For almost 58 years, Mani Neumeier, the enfant terrible of German rock music, and his band Guru Guru have been among the most consistent and innovative groups in German rock history. Far removed from the mainstream, Guru Guru have always gone their own way with their synthesis of experimental rock, avant-garde approaches, jazz variations, and world music influences. This was also the case with the album “Mani und seine Freunde” (Mani and His Friends). The year was 1974, and Mani Neumeier had actually disbanded his Gurus at the end of the year. But shortly thereafter, the energetic drummer and singer found himself in the studio with a few friends to record a quasi-“solo album,” which ultimately ended up being released under the Guru Guru label. Mani called, and the “who's who” of the German Krautrock scene answered his call: Dieter Moebius and Achim Rodelius from Harmonia, Ingo Bischof and Tommy Goldschmidt from Karthago, Helmut Hattler, Jan Fride, and Peter Wolbrandt from Kraan, former Guru Guru guitarist Ax Genrich, guitarist Sepp Jandrisits, bassist Jogi Karpenkiel, who would be part of the next Guru Guru lineup, and - somewhat outside the norm - US blues singer and pianist Champion Jack Dupree.
In keeping with the large number of musicians involved, “Mani and His Friends” is stylistically very diverse. It ranges from lighthearted, funky jazz rock à la Kraan – most of the pieces were written with the participation of Hattler and Wohlbrandt – to welltempered ethno jazz rock and Mani's pun rock “Chicken Rock,” as celebrated on “Tango Fango” just under a year and a half later. The centerpiece of the album is the percussive long track “From Another World.” After that, “1, 2, 3, 4, Marsch'n'Rock” lifts the mood enormously. The track transitions into a radio broadcast of Champion Jack Dupree's “Drink Wine,” thus forming the conclusion of a very successful album.
1. Sunrise Is Everywhere
2. Chicken Rock
3. It's Your Turn
4. Walking, Eating My Hot Dog
5. Fly Easy
6. From Another World
7. Woodpecker's Dream
8. 1, 2, 3, 4, Marsch'n'Rock
9. Drink Wine
10. From Another World
