The Man band is more than the sum of it's parts.
Mikkel McDow | California | 09/30/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Great bands often revolve around the creative juices of one or two core members. Not Man. From the early days of Mickey Jones, Clive John and Deke Leonard, through Deke's many fine heirs such as Tweke Lewis who came and went from band to band, to the loose association with label mates Help Yourself, to the return of Deke Leonard and the tour with John Cippolina, The Man band never put out a bad record and they made many great ones.
They have been called the greatest hippie band that didn't come from California but I think they smoke most of them.
I saw the Man band in Wales in nineteen sixty-eight. While every other psychedelic hippie band was noodling for the noodle dancers, Man rocked like f***.
I saw them again in 1975, after so many mind boggling personnel changes that most bands would have completely lost their identity, Man still sounded like Man, only more so, and better, and harder, and stronger.
Now they're kids are doing it. Second generation Man band.
I am an audio engineer. I've worked with second generation bands from The Marshall Tucker Band to The Guess Who. Rarely does a band keep it going into the fifth decade, and it's unheard of that the kids should actually outdo their parents, but that's exactly what's happening in the Man band right now.
This is a comprehensive collection of their work in the seventies. Almost every great track is here. For those who say there's not enough from the Back Into The Future album, I agree. The best solution is simply to buy Back Into The Future. Keep On Crinting is a nearly complete collection in itself though and it includes the truly definitive versions of these songs: Spunk Rock from the Greasy Trucker's Party. A previously unreleased and stunning live version of Prelude The Storm. The live version of C'mon from the aforementioned Back Into The Future and the entire second side of Rhino's Wino's & Lunatics. There's even an unreleased single A side.
You could ask for more, but you probably wouldn't get it."
Many are Called--But Few get UP!!!!
J. R Sategna | Martinez, California United States | 01/01/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Man is the kind of jam band that you will never forget. I saw them in Berkeley (Keystone and Community Theatre) during the eighties and seventies-- so inspiring!!! This two disc best of is great!!! If you do not have any of their early stuff, this is the one. All remastered tracks--they sound so good. Man fans get this one and others who are curious-this is the one!!! Enjoy!!!"
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1