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MAN Live At The Keystone,Berkeley GPCD003 (2006)
Part of the Man official Bootleg series, Volume 2, 'Live at the Keystone' is a retrospective gem of an album. The tapes originated from a friend of the late John Cipollina who apparently nailed down the second night of Man's short 1976 residency at the Berkeley Keystone Club in San Francisco. The resulting double cd, released some thirty years after the event, is the missing piece in the jigsaw for all long time Man fans.
The set is neatly split into CD one which encompasses the band's on going promotion of 'The Welsh Connection' album at the time, and CD 2 which features the band's anthems such as “C'Mon', 'Romain' and 'Bananas'. The late John Cippolina from Quicksilver Messenger Service reciprocates his guest appearance in London with an appearance on the last three songs of the night. And therein lies an additional tale as it is rumoured that when JC played on Man's 'Maximum Darkness' album -recorded live at the Roundhouse a year before this gig - his guitar parts were erased and replaced by Micky Jones's solo's. Whatever the truth, it isn't until Cippolina's second solo on 'Romain' that he delivers the goods, and by the time of a warmly received 'Bananas' things are really cooking for our Welsh heroes and their special guest.
Had these tapes surfaced three decades ago they might have had a major effect on the band's career as the newer material such as the title track, and both 'Something Is Happening' and Born With A Future' are all played superbly well. On 'Something Is Happening', Phil Ryan and Micky are in their element swapping keyboard and guitar runs, and both coalesce beautifully on the magnificent closing riff of 'The Welsh Connection'. Not to be outdone, Deke Leonard delivers a crunching '7171 581' and a fierce rendition of 'Ride And the View', on which Micky adds another climactic run.
'C'mon' is taken at an awesome pace, and Ryan adds some beautifully judged keyboard runs over a 'tick tock' Terry Williams drum pattern.
It is said Man's spiritual and musical home was the West Coast of America. And this their second visit to San Francisco finds them in inspired form on an album that is an essential purchase. Aside from being a great live album, all profits go to the ailing Micky Jones who has been sadly laid low by a brain tumour. Further info on www.mickyjones.co.uk
****½
Review by Pete Feenstra
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