Customer Reviews

Mannerisms: The Five Phases of Manfred Mann

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a good primer for the Manfred Mann novice. Its full of informative tid bits and writtin in yeoman style. Photograph reproduction should be better and would make for a more serious addition to rock and roll literature. The biggest problem here is the publishers willingness to allow some of the worst layouts ANY publication will ever see. The reader is constantly taxed to put sentences together with photographs inserted in between the copy. This is editing 101 stuff, and should have never been allowed to go to print with such rookie mistakes in layout. It actually causes the reader to skip over copy so as to not get a headache trying to line up sentences between photographs. This may not sound like much now, but wait till you try and read this abomination of copy editing. Endnotes are not assembled with much forthought and is confusing to the reader who may like to pore over the back pages for facts and references. This is important because this is just the type of book that a fan (like myself)would wish to study for interesting facts in the book's back pages. I'll give it an A+ for effort, but as a major release for ANY publication this book is put together like a junior high school student was at the helm.

I bought this with excitement - but the content is less than expected. I applaud the guy who wrote it - someone finally wrote a book on Mann! But his material lacks depth, staying to a general history of the band and discography without too many details or personal histories. The text is spread painfully thin on many pages (as a graphic designer, I winced at how bad the layout is). I recommend this book for anyone yearning for info on Mann and the MMEB. But if you want to know the details - for example, where did the lyrics of 'Fat Nelly' come from or what inspired them? When and where did the band tour? Any tour anecdotes? Any personal reflections by Mann (or his present or former bandmates) on his career other than general platitudes?

A thorough, detailed look at this band(s).

The author really knows his subject, and seems to have made it a labor of love writing it.


I like his book on The Zombies too.

I would totally disagree with prev. reviewers who give half baked reviews on this book.

Sure it aint James A Mitchener or Barbara Cartland but as a fan of the group Manfred Mann and all who sailed in her and as a music collector I found this book full of essential information.

It discusses each period of the 4 decade evolvement of the band and individual descriptions of each and every member and recording.

Chock full of info and facts and histories.

Want to know what solo recordings/ movies / plays Paul Jones or Mike D'Abo or Mike Hugg made and when ?

Songs on " As is " or " Up the Junction " soundtrack ?

US vs UK recordings ?

I will be refering to this book from now on often.

There is little doubt that Manfred Mann's various incarnations deserve a book. There is also little doubt that it could be a good book. This, however, is not it. It is little more than an annotated discography, and as such is good. As a biography, history of the band it is of little use. It quickly becomes little more than a list of records, dates and chart placing. I saw Manfred Mann in Australia in the early 60s and they were sensational live. No mention of this tour in the book. In fact the Paul Jones era is over by page 39! apart from discographies.

Until someone comes along who can write well, research more than record listings and put it all together, we are still waiting for a biography of Manfred Mann.

This book was long overdue. A brilliant tribute payed to one of the most inovative and creative bands to emerge from the 60's Rock/Jazz/Blues boom. The detail is wonderful. Information on record sleeves Lp's,Ep's & 45's is a wealth of information alone, plus all the chronological info. and individual band members activities both pre and post Manfred Mann. A wonderful, spell binding and amazing read. This one is a must.

Much like Greg's Yardbird's book, this documentation on Mafred Mann is fundematally weak. Greg' prose, dare I call it that, is farily pedantic. This work is purley a catalogue of vinyl releases without any real insight into the creative process behind the music.

It is sad that there has not been a real book about this band - becasue this is NOT it!

If you are expecting a biography filled with all the most intimate details of Manfred Mann's life, you aren't going to get that here. In fact, you aren't going to get that anywhere. That book hasn't been done and probably never will unless The Mann himself decides to get really chatty one day and let it all out. He's a notoriously private person, so I doubt that day is coming soon. If, on the other hand, you would like to learn as much as you can about the amazing career, and have a complete account of all, and I mean all, of Manfred's music through all the phases of his 50-year career, then this is the book for you.

I had initially bought a PDF copy of the book and found it to be so well done and interesting that I had buy the hard copy of the book. When I received the book, I was shocked. I had no idea of the dimensions of the book. When I opened up my package, the book was huge. It's the size of a textbook or a piece of 8 x 10 copier paper. I was happily surprised. The layout and design of this book is beautiful. There are some great candid shots of Manfred and the band members. I read some of the other reviews, and not having the old copy of the book, I can't relate to the complaints about graphics, layout, etc. I can only look at this copy and see that Mr. Russo has done an amazing job with this new version. He's gotten very creative with his photos and his layout.

The book itself is something that can be read completely, read in bits, or picked up and read from any page you open it up. It is a book to be read, reread, studied, and to become completely immersed in. It really does cover all the phases of Manfred Mann, his musicians, his career time line, and includes some hidden tidbits of Manfred's life.

I really enjoyed the attention that was given to everyone who was ever part of any of Manfred Bands. If you want to know where Mike D'Abo is and what he's doing, it's there, same with Paul Jones, or Chris Thompson. Even the minor players have gotten some sort of mention. I also appreciated the fact that every song and album is listed along with the record company who put it out.

Mr. Russo's mind must be an encyclopedia of Manfred Mann information. There is information in the book about concert dates, television appearances, and just about anything else which may cross your mind.

You won't find out what Manfred Mann eats for breakfast, or his favorite color, but if you are interested in his music or his decades long career, you will find your answers. This book is for the serious Manfred Mann fan, but is also a great book if you have a passing interest in Manfred Mann. It truly is a book for anyone who has enjoyed this remarkable man's music.

Greg Russo's book is about as official as you can get. It is definitely The Definitive Book on Manfred Mann's career.