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).
Questions
Manfred Mann Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I went to those who close the open door
And turning the key I sat and spoke to those
inside of me
They answered my questions with questions
And they pointed me into the night
Where the moon was a star painted dancer
They reached to my centre of reason
And pulled on the touchstone that's there
The shock of that light had me reeling
And I fell into the depths of despair
Turning the key I sat and spoke to those
inside of me
They answered my questions with questions
And they set me to stand on the brink
Where the sun and the moon were as brothers
And all that was left was to think
They answered my questions with questions
And they pointed me into the night
And the power that bore me had left me alone
To figure out which way was right
The song "Questions" by Manfred Mann's Earth Band features dream-like imagery that depicts a journey of self-discovery. The singer shares about a dream in which they visit a group of people who represent their inner selves. The dreamers turn the key and unlock the door to their own consciousness, revealing a world of light and beauty. However, the questions they receive in reply to their own inquiries only lead to more questions, and they are left to contemplate the meaning of their existence.
The song's message is one of introspection and self-exploration. The singer must come to terms with the fact that there are no easy answers, and that the truth lies within, waiting to be discovered. The dream state serves as a metaphor for this journey, indicating that the answers we seek may not always be clearly visible in the waking world. The overall mood of the song is somber and reflective, suggesting that the process of soul-searching is often a difficult and challenging one.
Overall, "Questions" is a thoughtful and introspective piece that encourages listeners to look inward for answers to life's biggest questions. It speaks to the universal human desire for meaning and purpose, and suggests that although the journey may be difficult, the rewards of self-discovery are well worth the effort.
Line by Line Meaning
In a dream it would seem
I had a dream and it feels like it could be real, although it was not.
I went to those who close the open door
I visited people who could actually prevent me from entering my desired location.
And turning the key I sat and spoke to those inside of me
After unlocking, I talked to my inner self while seated comfortably.
They answered my questions with questions
My inner self responded to my queries with their own questions, which made me think deeper.
And they pointed me into the night
My conscience directed me to venture into unfamiliar territory.
Where the moon was a star painted dancer
The moon appeared like a star that danced gracefully, as if it were painted.
And the world was just a spectrum of light
The whole universe seemed like it was just a display of color, light, and energy.
They reached to my centre of reason
They accessed my innermost logic and rationality.
And pulled on the touchstone that's there
They touched the fundamental beliefs and values that I hold dear.
The shock of that light had me reeling
The realization that followed hit me hard and made me disoriented.
And I fell into the depths of despair
I became so depressed and hopeless that I feel like I was sinking to the bottom.
They set me to stand on the brink
They pushed me closer to a point-of-no-return or a critical juncture.
Where the sun and the moon were as brothers
The sun and the moon appeared to have a harmonious relationship, like they were related.
And all that was left was to think
After all that has happened, I had no choice but to ponder and reflect.
And the power that bore me had left me alone
The energy or force that once carried me and gave me strength seemed to have abandoned me.
To figure out which way was right
I was left to decide and identify the right course of action on my own.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chris Slade, Christopher Algernon Thompson, Colin Roy Pattenden, David Henry Flett, Manfred Mann
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@GoogleUser-zs8nw
БЕСПОДОБНЫЕ ПЕСНИ У МАНФРЕД МАН. . МОЯ ЛЮБИМАЯ ГРУППА. ДА ГЛЯДЯ ПРАВДЕ В ГЛАЗА
ВСЕ РОК ГРУППЫ ДА И НЕ ТОЛЬКО .КОТОРЫЕ ВОЗНИКЛИ В СЕРЕДИНЕ ПРОШЛОГО ВЕКА ЭТО ПРОСТО ТАЛАНТЛИВЫЕ ЛЮДИ. КОТОРЫЕ ПО ВЕЛЕНИЮ СВОЕЙ ДУШИ НАПИСАЛИ И СПЕЛИ ЧЕЛОВЕЧЕСТВУ СВОИ БЕСПОДОБНЫЕ ПЕСНИ.
В КОТОРЫХ ПОДНЯТЫ МНОГО ТЕМ И ПРОБЛЕМ МНОГО ОПИСАНО ЖИЗНЕНЫХ СИТУАЦИЙ . И ПРАВДА ЖИЗНИ. ФИЛОСОФИЯ ЖИЗНИ.
ЧЕМ И ЗАКРАЛАСЬ К ЭТИМ ГРУППАМ ЛЮБОВЬ И ПОЧИТАНИЕ ИХ ТВОРЧЕСТВА.
И ЭТО ОЧЕНЬ ХОРОШО. ВЕДЬ
МУЗЫКА ЭТО ЧАСТЬ ЧЕЛОВЕЧЕСКОЙ ЖИЗНИ.
БЕЗ НЕЕ НИКУДЫ. КАК БЕЗ
ВОДЫ. МУЗЫКА ДЛЯ КАЖДОГО . КАКУЮ БЫ ОН НЕ ЛЮБИЛ. У КАЖДОГО СВОЙ ВКУС. ЭТО КАК КИСЛОРОД.
КАК СВЕЖЕЕ ДЫХАНИЕ.
ЭТО КАК ОТДУШИНА ДЛЯ ЧЕЛОВЕКА ЭТО ЕГО ВНУТРЕНИЙ МИР. В КОТОРОМ ОН МОЖЕТ ВОПЛОТИТЬ. И ПРЕДСТАВИТЬ СВОИ МОЖЕТ БЫТЬ НЕСБЫВШИЕСЯ МЕЧТЫ И ЖЕЛАНИЯ. В КОТОРЫХ ЧЕЛОВЕК МОЖЕТ ПОБЫТЬ
ПОКА СЛУШАЕТ ЛЮБИМУЮ
ЕМУ МУЗЫКУ . ДА И НЫНЕШНИЕ ГРУППЫ КАЖДАЯ ПО СВОЕМУ ХОРОШАЯ. И У КАЖДОЙ ЕСТЬ СВОИ ПОКЛОННИКИ. СЛУШАЙТЕ ДРУЗЬЯ И НАСЛАЖДАЙТЕСЬ.
ЭТИМ ПРЕКРАСНЕЙШИМ
ИЗОБРЕТЕНИЕМ ЧЕЛОВЕЧЕСТВА. ВСЕМ ДОБРА
ЖЕЛАЮ И МИРА. УДАЧИ. .
@GoogleUser-zs8nw
БЕСПОДОБНЫЕ ПЕСНИ У МАНФРЕД МАН. . МОЯ ЛЮБИМАЯ ГРУППА. ДА ГЛЯДЯ ПРАВДЕ В ГЛАЗА
ВСЕ РОК ГРУППЫ ДА И НЕ ТОЛЬКО .КОТОРЫЕ ВОЗНИКЛИ В СЕРЕДИНЕ ПРОШЛОГО ВЕКА ЭТО ПРОСТО ТАЛАНТЛИВЫЕ ЛЮДИ. КОТОРЫЕ ПО ВЕЛЕНИЮ СВОЕЙ ДУШИ НАПИСАЛИ И СПЕЛИ ЧЕЛОВЕЧЕСТВУ СВОИ БЕСПОДОБНЫЕ ПЕСНИ.
В КОТОРЫХ ПОДНЯТЫ МНОГО ТЕМ И ПРОБЛЕМ МНОГО ОПИСАНО ЖИЗНЕНЫХ СИТУАЦИЙ . И ПРАВДА ЖИЗНИ. ФИЛОСОФИЯ ЖИЗНИ.
ЧЕМ И ЗАКРАЛАСЬ К ЭТИМ ГРУППАМ ЛЮБОВЬ И ПОЧИТАНИЕ ИХ ТВОРЧЕСТВА.
И ЭТО ОЧЕНЬ ХОРОШО. ВЕДЬ
МУЗЫКА ЭТО ЧАСТЬ ЧЕЛОВЕЧЕСКОЙ ЖИЗНИ.
БЕЗ НЕЕ НИКУДЫ. КАК БЕЗ
ВОДЫ. МУЗЫКА ДЛЯ КАЖДОГО . КАКУЮ БЫ ОН НЕ ЛЮБИЛ. У КАЖДОГО СВОЙ ВКУС. ЭТО КАК КИСЛОРОД.
КАК СВЕЖЕЕ ДЫХАНИЕ.
ЭТО КАК ОТДУШИНА ДЛЯ ЧЕЛОВЕКА ЭТО ЕГО ВНУТРЕНИЙ МИР. В КОТОРОМ ОН МОЖЕТ ВОПЛОТИТЬ. И ПРЕДСТАВИТЬ СВОИ МОЖЕТ БЫТЬ НЕСБЫВШИЕСЯ МЕЧТЫ И ЖЕЛАНИЯ. В КОТОРЫХ ЧЕЛОВЕК МОЖЕТ ПОБЫТЬ
ПОКА СЛУШАЕТ ЛЮБИМУЮ
ЕМУ МУЗЫКУ . ДА И НЫНЕШНИЕ ГРУППЫ КАЖДАЯ ПО СВОЕМУ ХОРОШАЯ. И У КАЖДОЙ ЕСТЬ СВОИ ПОКЛОННИКИ. СЛУШАЙТЕ ДРУЗЬЯ И НАСЛАЖДАЙТЕСЬ.
ЭТИМ ПРЕКРАСНЕЙШИМ
ИЗОБРЕТЕНИЕМ ЧЕЛОВЕЧЕСТВА. ВСЕМ ДОБРА
ЖЕЛАЮ И МИРА. УДАЧИ. .
@RobertPlant-rh9ro
I remember when this song came out in the 70's one of my top favorite songs of all times. It says It all! Well crafted song!
@a.liutaio2207
Великолепная песня, за это надо Нобелевскую премию давать! 👍
@robertolacibalmata8359
All rockers never grow old. You know, because they dies young but they were still alive.
@Mompfried
I've loved this song since I heard it for the first time (was 16 or so). Now, I'm 61 and this song still gives me chills whenever I listen to it. One of my all-time favourites.
@yanto78927
so did I
@a.liutaio2207
I'm 57, and I love it 😊👍
@prawitsaenthit939
Yes me too
@AbigailHasibuan
Agree, me too
@user-zy9rw7et1i
me too. 나도 그래요.~^^