Click above to return to the Home Page		 THE ORIGINAL

BAND		 Site Updated on 24th December 2002
by Terry Willson
Music Studio Albums Bootleg Albums Friends And Relations Albums
The best way to appreciate Man is to see them live and most of their live albums support this point of view. Covered here are those official live albums from 1972 to date.

Greasy Truckers Party Greasy Truckers Live - April 1972. United Artists Records

Spunk Rock; Angel Easy		 Micky Jones (Guitar And Vocals), Deke Leonard (Guitar And Vocals), Martin Ace (Bass And Vocals) and Terry Williams (Drums)

For most history is written over the course of time but very very occasionally you can define a moment when history was made. Man's first official live recording is a rock masterpiece and a moment when the band's history was defined. Consisting of just two tracks recorded at the Roundhouse in early 1972, this version of "Spunk (Box) Rock" is considered to be the greatest by Fans and the Band alike. It is 20 minutes of rock history, of rock improvisation and of just how to do it live. Although the original album consisted of a few bands, the Man tracks have subsequently been released on CD. It is unfortunate because the bands that are missing, including Hawkind, made some impressive contributions. In fact the original song that was remixed to be come Hawkwind's only hit single, Silver Machine, came from this gig.
Live At The Padgett Rooms Penarth Live At The Padgett Rooms Penarth - September 1972. United Artists Records.

Many Are Called But Few Get Up; Daughter Of The Fireplace; H Samuel		 Micky Jones (Guitar And Vocals), Deke Leonard (Guitar And Vocals), Martin Ace (Bass And Vocals) and Terry Williams (Drums)

Following the success of Greasy Truckers, Andrew Lauder at United Artists suggested the band released their own live album, a mid price limited edition. A concert on home territory at the Padgett Rooms was recorded and released. "The Many Are Called" on this album shows the start of a development of a track that is still the live closing number today. "H Samuel" is also interesting consisting of a jam and is a track that has never shown up anywhere else. The trick worked, the album leaped to the top of the mid price chart and vanished again, however by the time of it's release Martin and Deke had gone and a new line up was busy recording and gigging. Long deleted, it reissue on CD was welcome by Man Fans.
Christmas At The Patti Christmas At The Patti - July 1973. United Artists Records.

Man - Life On The Road/Shuffle 		Micky Jones (Guitar And Vocals), Clive John (Guitar And Vocals), Phil Ryan (Keyboards And Vocals), Will Youatt (Bass And Vocals) and Terry Williams (Drums)

Christmas time 1972 and it was time for Wales finest to Rock'n'Roll and the whole shebang made it onto vinyl. Featuring the only recorded appearance of The Flying Aces plus a reformed Jets, Plum Crazy, Dave Edmunds and Help Yourself (with Deke) it captures a great party atmosphere. However, although it was a great idea, the recording and performances tend to be a little shambolic with perhaps the Helps coming out on top. Also now available on CD.
Man/Iceberg BBC In Concert BBC Radio One - Live In Concert - 1993 Windsong WINCD045

Iceberg - Razorblade and Rattlesnake; 7171551; A Hard Way To Live; In Search Of Sarah and 26 Horses.
Man - C'Mon; Bananas; Romain.		 Iceberg - Deke Leonard (Guitar and Vocals; Brian Breeze (Guitar), Martin Ace (Bass) and Dave Charles (Drums)
Man - Mickey Jones (Guitar And Vocals), Clive John (Guitar And Vocals), Phil Ryan (Keyboards And Vocals), Will Youatt (Bass And Vocals) and Terry Williams (Drums)

A late release from Windsong of a BBC session from 1973.It showcases the 1973 "Up For A Day Tour" featuring Deke's Iceberg and Man. It is unique as it features the only live recordings of Iceberg who had 1/2 of the Truckers/Padgett line-up.  In a way the Iceberg tracks make this more interesting as the Man tracks were available on other releases by the time this came out. The Man tracks come from the Be Good album  except "Romain" which comes from a 1972 recording and features Micky, Deke, Martin and Terry.
Maximum Darkness Maximum Darkness - September 1975. United Artists Records.

7171551; Codine; Babe I'm Gonna Leave You; Many Are Called But few Get Up; Bananas.		 Micky Jones (Guitar And Vocals), Deke Leonard (Guitar And Vocals), Martin Ace (Bass And Vocals) and Terry Williams (Drums) with special guest John Cipollina (Guitar)

Deke was back, Martin was back, add a slightly unknown quantity and you have a quality album. Featuring ex Quicksilver Messenger Service guitarist, John Cipollina, this album recorded  the highlights of the "West Coast Weekend" at the Roundhouse in May 1975. Starting with a rousing rendition of "7171551", it also adds two QMS songs Babe and Codine and finishes with two classics. This is probably my favourite Man live album and one I still play consistently today.
All's Well That End's Well All's Well That Ends Well - October 1977. MCA Records..

Let The Good Times Roll; The Welsh Connection; The Ride And The View; Hard Way To Live; Born With A Future; Spunk Rock; Romain		 Micky Jones (Guitar And Vocals), Deke Leonard (Guitar And Vocals), Phil Ryan (Keyboards and Vocals), John McKenzie(Bass And Vocals) and Terry Williams (Drums)

Also recorded at the Roundhouse in December 1976, this was Man's last album of the 1970's. It starts with the previously unrecorded "Let The Good Times Roll", a blues classic recorded by Shirley and Lee and Ray Charles amongst others and also features live tracks from The Welsh Connection. Their were other tracks played that night but as a live album I like this. It shows the band seemingly enjoying themselves and not a band that had split.
Friday The 13th Friday 13th - January 1984 Picasso Records

C'Mon; Talk About A Morning; Kerosene; Hard Way To Die; Back Into The Future; The Ride And The View; Romain.		 Micky Jones (Guitar And Vocals), Deke Leonard (Guitar And Vocals), Martin Ace (Bass And Vocals) and John "Pugwash" Weathers (Drums)

13th May 1983 to be precise. The band had reformed some six weeks earlier and were playing the Marquee to help celebrate it's 25th Anniversary. The album was a welcome release for Man fans, though my reaction - "oh my gawd, Terry's lost his hair" was a little unfounded. The set on the CD features mainly old songs with Buzzy Linhart's "Talk About A Morning" as a new addition. However to get the full benefit of the gig, this album needs to be augmented  by the Bananas video recorded at the same time.
Live At Reading Live At Reading '83 - February 1993 Raw Fruit Records

Spunk Rock; C'Mon; Talk About A Morning; The Ride And The View; Asylum; Romain; Bananas.		 Micky Jones (Guitar And Vocals), Deke Leonard (Guitar And Vocals), Martin Ace (Bass And Vocals) and John "Pugwash" Weathers (Drums)

Recorded by the BBC at the Reading Festival in August 1983 and featured on the Tommy Vance Rock Show; these tapes finally saw the light of day as a release in 1993. Although recorded not long after the Friday 13th gig; it features "Spunk Rock" which was played but not released from the Marquee gig and Micky's "Asylum", one of the highlights of this recording. This is one of the few Man recordings that is currently unavailable.
Live/Official Bootleg 1994 Official Bootleg - February 1993 Raw Fruit Records

C'Mon; Mad On Her; Even Visionaries Go Blind; Chinese Cut; Wings Of Mercury; The Ride And The View; A Feather On The Scales Of Justice; Bananas.		 Micky Jones (Guitar And Vocals), Deke Leonard (Guitar And Vocals), Martin Ace (Bass And Vocals) and John "Pugwash" Weathers (Drums)

This is a cracking album. Recorded live at the Glastonbury Festival in 1994, it features the only recording of Martin's "Visionaries" (not including the one on the Banana's video) and songs from the then current album, The Twang Dynasty. There is also an 18 minute version of Deke's "The Ride And The View". A good performance and a great crowd reaction make this a great live album.
1998 Star Club 1998 At the Star Club - July 1998 P+O Records

The Ride And The View; C'Mon; Do It; (Something In My Heart Says) No; Drivin Around; Many Are Called But Few Get Up/The Storm; Bananas; Romain; Spunk Rock.		 Micky Jones (Guitar And Vocals), Deke Leonard (Guitar And Vocals), Martin Ace (Bass And Vocals), Phil Ryan (Keyboards) and Bob Richards (Drums)

I suppose Maximum Darkness may be my favourite, but that doesn't make it the best. This one's the best. Firstly it is the first live album to feature the full current set as was being played, complete with Martin's in between songs chat. Secondly, it features the return of Phil Ryan, whose keyboards add to the sound and return it to near the 1970's sound we know and love. Finally, the new Drummer, Bob Richards. The last three live albums tended to have the songs powered along by John, but Bob manages to combine this power with the flicks and fills of Terry Williams, and while that style may not have been at home in Man of the 70's it is more than a necessity in the 1990/2000's. Two new songs were good to hear along with a great  live version of "Drivin' Around" from Call Down The Moon. Probably the most complete Man live album.
Legal Bootleg Live '99 Legal Bootleg Live 99 - Spring 2000 Altrichter Music

7171551; Manillo; Hard Way To Die; Brother Arnolds Red And White Striped Tent; Daughter Of The Fireplace; Wings Of Mercury; Many Are Called But Few Get Up/And In The Beginning/The Storm; Spunk Rock.		 Micky Jones (Guitar And Vocals), Deke Leonard (Guitar And Vocals), Martin Ace (Bass And Vocals) and Bob Richards (Drums)

Recorded on the 1999 tour of Germany, and originally intended as a promotional CD this showcases the set that was being played when Phil could not make the tour owing to Bolette's illness. Really being a greatest hits recording, it features songs from every studio album except Rhino's Wino' and Lunatic's and Call Down The Moon, even if Revelation is only represented by a brief quote from "And in the beginning" Martin's "Manillo" makes a welcome return as does "Brother Arnold" , one of my favourites from 2ozs of Plastic. It also marks the recording debut of Micky's son George, who was a special guest on "Spunk Rock.
Downtown Live Down Town Live - Winter 2002 Altrichter Music

The Ride And The View; Love Isn't Love; C'Mon; Hanging On; Conflict Of Interest; Popemobile		 Micky Jones (Guitar And Vocals), Deke Leonard (Guitar And Vocals), Martin Ace (Bass And Vocals) and Bob Richards (Drums)

Recorded on the 2001 tour of Germany, and this album was put on hold as Gareth had missed the gig owing to a bomb scare at the airport he was due to depart from. Because of this the band had been reluctatnt to release the album, but finally relented in November 2002. feturing two classics and live version of three tracks from "Endangered Species" it really shows that the band can adapt in adverse circumstances.
Please note that any comments made about the albums are Personal and in no way reflect the opinion of the Manband and it's members past or present.
Who Are They ? News From The Band History Their Music Selected Highlights In Action Links