Critic's Review
Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
The lineup of Clive John (organ/piano/guitar [electric]/harpsichord/vocals), Deke Leonard (guitar/vocals), Martin Ace (guitar [acoustic]/guitar [bass]/vocals), Terry Williams (percussion/drums), Roger Leonard (guitar [acoustic]/piano/guitar [electric]/guitar [steel]/vocals), and Micky Jones (guitar [acoustic]/guitar [electric]/vocals) are featured on Man's eponymously-titled third LP (1971). While the personnel would fluctuate significantly throughout its history, most enthusiasts consider this to be the primal version of the band. Although Man garnered a reputation as a Grateful Dead-like psychedelic aggregate, in reality they could vacillate from the inordinately far-out ramblings of the nearly quarter-hour "Would the Christians Wait Five Minutes?...The Lions Are Having a Draw," to a decidedly West Coast organic sound on "Country Girl" -- which should not be confused with the Neil Young composition from CSN&Y's Déjà Vu (1970). Arguably the most interesting cut is the 20-plus-minute epic "Alchemist." The minimalist opening yields to a multifaceted affair that ranges from a heavy Black Sabbath drone to a slow and trippy section, not too far removed from the likes of Quicksilver Messenger Service. As the opening rocker "Romain" demonstrates, they could pull off a pretty good British blues as well, à la Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac or even John Mayall. The driving proto-punkish "Daughter of the Fireplace" was chosen as the A-side to the only 45 rpm extracted from Man. This CD reissue includes the "single version", which has been whittled down from 5:19 to just under three minutes, as well as the flip side, a slightly different mix of "Country Girl." The audio is a notable upgrade from previous European or Japanese imports. This edition also sports a liner booklet with a short essay by noted musicologist Chris Welch.
