Messin' Explained

Messin'
Type:	Studio
Artist:	Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Cover:	Messin'.jpg
Released:	15 June 1973
Recorded:	1973
Studio:	Maximum Sound Studios, London
Length:	41:16
Label:	Vertigo (UK original release) Bronze (UK 1977 reissue) Polydor (U.S.)
Producer:	Manfred Mann
Prev Title:	Glorified Magnified
Prev Year:	1972
Next Title:	Solar Fire
Next Year:	1973

Messin' is a rock album released in 1973 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

"Buddah" also appeared on the Vertigo budget sampler double album Suck It and See, along with tracks by then-labelmates Kraftwerk, Jade Warrior and the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, amongst others.

The album was produced by Manfred Mann and engineered by John Edwards at Maximum Sound Studios, London in 1973.

For the United States release, the album was re-titled Get Your Rocks Off and the track "Pretty Good" was included in place of "Black and Blue", seemingly because the latter was about slavery and deemed unsuitable for the US market.^[1]

Notes and References

1. Billboard 200 - June 30, 1973. . August 8, 2017.
2. this piece is based on the track "Messin' Up the Land", recorded by Manfred Mann's previous line-up Manfred Mann Chapter Three in 1971. The album was shelved before release. So, this track was first released in 2005 as a part of the box set Odds & Sods – Mis-takes & Out-takes. It furthermore quotes from the Chapter Three track "Konekuf", released in 1969 on the debut album of the group.
3. Robert M Corich, Sleeve notes, Messin' album, 1998 Both tracks were included on the 1998 re-mastered re-issue. Under this title, the album just barely made the US Billboard 200, spending only two weeks on the charts and peaking at number 196 on June 30, 1973.^[1]

   UK track listing

   Messin

   Side one

   1. "Messin^[2] (Mike Hugg) – 9:54
   2. "Buddah" (Manfred Mann, Mick Rogers) – 7:01
   3. "Cloudy Eyes" (Mann) – 5:32

   Side two

   4. "Get Your Rocks Off" (Bob Dylan) – 2:51
   5. "Sadjoy" (Mann) – 5:20
   6. "Black and Blue" (Chain: Barry Sullivan, Matt Taylor, Phil Manning, Barry Harvey) – 7:21 (6:44 on the 1998 re-issue)
   7. "Mardi Gras Day" (Dr John Creaux) – 3:02

   Bonus Tracks (1998 re-issue)

   8. "Pretty Good" (John Prine) – 4:11
   9. "Cloudy Eyes" (single edit) (Mann) – 3:31

   US track listing

   Get Your Rocks Off

   Side one

   1. "Messin'" (Mike Hugg) – 10:00
   2. "Pretty Good" (John Prine) – 4:00
   3. "Sadjoy" (Manfred Mann) – 4:30

   Side two

   4. "Get Your Rocks Off" (Bob Dylan) – 3:00
   5. "Buddah" (Mann, Mick Rogers) – 7:00
   6. "Cloudy Eyes" (Mann) – 5:30
   7. "Mardi Gras Day" (Dr John Creaux) – 3:00

   Personnel

   The Earth Band

   • Manfred Mann – organ, Minimoog synthesiser
   • Mick Rogers – electric guitar, lead vocals
   • Colin Pattenden – bass guitar
   • Chris Slade – drums

   Additional musicians

   • Laurie Baker – Machines and Zoo on "Messin' "
   • Liza Strike – backing vocals
   • Vicki Brown – backing vocals
   • Judith Powell – backing vocals
   • Ruby James – backing vocals

   Technical

   • Manfred Mann – producer
   • John Edwards – engineer
   • Laurence Latham – engineer ("Sadjoy")
   • Peter Hignett – sleeve concept
   • Peter Goodfellow – illustration
   • Re-mastered by: Robert M Corich and Mike Brown

   External links

   • • • Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Messin (1973) album credits & user reviews at ProgArchives.com
   • Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Messin (1973) album to be listened on Spotify