Angel Station

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Angel Station
Angel Station cover
Studio album by Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Released 9 March 1979
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 Bronze
Cohesion
Producer Anthony Moore
Manfred Mann
Professional reviews
Manfred Mann's Earth Band chronology
Watch
(1978)		 Angel Station
(1979)		 Chance
(1980)
Not to be confused with Angel tube station, a station on the London Underground.
Not to be confused with Angel Station (novel), by Walter Jon Williams.

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[1]

[edit] Track listing

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

Tracks 10-11: Bonus Tracks (1999 re-issue)

[edit] Personnel

with

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Manfred Mann, Angel Station album, Sleeve notes (1979)
v • d • e
Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Manfred Mann • Mick Rodgers • Noel McCalla • Geoff Dunn • Steve Kinch
Chris Thompson • Steve Waller • Chris Slade • Colin Pattenden • Pat King • John Lingwood • Clive Bunker • Dave Flett • Matt Irving • Shona Laing • Richard Marcangelo • Geoff Britton • John Trotter • Pete May
Studio albums
Live albums
Compilations
Songs
Related articles
Discography • Manfred Mann • Manfred Mann Chapter Three • The Manfreds
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