Manfred Mann´s Earth Band-The Roaring Silence (1976)

Fueled by a hugely successful single with their rendition of Bruce Springsteen's "Blinded by the Light", Manfred Mann's Earth Band produced one of their best albums in the mid-seventies with "The Roaring Silence". However, by this point, vocalist and guitarist Mick Rogers had left the band after the release of the previous and epic album, "Nightingales & Bombers". This was a mutual decision, the result of his almost obsessive interest in the music of Frank Zappa and his desire to take the band in an avant-rock jazz direction. In Rogers' place, the band expanded to a quintet, recruiting vocalist Chris Thompson and guitarist Dave Flett. The rest of the lineup remained the same, having left behind such widely acclaimed albums as the outstanding "Messin'" (1973), "Solar Fire" (1973), "The Good Earth" (1974), and the aforementioned "Nightingales & Bombers" (1975). These musicians were Manfred Mann (keyboards), Chris Slade (drums), and Colin Pattenden (bass). In addition, a dozen more musicians contributed to the recording process, including saxophonist Barbara Thompson and a large group of backing vocalists. Among those featured were Chris Hamlet Thompson, Irene Chanter, Suzanne Lynch, and Mick Rogers. The album opens with a cover of "Blinded by the Light", featuring a magnificent keyboard solo by Manfred Mann. While the song clearly has a pop-rock foundation, it differs significantly from the original with a lengthy middle section that reinforces the group's progressive credentials and became a true avant-garde hit. This is followed by "Singing the Dolphin Through", a fine piece of melodic progressive rock, and the atmospheric and chaotic "Waiter There's A Yawn in My Ear". The B-side features "Road to Babylon" and "This Side of Paradise", two tracks with a leisurely progressive rhythm, strong melodies, and complex instrumental work. The album closes with the simple yet beautiful "Questions", where Chris Thompson's distinctive voice showcases his talent as a superb vocalist. The album went on to achieve several gold and silver records, achieving great success in the North American market.