Remembering When a Rock Veteran Rebranded His Group and Scored His First No. 1 Hit in Over a Decade in 1976
In 1976, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band reached No. 1 in the United States with its cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Blinded By The Light”. The hit marked the first time in more than a decade that one of Mann’s groups had topped the American chart, showing how a change in musical direction and band name had brought him back to pop success.
Mann, born Manfred Lubowitz in South Africa, had previously led the pop-oriented Manfred Mann, whose 1964 hit “Do Wah Diddy” also reached No. 1 in the US. After a less commercially successful jazz-fusion phase with Manfred Mann Chapter Three, he formed the more progressive Earth Band. Its version of Springsteen’s 1973 song, released as a single in August 1976, added dramatic keyboards, guitar and a piano passage based on “Chopsticks”; a vocal line that sounded like “douche” was left unchanged, but did not stop the song becoming a hit.
In short
- Manfred Mann’s Earth Band hit No. 1 in the US in 1976.
- “Blinded By The Light” was originally written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen.
- The cover’s misheard lyric did not derail its chart success.
Explained simply
Manfred Mann, born Manfred Lubowitz in South Africa, first found major success in the 1960s with the pop group Manfred Mann. After exploring jazz fusion with Manfred Mann Chapter Three, he formed Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, which took a more progressive rock approach.
“Blinded By The Light” was written and first recorded by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen in 1973. The Earth Band’s version recast it with prominent keyboards and guitar, giving the song a different sound from Springsteen’s original. Their success showed that Mann had returned to the top of the US charts with a new group and musical direction.
Art Culture Entertainment Music