Disco de Manfred Mann: “Best of Manfred Mann: The Definitive Collection”

Despite the album's title, this is not a definitive collection. The latest song included is the July 1966 single "You Gave Me Somebody to Love" (UK No. 36, previously unreleased in the US), even though the band continued to record under the Manfred Mann name until the end of 1968. So you don't get the top 10 US hit "Mighty Quinn" or the top 10 UK hits "Ha! Ha! Said the Clown," "My Name Is Jack" or "Fox on the Run." [This set also does not include anything by Manfred Mann Chapter Three or Manfred Mann's Earth Band.]

What you do get are the classic "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" (a No. 1 on both sides of the Atlantic) and their two other US hits: a revival of the Shirelles' "Sha La La" and "Pretty Flamingo." [Note: Jack Bruce was playing bass in the band at the time of "Flamingo."]

The album clearly demonstrates the band's struggle for a musical identity. Mannfred Mann was originally an aspiring jazz player and the band would waiver between playing pop music (which put the band on the charts) and R&B and blues-oriented music (which Mann found more musically satisfying). Many of these tracks (2-6, 8, 24-25), were previously unreleased in the US, including the unedited verion of "Do Wah Diddy Diddy," which features a brief organ break. It also includes the original version of the Bacharach-David "Little Red Book" from the movie What's New Pussycat? In addition there is a terrific version of Dylan's "If You Gotta Go, Go Now," which hit No. 2 in the UK. And the band could rock when they wanted to. Need proof? Listen to "Tired of Trying, Bored with Lying, Scared of Dying." Throughout, this collection features the strong vocals (and harmonica) of Paul Jones, who left the band in July of 1966 where this set ends.

Until the definitive box set comes out, this CD covers the early-period Mannfred Mann thoroughly. If all you know about Manfred Mann is "Do Wah Diddy Diddy," this album will be an eye-opener. RECOMMENDED

Manfred Mann were one of the best but least know of the bands of the British Invasion. Their hits "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", "Sha La La", and "Pretty Flamingo" are here along with other great songs Like "Come Tomorrow" and "I'm Your Kingpin". The major problem with the band was that they couldn't decide if they were a jazz/blues band or a pop band. They performed each genre at an extremely high level and their albums were a mixture of both. To some of the people buying their records at the time, this was not a problem, but for the majority it was. Buy this for all the great music and make your own conclusion.

A great collection of Manfred Mann's early hits,Do Wah Diddy Diddy,Sha La La,Come Tommorrow,Pretty Flamingo,there all here and many more!!! A five star collection!!! Great remastered sound too!!! Two thumbs up!!! A+

True this is not definitive really, because it stops at 1966, when Manfred Mann lasted until 1968, but the fact is that it's a great one, especially because of how cheap it is. As of July 2, 2008, the price is $2.98, so it's easy to find and affordable.

And it's got all of the basics here. 'Do Wah Diddy Diddy' is obviously here, but there's a lot more to Manfred Mann than just that one song. And if you want to hear British Invasion at it's finest, than pick up this CD.

Note to casual fans that stumble upon this page: If you start asking, "Where is 'Blinded By The Light'?" 'Blinded By The Light' was Manfred Mann's Earth Band, and this is the British Invasion group, simply titled Manfred Mann. So don't get the two mixed up.

This is highly recommended for any fan of British Invasion. Manfred Mann are often overlooked, and that's a shame, because these guys made some fine music back in the day.

Highly recommended. ENJOY!!!

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Everybody knows "Do Wah Diddy Diddy." Some people know the follow up hits like "Sha La La" and "Pretty Flamingo." Some people know Paul Jones was the singer not Mr. Mann (the beatnik-countenanced keyboardist from South Africa).

By the time "Pretty Flamingo" came out, MM were doing their best to scrape into the top 30 in the USA. Few know that a young Jack Bruce (later of Cream fame) was the bass player in the band at the time of "Flamingo."

And not enough people know that their albums were unique delights of jazz and blues pleasures. Along with Georgie Fame, they broke the ground into jazz stylings for Brit pop bands of the era. Much of the credit goes to Mike Vickers who was officially their guitarist but made much more of a statement with his flutes and saxes.

You may not like everything here; the blues tunes spoke more to the UK influences of the time than they did to US audiences. But this was absolutely one of, if not the, most talented acts of the period, and Paul Jones is a superb vocalist. He would probably have had much more recognition if their first hit had been something besides the novelty "Doo Wah..." Get this, it's pretty comprehensive, more so than most of these greatest hits packages.

(PS - note, as mentioned in other reviews, this CD covers the Paul Jones era, not the later hits sung by Mike D'Abo -like "Mighty Quinn." And nothing by the later incarnations MM's Chapter 3 and MM's Earth Band.)