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Detached (2017)

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MANFRED MANN 2023 stereo "Semi-Detached, Surburban Mr. James" from mono version...
"Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James" is a song written by songwriters Geoff Stephens and John Carter, recorded by English pop group Manfred Mann in 1966. Stephens and Carter, who were writers for a publishing company on Denmark Street, London, wrote the song in a style different from their usual compositions, as love was not the prevalent theme. Introduced to the song by producer Shel Talmy, Manfred Mann recorded it at Philips Studio in August 1966. Released by Fontana Records on 21 October 1966, the song was backed by drummer Mike Hugg's composition "Morning After The Party" as the group's second single on the label. Keyboardist Manfred Mann plays the Mellotron on the recording; it was one of the earliest recordings featuring the instrument.
1966 was a tumultuous and relatively difficult year for Manfred Mann, due to several changes in their lineup. Their lead singer, Paul Jones had left the group shortly after their single "Pretty Flamingo" had reached number one on the Record Retailer chart. Jones was shortly followed by the departure of bassist Jack Bruce, after which Manfred Mann hired Mike d'Abo as a vocalist and Klaus Voormann as a bassist.
"Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James" was the second of three singles that were produced by Shel Talmy, influential for his previous work with the Who and the Kinks, which Manfred Mann would gain experience from. In an interview for New Musical Express, lead vocalist d'Abo stated Talmy taught them "new and innovative techniques" in the studio, something that "our previous producer (John Burgess) didn't". He further said that the sessions were "a whole heap of fun". During the summer of 1966, Fontana Records had bought studio time at the Philips Studio in Marble Arch, which would further produce the album As Is (1966). "Semi-Detached" was recorded during a session held on 22 August 1966, which had also produced the bulk of the tracks which would make up As Is (1966).


A Mellotron Mark II, the model keyboardist Manfred Mann plays on the recording.
The song is also noted in that it is one of the first pop recordings to use the Mellotron, an instrumental that would later become prevalent in the fledging progressive rock scene. On the instrument, keyboardist Manfred Mann plays loops using the flute setting during the intro, which then prevails in the composition after each chorus. The model of the instrument was the second iteration, the Mark II, which Mann himself owned.It was introduced to him by Mike Vickers, who previously was Manfred Mann's guitarist, and who would later similarly introduce the instrument to the Beatles. Mann claims that he took the inspiration to purchase one from his curiosity of instruments that were "new and exotic". The band would record another single using the instrument, the follow-up "Ha! Ha! Said the Clown" in 1967.

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