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Manfred Mann Chapter Three is the debut album released in 1969 by Manfred Mann Chapter Three. It was one of the three first albums released on the Vertigo record label. The principal members of the group were Manfred Mann and Mike Hugg. Mann played the organ and acted as the group's musical arranger, whilst Hugg handled vocals, played piano and was the chief songwriter. The group was augmented by a five-piece brass section and several distinguished jazz soloists.

The core songs "Travelling Lady", "Snakeskin Garter", "Devil Woman" and "Time" define the album's sound: long, slow, doomy one chord riffs beneath sections of breathy vocals, powerful brass and free-form improvised solos. "Konekuf" is the same without the vocals, while "A Study in Inaccuracy" is simply freeform. "Sometimes", "One Way Glass", "Ain't It Sad" and "Where Am I Going" are shorter and more melodic, wistful songs centering on Hugg's electric piano, on which he turns in an able solo on "Mister, You're a Better Man Than I".

Track listing

Tracks written by Mike Hugg except noted

Side one

1. "Travelling Lady" (Manfred Mann, Hugg) – 5:48
2. "Snakeskin Garter" – 5:48
3. "Konekuf" (Mann) – 5:47
4. "Sometimes" – 2:37
5. "Devil Woman" – 5:24

Side two

6. "Time" – 7:25
7. "One-Way Glass" (Mann, Pete Thomas) – 3:33
8. "Mr. You're a Better Man Than I" (Mike Hugg, Brian Hugg, Mann) – 5:10
9. "Ain't It Sad" – 1:57
10. "A Study in Inaccuracy" (Mann) – 4:05
11. "Where Am I Going" – 2:36

Additional tracks (1999 CD re-issue)

12. "Sometimes" (single mono version) – 2:22
13. "Travelling Lady" (single mono version) (Mann, Hugg) – 5:20
14. "Devil Woman" (single version) – 5:23
15. "A Study in Inaccuracy" (alternative version) – 5:10

Personnel

Manfred Mann Chapter Three

• Mike Hugg – piano, lead vocals, arranger
• Manfred Mann – organ, police whistle, arranger
• Bernie Living – alto saxophone, flute
• Steve York – bass, guitar, harp
• Craig Collinge – drums

Wind section

• Clive Stevens – tenor sax
• Carl Griffiths – tenor sax
• Dave Coxhill – baritone sax
• Gerald Drewett – trombone
• Sonny Corbett – trumpet

Guests

• Brian John Hugg – acoustic guitar
• Harry Beckett – trumpet on "Time"
• Sue and Sunny – vocals on "Devil Woman"

Technical

• Dave Hadfield – producer, engineer
• Derek Wadsworth – brass arrangements
• Luke Weall – art direction, design
• Jack Levy – cover art

References