The Roaring Silence

The Roaring Silence is the seventh studio album by English rock band Manfred Mann's Earth Band. It was released on 27 August 1976, by Bronze Records in the UK and by Warner Bros. Records in the US. Like other Earth Band albums, this includes material by other composers. "Blinded by the Light", which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100,[3] is a cover version of a song by Bruce Springsteen;[3] "Questions" is based on the main theme of Franz Schubert's Impromptu in G flat Major (1827);[4] "Starbird" takes its theme from Igor Stravinsky's ballet The Firebird (1910); and "The Road to Babylon" is based on the canon "By the Waters of Babylon" by Philip Hayes. This album marked the arrival of vocalist/guitarist Chris Hamlet Thompson, and Dave Flett who replaced longtime guitarist/vocalist/composer Mick Rogers. It is also the last album recorded with founding member Colin Pattenden.

The Roaring Silence
Studio album by Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Released	27 August 1976
Recorded	1976
Studio	Workhouse Studios London
Genre	Progressive rock art rock
Length	39:55
Label	Bronze Warner Bros.
Producer	Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Manfred Mann's Earth Band chronology
Nightingales and Bombers (1975) The Roaring Silence (1976) Watch (1978)
Singles from The Roaring Silence
"Blinded by the Light" Released: 6 August 1976 "Questions" Released: 1976

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	C [2]

The main riff of "Waiter, There's a Yawn in My Ear" is taken from the Manfred Mann Chapter Three track "Fish" which was recorded for their abandoned third album. It was ultimately released in 2005 on the Odds & Sods – Mis-takes & Out-takes box set.

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Blinded by the Light"	Bruce Springsteen	7:08
2.	"Singing the Dolphin Through"	Mike Heron	8:19
3.	"Waiter, There's a Yawn in My Ear"	Manfred Mann	5:39

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
4.	"The Road to Babylon"	Mann, Peter Thomas, Colin Pattenden	6:53
5.	"This Side of Paradise"	Mann, Thomas, Pattenden	4:47
6.	"Starbird"	Mann, Slade	3:09
7.	"Questions"	Mann, Slade	4:00

1998 re-issue bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
8.	"Spirits in the Night" (1977 version)	Springsteen	3:16
9.	"Blinded by the Light" (single edit)	Springsteen	3:49

There were two pressings of this album available in the U.S. The original, shown here, and a second version with a blue cover which included "Spirit In The Night" another Springsteen song. The first CD-release (1987) of this album did not contain bonus tracks, and tracks No. 3 and No. 7 had changed places

Personnel

The Earth Band

• Chris Hamlet Thompson – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Manfred Mann – keyboards, backing vocals
• Dave Flett – lead guitar
• Colin Pattenden – bass
• Chris Slade – drums, backing vocals, percussion

Additional musicians

• Doreen Chanter – backing vocals
• Irene Chanter – backing vocals
• Susanne Lynch – backing vocals
• Mick Rogers – backing vocals
• Barbara Thompson – saxophone
• David Millman – string arrangements

Technical

• Manfred Mann's Earth Band – producers
• Laurence Latham – engineer
• David Culpan, Margaret Wood, Tony Rowell, Edwin Cross – assistant engineers
• Shirtsleeve Studio – design. Modelled by artist Derek Goldsmith
• Martyn Goddard – photography

Charts

Chart (1976)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5]	8
Austrian Top 75 Albums [6]	10
Netherlands Top 100 Albums [7]	11
Norwegian Top 40 Albums [8]	6
Swedish Top 60 Albums [9]	17
UK Albums Chart [10]	10

Chart (1977)	Peak position
Canadian Top Albums [11]	6
New Zealand Top 40 Albums [12]	34
US Billboard 200 [13]	10

References

1. DeGagne, Mike. The Roaring Silence at AllMusic
2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: M". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 4 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
3. Pemberton, Pat (13 June 2012). "Blinded by the Light". Rolling Stone.
4. Südwestrundfunk page on The Roaring Silence Swr.de (in German)
5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 191. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
6. "Manfred Mann's Earth Band – The Roaring Silence (Album)" (ASP). Austrian Charts (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
7. "Manfred Mann's Earth Band – The Roaring Silence (Album)" (ASP). GfK Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
8. "Album Info: The Roaring Silence – Manfred Mann's Earth Band" (PHP). VG-lista (in Norwegian). Retrieved 25 May 2011.
9. "Manfred Mann's Earth Band – The Roaring Silence (Album)" (ASP). Swedish Charts (in Swedish). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
10. "Artist Chart History: Manfred Mann". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
11. "Top Albums". RPM. 26 (26): 23. 26 March 1977. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
12. "Manfred Mann's Earth Band – The Roaring Silence (Album)" (ASP). New Zealand Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
13. "Manfred Mann's Earth Band – The Roaring Silence". Awards. AllMusic. Retrieved 19 February 2016.

External links

• Manfred Mann's Earth Band - The Roaring Silence (1976) album releases & credits at Discogs
• Manfred Mann's Earth Band - The Roaring Silence (1976) album credits & user reviews at ProgArchives.com
• Manfred Mann's Earth Band - The Roaring Silence (1976) album to be listened on Spotify