Manfred Mann was a British beat, rhythm and blues and pop band (with a stro… Read Full Bio ↴Manfred Mann was a British beat, rhythm and blues and pop band (with a strong jazz foundation) of the 1960s, named after their South African keyboardist, Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band. Manfred Mann were chart regulars in the 1960s, and the first south-of-England-based group to top the US Billboard Hot 100 during the 'British invasion' of the US music scene.

Beginnings 1962—1963
The Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers (as the band were originally called) were formed in London in December 1962 by keyboard player Manfred Mann and drummer/vibes player Mike Hugg. Born out of the British blues boom then sweeping London's clubs (which also spawned such luminaries as The Rolling Stones and The Yardbirds), the band were completed by Mike Vickers on lead guitar, Dave Richmond on bass, and Paul Jones fronting as lead vocalist and harmonica player. Gigging constantly throughout late 1962 and early 1963, the band soon attracted attention for their distinctive sound propelled by Mann's keyboards, Jones' soulful vocals and an occasional horn section.

Manfred Mann's Cock-A-Hoop (1964)
The group signed to HMV Records in March 1963 after a change of name to Manfred Mann (at the suggestion of their label's producer), and debuted in July of that year with the jazzy instrumental single "Why Should We Not?", which failed to chart, as did the follow up (with vocals this time), "Cock-A-Hoop"

Early success 1964—1965
Groovin' with Manfred Mann EP (1964)
In 1964 the group were asked to provide a new theme tune for the ITV pop music TV series Ready Steady Go!. They responded with the energetic "5-4-3-2-1" which, with the help of weekly TV exposure, rose to No.5 in the UK charts. It was shortly after "5-4-3-2-1" was recorded that Richmond left the band, being replaced by Tom McGuinness - the first of many line-up changes. After a further self-penned hit ("Hubble Bubble (Toil And Trouble)") the band struck gold with "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", a cover of a minor hit earlier that year by The Exciters. The track, which showcased Jones' powerful singing, reached the top of both the UK and US charts (The Exciters version had only charted #78 in the US).
During 1965 the group continued to have hits with both self-penned and cover material, their sound increasingly moving away from the blues-based music of their early years to a highly successful pop-soul hybrid. Notably the group began to have success with interpretations of Bob Dylan songs, including "With God On Our Side" as a track on a best-selling EP.

The One In the Middle EP (1965)
They also reached No.2 in the UK with the controversial "If You Gotta Go, Go Now", which was banned or edited by a number of TV and radio stations. Prior to this latter release, Paul Jones announced his intention to quit the band for a solo career once a replacement could be found.

The Mike d'Abo years 1966—1969

Jones stayed with the band for one more year, during which time Mike Vickers was replaced by Jack Bruce of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (long enough to play bass on the band's second UK No.1 single "Pretty Flamingo"). Jones was eventually replaced by Mike d'Abo - among those on the shortlist was Rod Stewart - and this was one of the few occasions when a band has successfully swapped lead singers and remained at the top. Jack Bruce left to form Cream and was replaced by Klaus Voorman (a longtime Beatles associate), with McGuinness moving to guitar. To complete the changes, the group switched labels to Fontana Records.
With d'Abo as vocalist, the group pursued a softer acoustic pop sound, with a tinge of Dylanesque social comment and surrealism in the lyrics. Their first Fontana Records single was in fact a Dylan cover, "Just Like A Woman", and the group went on to score their biggest hit for two years with a cover of his "Mighty Quinn".
Frustrated with the limitations and image of being seen purely as a hit singles band (their last two albums failed to chart), the group split in 1969.

1970s and on— Manfred Mann's Earth Band

Mann went on to write advertising jingles after the group's demise, but still continued to work in the group format. Initially he formed Manfred Mann Chapter Three (with Mike Hugg), an experimental jazz rock band, described by Mann as an over reaction to the hit factory of the Manfred Mann group. This was, however, short lived and by 1971 they had disbanded and Mann had formed a new group, Manfred Mann's Earth Band.
For further details, see Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

5-4-3-2-1 The Manfreds (1998)

1990s and on—The Manfreds

In the 1990s, most of the original 1960s line-up reformed as The Manfreds, minus Manfred Mann himself (hence the name), playing most of the old 1960s hits and a few jazz instrumentals, sometimes with both Paul Jones and Mike d'Abo fronting the line-up.
At the same time Jones and Tom McGuinness (McGuinness formed McGuinness Flint in 1970, but they disbanded in 1975) have been mainstays of The Blues Band (which they helped form in 1978).

Don't the Road Apiece
Manfred Mann Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Bacon in grease
Come on along boys it's just
Down the road a piece

Now, there's a place you
Really get your kicks
It's open every night about twelve to six
And if you want to hear some
Boogie you can get your fill
And shoot that thing do you
Like an old steam drill
Come on along you can lose your lead
Down the road, down the road
Down the road a piece

I said it
There's a place you really get your kicks
It's open every night about twelve to six
And if you want to hear some
Boogie you can get your fill
And shoot that thing do you
Like an old steam drill
Come on along you can lose your lead
Down the road, down the road
Down the road a piece

It's down the road, down the road
Down the road a piece

Overall Meaning

In Manfred Mann's song "Don't the Road Apiece," the lyrics depict a lively and energetic scene where the band invites listeners to join them on a musical journey. The song celebrates a place where the music is lively and the atmosphere is electric. The opening lines emphasize the boogie style, indicating that the band is about to perform a high-energy, foot-tapping piece. The mention of an old piano and a knockout bass suggests that the instrumental arrangement will be powerful and captivating.

The drummer is called Kickin' McCoy, insinuating that he is excellent at his craft and adds to the driving rhythm of the song. The reference to the "rubber-legged boy" is possibly an allusion to a skilled dancer or someone known for their energetic movements. It creates an image of someone who can thoroughly enjoy and feel the music.

The following lines paint a picture of the environment where the music is happening. Mama is cooking up some tasty food, including chicken fried in bacon grease, indicating a good time and a comforting atmosphere. The phrase "come on along boys, it's just down the road a piece" invites the listener to join the band and experience the excitement for themselves.

Overall, "Don't the Road Apiece" exudes the spirit of a lively celebration, inviting everyone to come and enjoy the music, dancing, and good company at a place just a short distance away.

Line by Line Meaning

Now if you wanna hear some Boogie like I'm gonna play It's just an old piano and a knockout bass The drummer man's a cat They call Kickin' McCoy And I know you will remember That rubber legged boy
If you want to experience lively and energetic music, similar to what I am about to perform, all you need is a simple setup of an old piano and an impressive bass. The drummer, known as Kickin' McCoy, is exceptionally skilled and will surely leave a lasting impression. Oh, and don't forget about that highly unique and agile dancer who will definitely stay in your memory.

Mama's cookin' chicken fried and Bacon in grease Come on along boys it's just Down the road a piece
Mama is preparing a delightful meal of fried chicken and bacon cooked in savory grease. Come on, guys, let's join her and take a short trip to enjoy this delicious feast not too far away.

Now, there's a place you Really get your kicks It's open every night about twelve to six And if you want to hear some Boogie you can get your fill And shoot that thing do you Like an old steam drill Come on along you can lose your lead Down the road, down the road Down the road a piece
Let me tell you about a fantastic venue where you can truly have a great time. It's open every night from twelve to six, giving you ample opportunity to indulge in some lively boogie music. You can fully immerse yourself in the rhythm and let loose, just like operating an old steam drill. Join me on this journey and leave behind your worries as we head down the road, down the road, down the road a piece.

I said it There's a place you really get your kicks It's open every night about twelve to six And if you want to hear some Boogie you can get your fill And shoot that thing do you Like an old steam drill Come on along you can lose your lead Down the road, down the road Down the road a piece It's down the road, down the road Down the road a piece
Let me reiterate, my friends, there is an incredible place where you can truly enjoy yourself to the fullest. Open every night from twelve to six, it offers an abundance of boogie music to satisfy your cravings. Engage with the music passionately, just like operating an old steam drill. Come with me and leave all your troubles behind as we embark on this journey down the road, down the road, down the road a piece. Yes, indeed, down the road, down the road, down the road a piece.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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