http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0065VTJBE/?tag=imwan-21

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Creature Music has compiled this stunning box set comprising 21 CDs, a 36-page booklet of the band's history with extensive notes for each album, a 32-page book of Manfred's own memories and anecdotes and a poster of the current band. The catalogue CDs have been remastered and repackaged in LP-style sleeves. The albums have the original UK running order and refreshed sleeves. Live In Ersingen is a brand-new live recording from 22 July this year, featuring the band's latest vocalist, Robert Hart. Leftovers is a compilation of the hit singles and rare or previously unavailable recordings. Albums in the set are Manfred Mann's Earth Band,Glorified Magnified,Messin,Solar Fire,The Good Earth,Nightingales And Bombers,The Roaring Silence,Watch,Angel Station,Chance,Somewhere In Africa,Live In Budapest,Criminal Tango,Masque,Manfred Mann's Plains Music,Soft Vengeance,Mann Alive(2-cd -Gatefold Sleeve),2006,Live In Ersingen 2011,Leftovers

Wow-so many questions here. I never picked up the remasters but always wanted to. I guess these are the remasters w/ bonus tracks? Maybe not though.
The live disc and rarities comp are nice bonuses, and I love this band so I am really interested. Of course I can't afford this anytime soon, but if anyone knows what the deal is please let us know!
It states the albums have been remastered, but are they new remasters w/ no bonuses and the bonuses are now on one seperate CD? I also had no idea excellent former Bad Company singer Robert Hart was now with the band.

I picked up the remasters starting from Manfred Mann's Earth Band,Glorified Magnified, Messin,Solar Fire, The Good Earth, Nightingales And Bombers,The Roaring Silence, Watch, Angel Station and Chance.

After Chance I lost interest in them but I did add "Criminal Tango", a album "Wired" which is a live show recorded in Boston 1977 and found a CD called "Manfred Mann '06" (which strangely enough released on 2004) which had some interesting members including original guitartist Mick Ridgers and singer Chris Thompson.

For me, the first 7 were the best. I have the 1998 reissues from Petbrook. They have bonus tracks, usually single edits from the album tracks. Nice booklets and a nice upgrade from previous issues.

If they sell the boxset albums individually I might go for an upgrade.

Rick A.

One of my all time favourite acts from the 70's. Hang on, all my favourite acts are from the 70's. Except Phish. But even they sound like they're from the 70's. And I mean that in a good way.

Anyway, always liked MM'sEB as they offered a good change from the mainly guitar based groups at the time. Here we had great keyboards and a singer (Chris Thompson) who, at his peak, I was happy to rate up there with Perry, Gramm, Walsh et al.

I remember Tommy Vance used to have a "Friday Night Connection" on his Friday Rock Show, where he'd play three tracks with a link, and you had to write in and guess the connection, and suggest your own three with a link. He'd then give the answer and play your choices the week after. I remember hearing "The Road To Babylon" one time and thinking "What the fuck was THAT!!!???" There was no way I was gonna miss the next week's show to find out, and I've been hooked for 30+ years since.

I've got the Petbrook reissues (jeez, was that really 13 years ago!) of Messin,Solar Fire,The Good Earth,Nightingales And Bombers,The Roaring Silence,Watch,Angel Station,Chance,Somewhere In Africa,Live In Budapest, and they're great, so I don't feel the need for the boxset.

For anybody thinking of just dipping in, I'd say The Roaring Silence and Watch are the absolute peaks, and Solar Fire is the best of the Mick Rogers era.

Angel Station is an all-time favorite album of mine.

I dearly love Nightingales & Bombers, & like a few of the others, but this is another priced way out of my ballpark!

Ironic that I mostly liked MM only with Mick Rogers (though I have always liked Chance), but what I've heard of Rogers solo stuff wasn't very good. Case of the whole being greater than the parts I guess.

my favorite is Watch

This is so much cheaper at the band's website by about 50 pounds. Also, here's some info about the set which has been getting great reviews from fans.

The set comprises 21 CDs, a 36-page booklet of the band's history written by Nigel Stanworth, a 32-page book of Manfred's own memories and anecdotes and a poster of the current band. The catalogue CDs have been remastered and repackaged in LP-style sleeves.




Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Glorified Magnified
Messin'Criminal
Solar Fire
The Good Earth
Nightingales & Bombers
The Roaring Silence
Watch
Angel Station
Chance
Somewhere In Afrika
Live In Budapest
Criminal Tango
Masque
Manfred Mann's Plains Music
Soft Vengeance
Mann Alive (2-cd gatefold sleeve)
2006
Live In Ersingen 2011
Leftovers


The albums have the original UK running order and refreshed sleeves.


Live In Ersingen is a brand-new live recording from 22 July 2011:

Martha's Madman
Dancing In The Dark
For You
Father Of Day
Don't Kill It Carol
Blinded By The Light
Davy's On The Road Again
Mighty Quinn

Nigel has also compiled Leftovers, a collection of the hit singles and different versions of tracks:

Joybringer (7” version)
Big Betty
Down Home (Alternate Edit)
Our Friend George (Alternatie Edit)
Geronimo's Cadillac (Scandi Mix)
Davy's On The Road Again (7” version)
Joybringer (Unreleased Version)
Nothing Ever Happens (Radio Mix)
Blinded By The Light (7” Version)
Runner
Crossfire (Alternate Edit)
For You (Workhouse Acoustic Mix)
Sikelele (Workhouse Mix)
What You Give Is What You Get (Alternate Edit)
Demons & Dragons
Geronimo's Cadillac (Unreleased Version)
Hillbrow

The set is scheduled for release on 2 December 2011 through retail. We are also offering the set through the website with the book of stories signed by Manfred himself.

As for the previous remasters I've always been confused there. Didn't Friday Music also do these or did they just reissue them from another label?
Turns out I do have one remaster of Budapest the live album from 1984. It has both Petbrook and Creature Music on it and was remastered from the original tapes with bonus tracks in 1999.
I'm not sure if this box or the remasters would be the way to go (whenever I have the money which may be never).

Hey IP, until we can save enough for the boxset may I suggest a 4 cd boxset that was only released in Europe in 2005 known as "Odds & Sods - Mis-takes & Out-Takes".

I love this set, play this quite often. Excellent value at $28.054 USD.




Disc 1 - In the Beginning

1. Blinded By The Light 3:49
2. Spirits In The Night 3:15
3. Living Without You 3:34
4. Pretty Good 4:04
5. California Coastline 2:47
6. Hollywood Town 5:07
7. Chicago Institute 5:48
8. Quit Your Low Down Ways 3:25
9. California 3:45
10. Runner 4:37
11. Summer In The City 4:38
12. Rebel (single) 4:08
13. Salmon Fishing 4:04

Disc 2: Hollywood Twon

1. Blinded By The Light 3:49
2. Spirits In The Night 3:15
3. Living Without You 3:34
4. Pretty Good 4:04
5. California Coastline 2:47
6. Hollywood Town 5:07
7. Chicago Institute 5:48
8. Quit Your Low Down Ways 3:25
9. California 3:45
10. Runner 4:37
11. Summer In The City 4:38
12. Rebel (single) 4:08
13. Salmon Fishing 4:04

Disc 3: Brothers and Sisters

1. Redemption Song 3:23
2. Singing The Dolphin Through 8:16
3. For You 3:51
4. I Who Have Nothing 4:13
5. Redemption Song 4:10
6. Africa Suite 8:34
7. War Dream 3:07
8. Heart On The Street 4:51
9. Telegram To Monica 5:35
10. All Through The Night 3:51
11. Better Place 5:14
12. Demolition Man 4:12
13. Martha's Madman 10:07

Disc 4:To the Limit (all unreleased except for 1st track)

1. Instrumedicine Song 4:01
2. Geronimo's Cadillac 3:48
3. Tumbling Ball 3:55
4. Lead Me To Water 4:25
5. To The Limit 4:17
6. Don't Let Me Down 4:09
7. Nature Of The Beast 4:36
8. Pleasure And Pain 7:27
9. Dirty City 5:25
10. Don't Bring Me Down (Castles Burning) 7:24
11. SOS 3:51
12. Davy's On The Road Again 6:40
13. Hillbrow

Rick A.