manfred mann039s earth band - Solar Fire (9 tracks) +Album Reviews

The ultimate Earth Band album

BENJAMIN MILER | Veneta, Oregon | 08/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album has been with me for a better portion of my life. My dad bought this on LP back around 1979, an American copy on Polydor, which includes "Joybringer" (the British hit that was only released as a single over there) and only one "Earth, The Circle", the one that ends with the cool piano at the end. I am not much of an Earth Band fan, mainly because I find so much of what they released quite inconsistent (not to mention later albums like Angel Station and Chance sounding too commercial for my liking). But for me, Solar Fire is the ultimate album, and if you're a lover of '70s progressive rock, you can't go wrong here, as it's by far their most progressive album. Whenever you hear this album, it's hard to believe this is the same Manfred Mann who brought us "Doo Wah Diddy", which is a staple of oldies stations everywhere (well, not exactly, the bands were different, but it was Mann himself that was the common to "Do Wah Diddy" and Solar Fire). There isn't a bad song on this album. I can't even believe how they took a Bob Dylan song, "Father of Day, Father of Night" and turn it in to a nine minute long prog epic! "Saturn, Lord of the Ring, Mercury the Winged Messenger" is nothing short of an amazing instrumental, particularly the spacy middle and rocking ending. I don't think there's a song on this album that I like better than the rest, which is great news. This whole album has that wonderful '70s feel, and every time I hear this album, I am taken back to that day when my dad first bought this album. It also makes me forget the pathetic state of music of the present (N' Sync, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, etc.). I can very honestly recommend Solar Fire to even those not much of an Earth Band fan. It's that great!"

Matches the best of ELP and Pink Floyd

Marcel Wild | Matieland 7602 South Africa | 01/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, I just thought six 5 star reviews for Solar Fire is way too little, so I gave a "Yes helpful" count to all of you six reviewers (hey nice), and add this review of my own.
Many a man only knows Manfred Mann from his early 60's hits like
Pretty Flamingo, Ha ha said the clown (which are fine when you're in the right mood). But boy what a revelation is Solar Fire!!
This space odyssey hasn't one dull moment, the guitars and
synthesizers are just perfect: wild enough but never over the top
as can be e.g. YES, Greenslade, or King Crimson. This piece of art is in the same league as ELP's Tarkus and Pink Floyd's
Dark side of the moon, and that's no easy feat!
This record adds to the quality of life."

Darkness in the Beginning...

Ruben Ramirez | Tampico, MEXICO | 11/16/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Solar Fire... A MUST for any Rock 'n Roll fan. I had the pleasure to listen to this LP for the first time like 22 years ago. Then, the LP just disappeared from my archives. Though, never from my mind. If you haven't listened to it... Buy it!!! you won't regret."

Fantastic progressive hard rock

Jeffrey J.Park | Massachusetts, USA | 04/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been aware of Manfred Mann for a long time, thanks to the endless cycling of his smash hit remake of Springsteen's "Blinded by the Light" on classic rock radio stations here in Massachusetts. Although I was a little uncertain, the positive reviews of Solar Fire by other proggers, the Gustav Holst-ish Planets theme, and the album cover art (which depicts a very cool star field) were far too much to resist. The Solar Fire album was released in 1973 and features great keyboardist Manfred Mann himself (Hammond organ, mellotron, mini-moog); along with a cast of very good musicians including Colin Pattenden (Rickenbacker bass); Chris Slade (drums); and Mick Rogers (guitars, lead vocals). In addition, there are occasional backup vocals provided by Doreen and Irene Chamber. The opening track is a 9'53" prog remake of Bob Dylan's, Father of Day, Father of Night, which is really terrific and sets the tone for the rest of the album. The other tracks feature well-played proggy hard rock (In the Beginning, Darkness), excellent instrumentals (Pluto the Dog; Saturn, Lord of the Ring/Mercury the Winged Messenger), along with all around well-played hard prog (the rest of the album). Although musicologist Edward Macan has referred to this band as "unclassifiable", there are distinct musical styles that dominate the album including progressive rock and hard rock, although there is some space rock too. In fact, some of Deep Purple's proggier moments come to mind, although the music on Solar Fire is a little more complicated and proggier. There is great melodic and harmonic development, not to mention excellent dynamic contrast. For me, the trebly Rickenbacker bass work of Colin Pattenden, along with the banks of analog synthesizers used by Manfred really make this album work. In fact, synthesizers are used all over the album. The remastered CD is very good and features great sound quality along with copious liner notes. The track listing on this album is as it originally appeared in 1973, with both Earth Circle Parts 1 and 2 included. The bonus tracks include the very pleasant and poppy Joybringer, which was an adaptation of Holst's Jupiter: Bringer of Jollity released on the progressive Vertigo label, in addition to an edited version of Father of Night, Father of Day. All in all, I would have to highly recommend this album to anybody interested in progressive hard rock."

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