The Roaring Silence
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Robert Christgau | C[2] |
The Roaring Silence is the seventh studio album by English rock band Manfred Mann's Earth Band. It was released on 27 August 1976, by Bronze Records in the UK and by Warner Bros. Records in the US. Like other Earth Band albums, this includes material by other composers. "Blinded by the Light", which reached number one the Billboard Hot 100,[3] is a cover version of a song by Bruce Springsteen;[3] "Questions" is based on the main theme of Franz Schubert's Impromptu in G flat Major;[4] "Starbird" takes its theme from Igor Stravinsky's ballet The Firebird; and "The Road to Babylon" is based on the canon "By the Waters of Babylon" by Philip Hayes. This album marked the arrival of vocalist/guitarist Chris Hamlet Thompson, and Dave Flett who replaced longtime guitarist/vocalist/composer Mick Rogers. It is also the last album recorded with founding member Colin Pattenden.
The main riff of "Waiter, There's a Yawn in My Ear" is taken from the Manfred Mann Chapter Three track "Fish" which was recorded for their abandoned third album. It was ultimately released in 2005 on the Odds & Sods – Mis-takes & Out-takes box set.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Blinded by the Light" | Bruce Springsteen | 7:08 |
| 2. | "Singing the Dolphin Through" | Mike Heron | 8:19 |
| 3. | "Waiter, There's a Yawn in My Ear" | Manfred Mann | 5:39 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4. | "The Road to Babylon" | Mann, Thomas, Colin Pattenden | 6:53 |
| 5. | "This Side of Paradise" | Mann, Thomas, Pattenden | 4:47 |
| 6. | "Starbird" | Mann, Slade | 3:09 |
| 7. | "Questions" | Mann, Slade | 4:00 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8. | "Spirits in the Night" (1977 version) | Springsteen | 3:16 |
| 9. | "Blinded by the Light" (single edit) | Springsteen | 3:49 |
The first CD-release (1987) of this album did not contain bonus tracks, and tracks No. 3 and No. 7 had changed places
Personnel
The Earth Band
- Manfred Mann – keyboards, backing vocals
- Colin Pattenden – bass
- Dave Flett – lead guitar
- Chris Hamlet Thompson – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Chris Slade – drums, backing vocals, percussion
Additional musicians
- Doreen Chanter – backing vocals
- Irene Chanter – backing vocals
- Susanne Lynch – backing vocals
- Mick Rogers – backing vocals
- Barbara Thompson – saxophone
- David Millman – string arrangements
Technical
- Manfred Mann's Earth Band – producers
- Laurence Latham – engineer
- David Culpan, Margaret Wood, Tony Rowell, Edwin Cross – assistant engineers
- Shirtsleeve Studio – design. Modelled by artist Derek Goldsmith
- Martyn Goddard – photography
Charts
| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Top 75 Albums[5] | 10 |
| Netherlands Top 100 Albums[6] | 11 |
| Norwegian Top 40 Albums[7] | 6 |
| Swedish Top 60 Albums[8] | 17 |
| UK Albums Chart[9] | 10 |
| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Top Albums[10] | 6 |
| New Zealand Top 40 Albums[11] | 34 |
| US Billboard 200[12] | 10 |
References
- ^ DeGagne, Mike. The Roaring Silence at AllMusic
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: manfred mann's earth band". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
- ^ a b Pemberton, Pat (13 June 2012). "Blinded by the Light". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Südwestrundfunk page on The Roaring Silence Swr.de (in German)
- ^ "Manfred Mann's Earth Band – The Roaring Silence (Album)" (ASP). Austrian Charts (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ "Manfred Mann's Earth Band – The Roaring Silence (Album)" (ASP). GfK Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ "Album Info: The Roaring Silence – Manfred Mann's Earth Band" (PHP). VG-lista (in Norwegian). Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ "Manfred Mann's Earth Band – The Roaring Silence (Album)" (ASP). Swedish Charts (in Swedish). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ "Artist Chart History: Manfred Mann". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ "Top Albums". RPM. 26 (26): 23. 26 March 1977. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ "Manfred Mann's Earth Band – The Roaring Silence (Album)" (ASP). New Zealand Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ "Manfred Mann's Earth Band – The Roaring Silence". Awards. AllMusic. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
External links
- The Roaring Silence at Discogs (list of releases)
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