PAUL JONES/MY WAY CLP 3586 (-66) UK MONO

For more background check post on his Swedish 1968 compilation "The Best Of Paul Jones" https://monolover.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-best-of-paul-jones-ssx-1056-68.html . This was his first solo effort after leaving Manfred Mann. To me his voice as a part of the band's appearance can be equaled with what Colin Blunstone's did for Zombies. The very personal vocals were crusial for the sound that made their early successes on both sides of the Atlantic. So you'd expect quite a lot from him even without the band safety net when produced by John Burgess (who earlier worked with Freddie & The Dreamers, Peter & Gordon and Manfred Mann among others). Arranged by Mike Leander (who's done it with about everyone - Beatles, Stones, Small Faces, Joe Cocker, Marc Bolan and Marianne Faithful...to name a few) and Geoff Love (behind tons of recordings of TV and movie themes). Orchestrated British male vocal going through various styles - well arranged, produced and topped with his special voice. It could have been magic, but it isn't. I hear about the same procedure as for Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck, Cilla Black and many other UK solo vocalists, but it doesn't fit him and he's not taken care of properly. I imagine with sparser arrangements to a somewhat bluesier or pop orientated track choice it would have done a lot better to both ears and scores. As it turned out now he got a UK #4 with the spawned "High Time" 45, while the album didn't sell well at all. However today it might be interesting for die-hard Manfred Mann completists and us who like his vocals no matter what. Also as UK stereo (CSD 3586). German on Electrola (SME 74222). UK 1997 CD on EMI (7243 8 56570 23). Premiere UK had label as shown here and laminated flip/back cover. (MÄNÄ*) (MÖRS*)