Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Solar Fire (1973)

After riding the worldwide pop music charts for over a decade, Manfred Mann created an even larger chapter in rock music history with his Manfred Mann's Earth Band. Created at the height of album rock radio, Manfred Mann's Earth Band landed their first three albums on the charts as they increased their loyal following throughout concert halls in the United States. 1974 proved to be a pivotal year for the band as they released their biggest selling album at that time with Solar Fire. Originally released in the States with the international hit single "Joybringer" (based around Holst's Planets Suite), this album has stood the test of time and is regarded as one of the band's strongest efforts ever. Aside from the thematic approach of rocking tracks like the title song "Solar Fire" and "Darkness, From The Beginning", this album really gained a whole new audience with the epic Bob Dylan remake of "Father Of Day, Father Of Night." This ten-minute anthem would go on to be one of Mann's most respected and most articulate works of this era. The fans dug it and have gone on to make this album one of their most enduring of the Manfred Mann's Earth Band diverse catalog.


Tracks:
01. Father Of Day, Father Of Night (Bob Dylan) – 9:53
02. In The Beginning, Darkness (Manfred Mann/Mick Rogers/Chris Slade) – 5:19
03. Pluto The Dog (Mann/Rogers/Slade/Colin Pattenden) – 2:45
04. Solar Fire (Rogers/Slade) – 5:13
05. Saturn, Lord Of The Ring/Mercury The Winged Messenger (Mann) – 6:29
06. Earth, The Circle Part 2 (Mann) – 3:20
07. Earth, The Circle Part 1 (Mann) – 3:47
Bonuses:
08. Joybringer (Gustav Holst/Rogers/Slade) – 3:22
09. Father Of Day, Father Of Night (edited version) (Dylan) – 3:01

Personnel:
- Manfred Mann – organ, mellotron, synthesiser, vocals
- Mick Rogers – guitar, lead vocals
- Chris Slade – drums
- Colin Pattenden – bass
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- Irene Chanter – backing vocals
- Doreen Chanter – backing vocals
- Grove Singers – backing vocals
- Peter Miles - extra percussion on 02
- Paul Rutherford - trombone

~Enjoy~