Angel Station

Infobox Album
Name = Angel Station
Type = Studio album
Artist = Manfred Mann's Earth Band


Released = 9 March1979
Recorded = Workhouse Studios, Old Kent Road, London Noel's House, Clonakilty, County Cork August 1978—January 1979
Genre = Rock Hard rock Progressive rock
Length = 46:34
Label =
Producer = Anthony Moore Manfred Mann
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3.0|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:lz6uak8k5m3n link]
*Prog Archives Rating|3.67|5 [http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=78191 link]
Last album = "Watch" (1978)
This album = "Angel Station" (1979)
Next album = "Chance" (1980)

"Angel Station" is an album released in 1979 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. There is a strong argument to be made for the inclusion of Angel Station in the roll call of the band's peaks. Dylan cover versions have been a second string mainstay of the band's success and Angel Station's "You Angel You" blends the power of Dylan's song-writing with Mann's extraordinary talent as an arranger and orchestrator. Unremarked by most critics at the time, Angel Station is unique in featuring a six-note descending theme in most of the songs on the album, woven skillfully into the context of each song in a different way. Another conceptual first on the album was the pair of songs "Hollywood Town" and "You Are, I Am" which shared a common tune and basic arrangement but worked as mirror images of each other. Some of the impact of the pairing is lost on CD editions of the album; on vinyl, they occupied almost identical positions on either side of the LP. The entire album has the air of an emotional and musical crossword puzzle, or has affinities with the work of M. C. Escher, whose art is alluded to on the cover illustration.

Of singular interest is the involvement of Fingerprintz main man Jimmy O'Neill whose influence can be heard in the edgy, angular instrumental "Platform's End", and ex-Slapp Happy and Henry Cow mainstay Anthony Moore who produced the album and influenced its modern, sparse and daring sound.

"This is Chris Thompson's last album with the Earth Band as he is forming his own band in the near future. I wish to thank him for a valuable creative and personal relationship, and wish him every success in the future." - "Manfred Mann 1979" [Manfred Mann, "Angel Station" album, Sleeve notes (1979)]

Track listing

#"Don't Kill It Carol" (Mike Heron) – 6:18
#"You Angel You" (Bob Dylan) – 4:02
#"Hollywood Town" (Harriet Schock) – 5:09
#"'Belle' Of The Earth" (Manfred Mann) – 2:46
#"Platform End" (Mann, Geoff Britton, Pat King, Steve Waller, Chris Thompson, Jimmy O'Neill) – 1:32
#"Angels At My Gate" (Mann, Martinez, O'Neill) – 4:50
#"You Are, I Am" (Mann) – 5:11
#"Waiting For The Rain" (Billy Falcon) – 6:17
#"Resurrection" (Mann) – 2:42
#"Don't Kill It Carol" (single version) (Heron) – 3:58
#"You Angel You" (single version) (Dylan) – 3:46Tracks 10-11: Bonus Tracks (1999 re-issue)

Personnel

*Manfred Mann - keyboards, vocals
*Geoff Britton - drums, alto saxophone
*Pat King - bass
*Steve Waller - guitar, vocals
*Chris Thompson - vocalswith
*Jimmy O'Neill - rhythm guitar
*Dyan Birch - backing vocals
*Anthony Moore - guitar, sequencer, synthesizer

Notes