy el 26 mar. 1969
Disponible en24-Bit/192 kHz Estéreo -
Bubbleton
Dance - Editado por 7273066 Records DK el 10 dic. 2024
Disponible en24-Bit/48 kHz Estéreo -
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Momento mio
Hip-Hop/Rap - Editado por Cambusa Records el 13 nov. 2021
Disponible en24-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Man (With Bonus Tracks) (Expanded Edition)
Rock - Editado por Parlophone UK el 1 ene. 1970
Disponible en16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Be Good To Yourself Once A Day (With Bonus Tracks) (Expanded Edition)
Rock - Editado por Parlophone UK el 1 ene. 1972
Disponible en16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Back Into The Future (With Bonus Tracks) (Expanded Edition)
Rock - Editado por Parlophone UK el 1 ene. 1973
Disponible en16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Do You Like It Here Now... Are You Settling In? (With Bonus Tracks) (Expanded Edition)
Rock - Editado por Parlophone UK el 1 ene. 1971
Disponible en16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Rhinos, Winos & Lunatics (Expanded Edition)
Rock - Editado por Parlophone UK el 1 ene. 1975
Disponible en16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Slow Motion (With Bonus Tracks) (Expanded Edition)
Rock - Editado por Parlophone UK el 1 ene. 1975
Disponible en16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
2 Ozs. of Plastic With a Hole in the Middle
Rock - Editado por Sanctuary Records el 1 sept. 1969
Disponible en16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Maximum Darkness (With Bonus Tracks) (Expanded Edition)
Rock - Editado por Parlophone UK el 1 ene. 1976
Disponible en16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Revelation
Rock - Editado por Sanctuary Records el 1 ene. 1969
Disponible en16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Welsh Connection
Rock progresivo - Editado por Cherry Red Records el 1 ene. 1976
Disponible en16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Call Down the Moon
Rock progresivo - Editado por Cherry Red Records el 1 ene. 1995
Disponible en16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
All's Well That Ends Well
Rock progresivo - Editado por Cherry Red Records el 1 ene. 1977
Disponible en16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Reanimated Memories
Pop/Rock - Editado por M. i. G. - music GmbH el 10 mar. 2015
Disponible en16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Reanimated Memories
Rock progresivo - Editado por Esoteric - Reactive el 10 mar. 2015
Disponible en16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Life On The Road: On Air 1972-1983 (Live)
Rock progresivo - Editado por Esoteric el 30 sept. 2022
Disponible en16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo