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 group’s 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 Roxy’s first wave, 1975’s 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 album’s invention is apparent from the off, careering between skewiff pop, Latin and rock. Inspired by George Orwell’s 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 Music’s 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. 1982’s Primitive Guitars is entirely instrumental; each song relating to a period of his life with styles changing appropriately. Southern Cross (1990) explores Phil’s Cuban roots, while 1999’s Vozero offers similar for his South American journeys. 2004’s 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 Manzanera’s work, old friends Robert Wyatt and Brian Eno joined too for 2005’s 50 Minutes Later. Working with Polish pianist Leszek Możdżer, and long-time collaborator Charles Hayward, Firebird VII (2008) was an affectionate tribute to Manzanera’s 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; Sónia Bernardo’s vocal contributions to 1960 Caracas a particular highlight.

Of huge interest too, is the eleventh disc, RARE TWO, a follow-up to 2000’s 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 Phil’s 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 Manzanera’s 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, Phil’s own version of No Church In The Wild graces The Sound Of Blue.

50 Years of Music is beautifully presented in a 10”x10” 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 Mastering’s Barry Grint at London’s 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.

50 Years of Music is an extra-special release from an extra-special artist;
a unique artefact of a glorious, ongoing career.

Tracklists:

11CDs

Disc One: Diamond Head (1975)
Frontera
Diamond Head
Big Day
The Flex
Same Time Next Week
Miss Shapiro
East Of Echo
Lagrima
Alma
Carhumba (previously released on 2011 re-issue) [Bonus Track]
Corazon Y Alma (previously released on 2011 re-issue) [Bonus Track]

Disc Two: Listen Now (801) (1977)
Listen Now
Flight 19
Island
Law and Order
Rude Awakening
Que?
City Of Light
Initial Speed
Postcard Love
That Falling Feeling
Blue Gray Uniform (Demo @ PSL Studios) (previously only available on 2015 Japanese re-issue) [Bonus Track]
Remote Control (Demo @ PSL Studios Psychedelic Version) (previously only available on 2015 Japanese re-issue) [Bonus Track]
Island (Secret Fingers Remix) (previously only available on 2015 Japanese re-issue)
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)
Remote Control
Cuban Crisis
Hot Spot
Numbers
Slow Motion TV
Gone Fishing
N-Shift
Walking Through Heavens Door
You Are Here
Remote Control (Live 801 Tour 1977) (previously available on 2000 reissue) [Bonus Track]
It Don’t Matter To Me (Demo @ PSL Studios Manzanera) (previously available on 2000 reissue) [Bonus Track]
Out Of The Blue (Live 801 Tour 1977) (previously available on 2000 reissue) [Bonus Track]
Walking Through Heaven’s Door (ZSOU Remix) (previously only available on 2015 Japanese re-issue) [Bonus Track]

Disc Four: Primitive Guitars (1982)
Criollo
Caracus
La Nueva Ola
Botaga
Ritmo de Los Angeles
Europe 701
Impossible Guitar
Big Dome
Europe 80-1
Impossible Guitars (Theo Parrish Feat. Duminie Deporres Remix) (previously only available on 2015 Japanese re-issue) [Bonus Track]
Caracas (Daniele Baldelli and Marco Dionigi Mental Remix) (previously only available on 2015 Japanese re-issue) [Bonus Track]
Criollo (Kenji Takimi and Tomoki Kanda 'Being Borings' Remix) (previously only available on 2019 Japanese re-issue) [Bonus Track]
Big Dome (Cos_Mes Remix) (previously only available on 2015 Japanese re-issue) [Bonus Track]

Disc Five: Southern Cross (1990)
Million Reason Why
Tambor
The Great Leveller
Astrud
Southern Cross (Instrumental)
Blood Brothers
Guantanamera
The Rich and The Poor
Dance Break This Trance
Verde
Dr. Fridel
Vanceremos
Southern Cross (Live in Havana Moncada Manzanera Live at the Karl Marx)
(Previously Unreleased) [Bonus Track]
Astrud (Live In Havana Moncada Manzanera Live at the Karl Marx) (Previously Unreleased) [Bonus Track]

Disc Six: Vozero (1999)
Vozero
Mystic Moon
Verdadero
Tuesday
Rayo De Bala
The Art Of Conversation
Vida
Golden Sun
Mundo Con Paz
Hymn
La Vida Moderna
Tropical

Disc Seven: 6PM (2004)
Broken Dreams
Green Spikey Cactus
Love Devotion
Wish You Well
6PM
Waiting For The Sun To Shine
Manzra
Cissbury Ring
Porlock
Shoreline
Always You
Sacred Days
For You (previously only available on 2016 Japanese reissue) [Bonus Track]

Disc Eight: 50 Minutes Later (2005)
Revolution
Technicolor UFO
That's All I know
50 Minutos Mas Trade
Desaparecido
Dusza
One Step
Swimming
Bible Black
Til The End Of The Line
Enotonik Bible Black (Mainstream Version)

Disc Nine: Firebird V11 (2008)
Fortunately I Had One With Me
Cartagena
Firebird
Mexican Hat
Firebird V11
A Few Minutes
After Magritte
Cartagena (Live at Ronnie Scott’s) (Previously Unreleased) [Bonus Track]

Disc Ten: The Sound Of Blue (2015)
Magdelena
1960 Caracas feat Sónia Bernado
The Sound Of Blue
Rose Mullion Head
Halmstad
Tramuntana
High Atlas
Mi Casa
In Conversation with Andy Mackay
No Church In The Wild feat Sónia Bernado
High Atlas (Live in Tokyo with Hotei) (Previously Unreleased) [Bonus Track]

Disc Eleven: The Manzanera Archives RARE TWO
Que Fera Fera demo with Nfaly Kouyarte (Previously Unreleased)
Spanish (Previously Unreleased)
The Unknown Zone (previously only available as a download 2009)
Demo PM 1 (One Slip) Pink Floyd (Previously Unreleased)
Tre Amore (Previously Unreleased)
Chan Chan (previously only available on Japan Live CD)
Otra Vuelta (Previously Unreleased)
All the While (Live at Hospital Club, London) (Previously Unreleased)
Impossible Guitars (Live at Frejus with Roxy Music) (Previously Unreleased)
Bala de Plata (Live at The CCK Buenos Aires) (Previously Unreleased)
East of Asteroid (Live at Ronnie Scott’s) (Previously Unreleased)
El Vlaje Demo (Previously Unreleased)