Manfred Mann produced some great singles during the 1960s. This Dutch CD collects together some of the best of them. 

5-4-3-2-1 was the first single to chart after a couple of flops. It was also the theme tune for the TV show Ready Steady Go and this surely helped its success. Hubble Bubble Toil and Trouble was also a group composition and followed the first hit into the charts. The band now changed to a cover for the next single, the Barry/Greenwich song Doo Wah Diddy Diddy. This was a number one hit as was Pretty Flamingo. 

There were a number of upheavals in the group which meant Tom McGuinness moving to guitar and Jack Bruce joining on bass. After Pretty Flamingo, vocalist Paul Jones decided to opt for a solo career and he was replaced by Mike D'Abo. You Gave Me Somebody to Love was the first single with D'Abo and was only moderately successful before the group recorded another Dylan number Just Like a Woman, their first release on Fontana. They had earlier had a hit with If You Gotta Go, Go Now. Later the Dylan song Mighty Quinn took Manfred Mann back to the top spot. Just Like a Woman was the first release to feature Klaus Voorman who replaced Jack Bruce.

By this stage Manfred Mann was a hit machine and they had a string of successful singles such as Ha Ha Said the Clown, My Name is Jack and Fox on the Run, even if the group was not always in favour. Ragamuffin Man was one song that the group hated but they were forced to promote the track. Semi-detached Suburban Mr James was originally Mr Jones but was changed in case it was seen as referring to the departed Paul Jones. 

The album includes the theme tune to the film Up The Junction, the film starring Suze Kendall and a very young Dennis Waterman. 

Essential Tracks:

• 5-4-3-2-1

• Come Tomorrow

• If You Gotta Go, Go Now

Track Listing:

1. 5-4-3-2-1
2. Hubble Bubble Toil & Trouble
3. Doh Wah Diddy Diddy
4. Sha La La (Make Me Happy)
5. Come Tomorrow
6. Oh No Not My Baby
7. My Little Red Book
8. One in the Middle
9. If You Gotta Go Go Now
10. There's No Loving Without Your Loving
11. Pretty Flamingo
12. You Gave Me Somebody To Love
13. Just Like a Woman
14. Semi-Detached Suburban Mr James
15. Ha Ha Said the Clown
16. Sweet Pea
17. So Long Dad
18. Mighty Quinn
19. Up The Junction
20. My Name is Jack
21. Fox on the Run
22. Ragamuffin Man