50 Years Of Music (1975 – 1982 Rarities): 11CD Box Set

There is nothing quite like the joy of an untold story in pop, especially from an artist who is already much-loved. Since 1972, Phil Manzanera, all fly-glasses and guitar shapes, has been an art-household name as part of Roxy Music; fewer, however, are aware of his stellar solo career that has run parallel with the groups activities. Now, to shine the brightest light, guitarist, writer, artist, producer and collaborator Manzanera presents 50 Years of Music, a celebratory 11-CD/100-page hardback book cornucopia that covers this six-decade solo career.

With collaborators such as Brian Eno, David Gilmour, Tim Finn, Andy Mackay, Robert Wyatt, Eddie Jobson, John Wetton and Rhett Davies, 50 Years of Music, plays like a vital alternative history of pop. While others later were to make much of world music, Manzanera was quietly making sounds inspired by a childhood that saw him travel with his Colombian mother and English father to Cuba, Venezuela, and Hawaii these influences, combined with the British beat of his teens, permeates his 10 solo albums, gathered here with unreleased and rare bonus material.

And what of the albums themselves? there is much to discover. After a spell in Quiet Sun, and then Roxys first wave, 1975s Diamond Head an album that was to give its name to an influential British heavy metal group is where the story begins. Featuring some of the finest musicians in London, the albums invention is apparent from the off, careering between skewiff pop, Latin and rock. Inspired by George Orwells 1984, Listen Now from 1977 deals in subtle sonic alchemy. Rolling Stone noted that Manzanera again with Eno as his lieutenant, delves deeper into a darker, more moody canvas reminiscent of Pink Floyd. K-Scope was released during Roxy Musics late 70s hiatus, and the spirit of the age is reflected in sharper, hipper recordings and guest appearances from Tim and Neil Finn from Split Enz, the New Zealand art-rock band that Phil had produced. 1982s Primitive Guitars is entirely instrumental; each song relating to a period of his life with styles changing appropriately. Southern Cross (1990) explores Phils Cuban roots, while 1999s Vozero offers similar for his South American journeys. 2004s 6PM marries grooves, ambience, and pop in a pleasing millennial stew; While the Roxy Music reunion of the early 00s reintroduced Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson into Manzaneras work, old friends Robert Wyatt and Brian Eno joined too for 2005s 50 Minutes Later. Working with Polish pianist Leszek Moder, and long-time collaborator Charles Hayward, Firebird VII (2008) was an affectionate tribute to Manzaneras trademark guitar, the Gibson Firebird VII. The Sound of Blue from 2015, is a warm, emotional album, that travels through genres like trains pass through stations a deeply satisfying listen; Snia Bernardos vocal contributions to 1960 Caracas a particular highlight.

Of huge interest too, is the eleventh disc, RARE TWO, a follow-up to 2000s Rare One, a collection of never-before-released demos, radio sessions, and rare European singles. Rare Two is a personally curated collection of 10 unreleased songs, demos, live tracks, and two rarities from Phils archive. Of enormous interest will be the Demo PM 1 by Pink Floyd, the early version of One Slip that Phil wrote with his long-term friend and collaborator David Gilmour. A live version of Impossible Guitars by Roxy Music from 1982 can be enjoyed here as well.

Phil Manzaneras career is in rude health. He continues to influence and inspire not only his peers, but current and future generations. Out of the blue in 2011, the title track of K-Scope was sampled by Kanye West and Jay Z for their global success, No Church In The Wild. The song was also used in the Baz Luhrmann adaptation of The Great Gatsby and in multiple TV commercials. With this one sample, Manzanera earned more money than in 50 years with Roxy Music. As a token of his thanks, Phils own version of No Church In The Wild graces The Sound Of Blue.

50 Years of Music is beautifully presented in a 10×10 hard-slip case with a tasteful matt finish and spot varnish, with three wallets holding the eleven CDs featuring original artwork throughout. Overseen by Phil, the albums have been remastered by Alchemy Masterings Barry Grint at Londons renowned Air Studios. A 100-page book accompanies this extraordinary musical journey. With photos, handwritten notes, tape boxes, scribbles, clippings, alternate artwork, lyrics, compositions, thoughts as well as the original album booklets, the hardback book is intended to enlighten and amuse.

Tracklist:

Disc One: Diamond Head (1975)

1. Frontera
2. Diamond Head
3. Big Day
4. The Flex
5. Same Time Next Week
6. Miss Shapiro
7. East Of Echo
8. Lagrima
9. Alma
10. Carhumba (previously released on 2011 re-issue) [Bonus Track]
11. Corazon Y Alma (previously released on 2011 re-issue) [Bonus Track]

Disc Two: Listen Now (801) (1977)

1. Listen Now
2. Flight 19
3. Island
4. Law and Order
5. Rude Awakening
6. Que?
7. City Of Light
8. Initial Speed
9. Postcard Love
10. That Falling Feeling
11. Blue Gray Uniform (Demo @ PSLStudios) (previously only available on 2015 Japanese re-issue) [Bonus Track]
12. Remote Control (Demo @ PSL Studios Psychedelic Version) (previously only available on 2015 Japanese re-issue) [Bonus Track]
13. Island (Secret Fingers Remix) (previously only available on 2015 Japanese re-issue)
14. Listen Now (Velvet Season and The Hearts of Gold Remix) (previously only available on 2015 Japanese re-issue) [Bonus Track]

Disc Three: K-Scope (1978)

1. Remote Control
2. Cuban Crisis
3. Hot Spot
4. Numbers
5. Slow Motion TV
6. Gone Fishing
7. N-Shift
8. Walking Through Heavens Door
9. You Are Here
10. Remote Control (Live 801 Tour 1977) (previously available on 2000 reissue) [Bonus Track]
11. It Dont Matter To Me (Demo @ PSLStudios Manzanera) (previously available on 2000 reissue) [Bonus Track]
12. Out Of The Blue (Live 801 Tour 1977) (previously available on 2000 reissue) [Bonus Track]
13. Walking Through Heavens Door (ZSOU Remix) (previously only available on 2015 Japanese re-issue) [Bonus Track]

Disc Four: Primitive Guitars (1982)

1. Criollo
2. Caracus
3. La Nueva Ola
4. Botaga
5. Ritmo de Los Angeles
6. Europe 701
7. Impossible Guitar
8. Big Dome
9. Europe 80-1
10. Impossible Guitars (Theo Parrish Feat. Duminie Deporres Remix) (previously only available on 2015 Japanese re-issue) [Bonus Track]
11. Caracas (Daniele Baldelli and Marco Dionigi Mental Remix) (previously only available on 2015 Japanese re-issue) [Bonus Track]
12. Criollo (Kenji Takimi and Tomoki Kanda ‘Being Borings’ Remix) (previously only available on 2019 Japanese re-issue) [Bonus Track]
13. Big Dome (Cos_Mes Remix) (previously only available on 2015 Japanese re-issue) [Bonus Track]

Disc Five: Southern Cross (1990)

1. Million Reason Why
2. Tambor
3. The Great Leveller
4. Astrud
5. Southern Cross (Instrumental)
6. Blood Brothers
7. Guantanamera
8. The Rich and The Poor
9. Dance Break This Trance
10. Verde
11. Dr. Fridel
12. Vanceremos
13. Southern Cross (Live in Havana Moncada Manzanera Live at the Karl Marx)
14. (Previously Unreleased) [Bonus Track]
15. Astrud (Live In Havana Moncada Manzanera Live at the Karl Marx) (Previously Unreleased) [Bonus Track]

Disc Six: Vozero (1999)

1. Vozero
2. Mystic Moon
3. Verdadero
4. Tuesday
5. Rayo De Bala
6. The Art Of Conversation
7. Vida
8. Golden Sun
9. Mundo Con Paz
10. Hymn
11. La Vida Moderna
12. Tropical

Disc Seven: 6PM (2004)

1. Broken Dreams
2. Green Spikey Cactus
3. Love Devotion
4. Wish You Well
5. 6PM
6. Waiting For The Sun To Shine
7. Manzra
8. Cissbury Ring
9. Porlock
10. Shoreline
11. Always You
12. Sacred Days
13. For You (previously only available on 2016 Japanese reissue) [Bonus Track]

Disc Eight: 50 Minutes Later (2005)

1. Revolution
2. Technicolor UFO
3. That’s All I know
4. 50 Minutos Mas Trade
5. Desaparecido
6. Dusza
7. One Step
8. Swimming
9. Bible Black
10. Til The End Of The Line
11. Enotonik Bible Black (Mainstream Version)

Disc Nine: Firebird V11 (2008)

1. Fortunately I Had One With Me
2. Cartagena
3. Firebird
4. Mexican Hat
5. Firebird V11
6. A Few Minutes
7. After Magritte
8. Cartagena (Live at Ronnie Scotts) (Previously Unreleased) [Bonus Track]

Disc Ten: The Sound Of Blue (2015)

1. Magdelena
2. 1960 Caracas feat Snia Bernado
3. The Sound Of Blue
4. Rose Mullion Head
5. Halmstad
6. Tramuntana
7. High Atlas
8. Mi Casa
9. In Conversation with Andy Mackay
10. No Church In The Wild feat Snia Bernado
11. High Atlas (Live in Tokyo with Hotei) (Previously Unreleased) [Bonus Track]

Disc Eleven: The Manzanera Archives RARE TWO

1. Que Fera Fera demo with Nfaly Kouyarte (Previously Unreleased)
2. Spanish (Previously Unreleased)
3. The Unknown Zone (previously only available as a download 2009)
4. Demo PM 1 (One Slip) Pink Floyd (Previously Unreleased)
5. Tre Amore (Previously Unreleased)
6. Chan Chan (previously only available on Japan Live CD)
7. Otra Vuelta (Previously Unreleased)
8. All the While (Live at Hospital Club, London) (Previously Unreleased)
9. Impossible Guitars (Live at Frejus with Roxy Music) (Previously Unreleased)
10. Bala de Plata (Live at The CCK Buenos Aires) (Previously Unreleased)
11. East of Asteroid (Live at Ronnie Scotts) (Previously Unreleased)
12. El Vlaje Demo (Previously Unreleased)