Genre: rock
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: Home Sweet Home
Company: Enterprise
Catalog: ENS-1008
Year: 1970
Country/State: Memphis, Tennessee
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: minor ring and corner wear; demo stamp on back cover
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5396
Price: $100.00
Of the 35,000 albums I currently own, this
early-1970s obscurity is in my top-10 favorites pile.
This is also one of the few LPs I own that I've bothered to transfer to
CD-R.
If you recognize Terry Manning's name, its likely a result of his work as an engineer and producer, including numerous projects for the Memphis-based Ardent Records were he worked with the likes of Alex Chilton and Big Star. With the exception of true hard core collector's, most folks probably don't know that Manning actually recorded an
early-1970s solo LP.
Image courtesy of Sunbeam Records
By the early 1970s Manning was a fixture at Stax having engineered many of
their recording sessions. While he wasn't known for his performing
talents, a one off demo of a song intended for The Box Tops caught Stax VP
Al Bell's attention and served to get Manning signed to the Stax affiliated Enterprise
label. Manning subsequently made his solo debut with 1970's
"Home Sweet Home".
A true solo effort, Manning produced, engineered and save drums, handled most of the instrumentation (Big Star's Chris Bell provided lead guitar on a couple of tracks).
In terms of the music, anyone into the Big Star/Alex Chilton scene will find this album
irresistible. Besides, how can you not like an album that starts out with an extended, fuzz-filled cover of George Harrison's
'Savoy Truffle'. Manning's voice certainly didn't have Chilton's depth and breadth, but he
used his limited talents well, turning in a uniformly impressive set that effortlessly blended blue eyed soul, R&B and garage rock moves. Simply a blast from start to finish,
it was hard to pick out favorites, though
'Trashy Dog' (The B-52s could've had a hit with it), 'I Ain't Got You' and a fuzz guitar and harmonica propelled cover of The
Beatles' 'I Wanna Be Your Man' were all worthy highlights. (Okay, I'll admit
the Elvis-wannabe 'Wild Wild Rocker' was forgettable.) Sadly, the LP vanished without a trace, making it a sought after collectable.
"Home Sweet Home" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Savoy Truffle (George Harrison) - 10:06
2.) Guess Thing Happen That Way (Jack Clements) - 3:06
3.) Trashy Dog (Terry Manning) - 3:00
4.) Wild Wild Rocker (Terry Manning) - 2:27
(side 2)
1.) Choo Choo Train (Fritts - Hinton) - 4:28
2.) I Ain't Got You (Clarence Carter) - 2:12
3.) Sour Mash (instrumental) (Terry Manning - Richard Rosebrough) - 5:04
4.) I Wanna Be Your Man (John Lennon - Paul McCartney) - 5:02
For anyone interested, Manning has a small website at:
Imagine my surprise and delight to hear from the man himself !!!
Hello
BadCat!
I wanted to thank you for the kind words you wrote in the review of my album
"Home Sweet Home." How perceptive you are! (Ha Ha.)
Because of your and several others' reviews and interest, there is now going
to be a large re-release emanating from the UK, but dist worldwide, on CD.
I was wondering if you would mind if we quoted excerpts from your review in
the liner notes? We would love to use your name as well, something
like "XX XX writing for BadCatRecords..." Hopefully this
could also help promote your site.
The new release will feature two extra studio cuts from that era, as well as
a live recording from the early '90's.
I would love to have your address so we could send you a CD when it comes
out (probably this summer) as well.
Again, thank you, and I hope you are well.
Best regards,
Terry Manning
Compass Point Studios
Nassau, Bahamas
June
2006
Manning's LP was reissued in CD format by the Sunbeam label (Sunbeam catalog
number SBRCD5023). The reissue included three bonus tracks:
1.) Talk Talk
2.) One After 909
3.) I Can't Stand the Rain (live)