Nightingales & Bombers is the sixth studio album released by Manfred Mann's Earth Band in 1975.
The recording was made on 19 May 1942 by a sound engineer for the BBC. Intending to capture the nightingale's song he also, by accident, recorded the sound of RAF bombers on their way to attack Mannheim, Germany. In that raid 197 planes were dispatched and 12 were lost.The Bomber Command War Diaries by Middlebrook and Everitt (1985) p. 267
This was the last album to feature guitarist and original lead vocalist Mick Rogers until he returned for 1986's Criminal Tango.
Track listing Side one "Spirits in the Night" (Bruce Springsteen) – 6:29 "Countdown" (Manfred Mann) – 3:05 "Time Is Right" (Mann, Chris Slade, Mick Rogers) – 6:32 "Crossfade" (Manfred Mann, Chris Slade, Mick Rogers, Colin Pattenden) – 3:38
Side two "Visionary Mountains" (Pam Nestor, Joan Armatrading) – 5:38 "Nightingales and Bombers" (Mick Rogers) – 4:45(*) "Fat Nelly" (Manfred Mann, Peter Thomas) – 3:20 "As Above So Below" (Recorded Live) (Manfred Mann, Chris Slade, Mick Rogers, Colin Pattenden) – 4:16
Bonus tracks on 1999 CD re-issue "Quit Your Low Down Ways" (from US Release) (Bob Dylan) – 3:25 "Spirits in the Night" (single version) (Bruce Springsteen) – 3:17
(*) The US version of the album includes "Quit Your Low Down Ways" as the second track on side two, which was not part of the original UK album. This song was recorded at the behest of the US record label, who were concerned that the album didn't contain enough songs with vocals (on the original UK LP, every second track is an instrumental, aside from one faintly heard line in the title track and some backing vocals on "As Above So Below").
"As Above So Below" is edited from a jam session that the band played in the middle of a 16-minute live version of "Mighty Quinn", recorded at the Marquee in London on 18 December 1973. This recording was then overdubbed with sound effects such as the aforementioned nightingales and bombers and reversed female vocals.
Personnel The Earth Band Manfred Mann – Hammond organ, synthesisers Mick Rogers – guitars, vocals Colin Pattenden – bass Chris Slade – drums, percussion
Additional musicians Ruby James, Doreen Chanter, Martha Smith – backing vocals David Millman – viola Chris Warren-Green – violin Nigel Warren-Green – cello Graham Elliott – cello David Boswell-Brown – cello
Technical Manfred Mann's Earth Band – producers Laurence Latham – engineer Lilian Bron – photography Dave Field – sleeve Re-mastered by: Robert M Corich and Mike Brown
Charts Chart (1975) Peakposition Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) 23
Notes
External links Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Nightingales & Bombers (1975) album releases & credits at Discogs Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Nightingales & Bombers (1975) album credits & user reviews at ProgArchives.com Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Nightingales & Bombers (1975) album to be listened on Spotify