Man - Grasshopper (1973)

Man evolved out of the Bystanders, a successful close harmony pop group from Merthyr Tydfil in Wales, who issued eight singles, including '98.6', which reached No. 45 in UK Singles Chart in February 1967. When the Bystanders formed in 1962 the line-up was Owen Money, then known as Gerry Braden, (later replaced by Vic Oakley), on vocals, Micky Jones on guitar, Clive John on keyboards, Ray Williams on bass, and Jeff Jones on drums. By 1968 the other members wanted to change musical direction to a more psychedelic/American west-coast guitar sound, so Oakley left and was replaced by Deke Leonard, with the band changing its name to Man. They were initially signed to Pye Records, for which they recorded their first two albums, with 'Revelation' being infamous for the simulated orgasm on 'Erotica', earning it a UK radio ban. This album includes an eight minute alternate recording without the sexy overdubs, and sounds astonishing. Just before their second album '2 ozs Of Plastic With A Hole In The Middle' came out in 1969, Leonard left and was replaced by Martin Ace from Leonard's previous band, Dream, and we have a couple of out-takes from those sessions on here. In 1971 they signed to United Artists, and their eponymous record 'Man' was released that year to mixed reviews. The next album 'Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In?' was released at the end of 1971, and was better received by press and public alike, but constant touring was creating internal pressures, and in January 1972, keyboardist Clive John left the band. 
The new four piece supported Hawkwind and Brinsley Schwarz at a charity gig at The Roundhouse on 13th February 1972, which was recorded and issued as 'Greasy Truckers Party', rapidly becoming a collectors' item. United Artists persuaded them to follow this up with their own live album, and 'Live at the Padget Rooms, Penarth' was recorded on 8 April 1972 and was sold at a reduced price, with only 8,000 copies being pressed. Major personnel upheavals followed, with Ace leaving, Leonard being sacked, and Clive John rejoining, before falling out with Jones and departing again. Phil Ryan and Will Youatt joined on keyboards and bass, and they eventually released 'Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day' in 1972, once again to good reviews, and a couple of out-takes from those sessions are also on here. A party on 19 December 1972, with Dave Edmunds, Help Yourself, and The Flying Aces was issued as 'Christmas At The Patti' in 1973 as a double 10" album, from which I've included one track, where the band were augmented by Dave Edmunds and Stan Phifer. In 1973 they released a one-off single 'I'm Dreaming' / 'The Symbol Who Came To Dinner', which was quite unusual for them, so much so that they actually called it 'The Single (I'm Dreaming)', and it didn't appear on their 1973 half live/half studio double album 'Back Into The Future'. Man continued to record throughout the rest of the 70's, and have retained their reputation as one of the UK's best ever 'jam bands', so enjoy these, mostly instrumental, rarities from their classic early period. 

Track listing

01 Erotica (first version)  
02 A Sad Song (Grasshopper) 
03 Walkin' The Dogma ('Spunk Box' demo)   
04 Bananas (instrumental version)   
05 I'm Dreaming  
06 Rockfield Jam  
07 The Symbol Who Came To Dinner   
08 Life On The Road / Shuffle Christmas At The Patti