Manfred Mann Chapter Three ''Volume Two'' (UK Prog-Rock 1970)

Second album from this band, and still delving further in experimentation – these things being relative, of course, but remember that these guys were pop writers just a year before this release. With an unchanged line-up and a strange artwork, this second albums takes off just where the previous had quit. The most logical step forward was the extension/lengthening of the tracks allowing for more instrumental interplay. 8-min opening track 'Lady Ace' could've easily fitted on their previous album, with the difference that the brass section does get wilder than anything they had done on the first volume. 'Poor Sad Sue' easily tops that with a free-jazz brass section solo before bringing things back to more conventional rock. 'Jump Before You Think' with its African percussions and York improvising wildly on his bass, then the brass (first with a Moroccan feel) take over and a dissonant sax soloing away, is yet another perfect example of this unit still breaking new grounds. 'It's Good To Be Alive' is more reminiscent of their debut album, but it is a creeper. The extended 16-min track 'Happy Being Me' is full of great soloing (including Mann on piano) and some outstanding wind-works from Harold Becket and Nick Evans (of Keith Tippett fame)

1. Lady Ace
2. I Ain't Laughing
3. Poor Sad Sue
4. Jump Before You Think
5. It's Good To Be Alive
6. Happy Being Me
7. Virginia
8. I Ain't Laughing (Mono version) *Bonus
9. Happy Being Me (Single mono version) *Bonus
10. Virginia (Alternate version) *Bonus