Biography
McGuinness Flint endured a persistently frustrating path that disappointed the band and its supporters in equal measure. Across seven years and multiple lineups the ensemble built a devoted following throughout England, yet registered only as a marginal cult act in the United States despite an elite roster and a sound seemingly tailored to the period.
After Manfred Mann dissolved in 1970, former rhythm guitarist and bassist Tom McGuinness joined forces with drummer Hughie Flint, an alumnus of John Mayall’s band. Keyboardist and singer Dennis Coulson completed the core alongside songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle. The resulting quintet drew from strikingly different histories: McGuinness had moved from skiffle through blues and jazz into Manfred Mann on bass before reverting to guitar; Flint stood among the leading drummers on the British blues circuit; and Gallagher and Lyle had supplied pop material while signed to Apple Records. Both McGuinness and Flint had also worked with Eric Clapton at separate points in his career.
The group’s first release, “When I'm Dead and Gone,” reached number two on the British charts late in 1970 but climbed only to number 47 in America. Their self-titled debut album placed inside England’s Top Ten.
The follow-up single, the roots-oriented “Malt and Barley Blues,” rose to number five in the U.K. However, the strain of recording a second album and maintaining heavy tour schedules proved damaging. That album, Happy Birthday, Ruthy Baby, pursued greater ambition yet lacked a hit single and consequently sold poorly. At the close of 1971 Gallagher and Lyle exited to record independently as Gallagher & Lyle.
McGuinness and Flint continued with bassist Dixie Dean, releasing the album Lo and Behold under the name Coulson, Dean, McGuinness, Flint. While earlier records had barely registered in America, this collection attracted cult attention through its selection of Bob Dylan songs that Dylan himself had not yet issued. Dennis Coulson soon departed, succeeded on keyboards by Lou Stonebridge, while Jim Evans joined as second guitarist. The revised lineup recorded Rainbow in 1973 and C'est la Vie in 1974, but even in England their moment had passed; the band dissolved in 1975.
Four years later McGuinness and Stonebridge reunited for the single “Oo-Eeh Baby,” which peaked at number 54 in the U.K. and earned them a contract for the 1980 RCA album Corporate Madness.
In the 1980s McGuinness and Flint again worked together as members of The Blues Band, fronted by ex-Manfred Mann vocalist Paul Jones. After issuing a successful independent album the group signed with Arista Records and remained active into the mid-1980s, although Flint left in 1982. McGuinness and Jones, alongside Flint’s replacement Rob Townsend (formerly of Family), became the nucleus of The Manfreds, a project that revived the Manfred Mann sound and repertoire without the participation of Manfred Mann himself.
Because of its Dylan-authored content, Lo and Behold became the first of the group’s albums to appear on compact disc, augmented by bonus tracks.
After Manfred Mann dissolved in 1970, former rhythm guitarist and bassist Tom McGuinness joined forces with drummer Hughie Flint, an alumnus of John Mayall’s band. Keyboardist and singer Dennis Coulson completed the core alongside songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle. The resulting quintet drew from strikingly different histories: McGuinness had moved from skiffle through blues and jazz into Manfred Mann on bass before reverting to guitar; Flint stood among the leading drummers on the British blues circuit; and Gallagher and Lyle had supplied pop material while signed to Apple Records. Both McGuinness and Flint had also worked with Eric Clapton at separate points in his career.
The group’s first release, “When I'm Dead and Gone,” reached number two on the British charts late in 1970 but climbed only to number 47 in America. Their self-titled debut album placed inside England’s Top Ten.
The follow-up single, the roots-oriented “Malt and Barley Blues,” rose to number five in the U.K. However, the strain of recording a second album and maintaining heavy tour schedules proved damaging. That album, Happy Birthday, Ruthy Baby, pursued greater ambition yet lacked a hit single and consequently sold poorly. At the close of 1971 Gallagher and Lyle exited to record independently as Gallagher & Lyle.
McGuinness and Flint continued with bassist Dixie Dean, releasing the album Lo and Behold under the name Coulson, Dean, McGuinness, Flint. While earlier records had barely registered in America, this collection attracted cult attention through its selection of Bob Dylan songs that Dylan himself had not yet issued. Dennis Coulson soon departed, succeeded on keyboards by Lou Stonebridge, while Jim Evans joined as second guitarist. The revised lineup recorded Rainbow in 1973 and C'est la Vie in 1974, but even in England their moment had passed; the band dissolved in 1975.
Four years later McGuinness and Stonebridge reunited for the single “Oo-Eeh Baby,” which peaked at number 54 in the U.K. and earned them a contract for the 1980 RCA album Corporate Madness.
In the 1980s McGuinness and Flint again worked together as members of The Blues Band, fronted by ex-Manfred Mann vocalist Paul Jones. After issuing a successful independent album the group signed with Arista Records and remained active into the mid-1980s, although Flint left in 1982. McGuinness and Jones, alongside Flint’s replacement Rob Townsend (formerly of Family), became the nucleus of The Manfreds, a project that revived the Manfred Mann sound and repertoire without the participation of Manfred Mann himself.
Because of its Dylan-authored content, Lo and Behold became the first of the group’s albums to appear on compact disc, augmented by bonus tracks.
Albums
