Revelation

The rock group Man were Wales' finest sons. Originally formed in 1962 in Swansea, Wales, The Bystanders were a singles band with a heavy touring schedule for the time. A minor hit broke the UK Top 50 in 1966; but with the exit of Vic Oakley, guitarist Micky Jones, keyboardist Clive John and the rhythm section of Ray "Taff" Williams and Jeffrey Jones reemerged as Man in 1968, with a musical switch to psychedelia and the addition of guitarist Roger "Deke" Leonard. Their debut album Revelation was issued on the Pye label in early 1969, and saw release on the Philips label in the US under the group name Manpower. Ostensibly a concept record about the course of human life, Man's debut is chock-full of late-60s psychedelia. "And in the Beginning" offers a heavy intro and spoken word interlude between some great guitar from Jones. "Sudden Life" adds a little blues to the mix, while the acoustic "Love" scales back a bit. The faux-orgasm vocals of "Erotica" was shocking for its time-banned in the UK, yet a hit in France! The second side's "Blind Man" is another good-time rocking number, but "And Castles Rise in Children's Eyes," with John's organ at the fore, highlights Man at their most psychedelic and progressive. "Don't Just Stand There (Come in Out of the Rain)" follows up with more keyboard acrobatics from John, while "The Future Hides Its Face" closes, reprising the opening theme. An excellent second album, 2 Ozs Of Plastic With A Hole In The Middle (including the rockin' "Spunk Rock"), saw release in September and built on their debut; and further touring earned them success in Germany, which they subsequently made their home base.