The Good Earth (Manfred Mann's Earth Band album)

The Good Earth
Studio album by Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Released	11 October 1974
Recorded	1974 at The Workhouse, Old Kent Road, London
Genre	Hard rock, heavy metal, progressive metal, progressive rock, jazz Rock
Length	38:09
Label	Bronze (UK) Warner Bros. (US)
Producer	Manfred Mann, Earth Band
Manfred Mann's Earth Band chronology
Solar Fire (1973) The Good Earth (1974) Nightingales & Bombers (1975)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	B−[2]

The Good Earth is an album released in 1974 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. Its opening song is a cover of "Give Me the Good Earth", written by Gary Wright and released on his 1971 solo album Footprint, while tracks 2 and 3 were originally by Australian progressive rock band Spectrum.

Early owners of each copy of The Good Earth were entitled to rights over 1 square foot of the earth situated at Llanerchyrfa in the County of Brecon, in Wales. The inner sleeve included a coupon that had to be sent for registration. This was part of the promotion activities linked to the album that had ecological inspirations. There was no swindle and thousands of fans were registered. Registration could be done on or before 31 December 1975.

Track listing

Side one

1. "Give Me the Good Earth" (Gary Wright) – 8:31
2. "Launching Place" (Mike Rudd) – 5:52
3. "I'll Be Gone" (Rudd) – 3:42

Side two

4. "Earth Hymn" (Mann, Slade) – 6:19
5. "Sky High" (Mann, Rogers) – 5:15
6. "Be Not Too Hard" (Rogers, Christopher Logue) – 4:12
7. "Earth Hymn Part 2" (Mann, Slade) – 4:18

Bonus Tracks (1998 reissue)

8. "Be Not Too Hard" (Single version) (Rogers, Logue) – 3:39
9. "I'll Be Gone" (Single Version) (Rudd) – 3:28
10. "Earth Hymn Part 2a" (Single Version) (Mann, Slade) – 4:13

Personnel

• Manfred Mann – keyboards
• Mick Rogers – guitars, vocals
• Chris Slade – drums
• Colin Pattenden – bass guitar

References