Manal
Encyclopedia
Manal was an early Argentine rock
group. Together with Almendra and Los Gatos
, they are considered founders of Argentine rock
.El Rock Portal Oficial del Gobierno de la República Argentina.(Spanish) The band members were Claudio Gabis on guitar, Javier Martínez on drums and vocals, and Alejandro Medina on bass and vocals. Unusually for a drummer, Martínez was the band's lead vocalist and leading songwriter.
The band grew out of the mythic "La Cueva" club, birthplace of the first generation of Argentine rock groups. Martínez was a regular, and Gabis played guitar with several bands, including Miguel Abuelo
's Los Abuelos.Explorando el blues argentino Claudio Gabis Biografía (Spanish) Gabis was not keen about joining a band and regularly as he was committed to college, but eventually was persuaded by Martínez, and Manal was born.
The name "Manal" was based on the word mano ("hand"), which had acquired an additional meaning among young people in Buenos Aires
, to refer to "things" or "the situation" (e.g. cómo viene la mano, lit. "how's the hand coming", would mean "how are things going"). Martínez would use "manal" as a made-up adjective, instead of the correct "manual".
Manal was influenced by Cream
, Jimi Hendrix
and other blues-rock acts, bringing the blues
to Argentina's rock conscience.
Under the fledgling label, Manal released their first two singles in 1968. Their moment of triumph came at the 1969 Pinap Festival. On the back of their near daily performances throughout the year, the group's tightness was apparent. Fans ended up doing choruses and singing along with Manal's three members, who had resorted to a-capella vocals as their bass and drums broke down from overuse.
Following this event Manal released a self-titled debut album in 1970. Sales were encouraging, prompting RCA to offer the band a contract. Their major label debut El León (1971) proved less successful than Manal.
By 1972 however, musical tastes had changed. Acoustic rock (with folk-rock influences) was on the verge of an explosion fueled by artists such as León Gieco
, and a heavier rock had become dominant. Blues-rock fell out of favor, and Manal couldn't make the transition. Their third album in 1972 was poorly received, leading to the break-up of the band that same year. Pappo
, who was more at ease courting heavy metal
audiences, would become the godfather of Argentine blues, a role he kept for over thirty years.
However, in 1980, Argentine rock was caught up in a revival period of rock from the late 60s, with Almendra successfully reuniting. Producers asked Manal to do the same, which they did, and produced one last LP in 1981, named Reunión (reunion).
In 1987 Javier Martínez returned from France
and reunited Manal with Aldo Giacommino (guitars), Luis de León (bass), Jorge Iacobellis
(drums) and Jorge Szajko (keyboards and saxophone).
Manal's well-attended last concerts across Argentina led to a live album, and helped mitigate the unfortunate climate of their first separation. Furthermore, during the 1982 war
, English-language music was informally banned from the airwaves for several months, resulting in increased airplay for Argentine bands, including Manal.
Today, Manal are credited with bringing the grittier form of blues-rock to Argentine rock,. Few at the time could have foreseen the strong influence Manal would have on the suburban rock explosion of the mid 1990s.
Throughout their career, Manal's lyrics suggested a more mature outlook on life than their hippie-influenced colleagues. One song advised that the recipe for success was to have "cold tomato juice [flowing] in your veins".
Argentine rock
Argentine rock , is composed or made by Argentine bands or artists, in the Spanish language. For nearly half a century it has been a major popular genre, and it is considered part of the popular music tradition of Argentina alongside Argentine Tango, and Argentine folk music.The moment when...
group. Together with Almendra and Los Gatos
Los Gatos (band)
Los Gatos were an Argentine rock group of the late 1960s, members of the founding trilogy of Spanish-language rock in Argentina.- History:The group got their start in 1967...
, they are considered founders of Argentine rock
Argentine rock
Argentine rock , is composed or made by Argentine bands or artists, in the Spanish language. For nearly half a century it has been a major popular genre, and it is considered part of the popular music tradition of Argentina alongside Argentine Tango, and Argentine folk music.The moment when...
.El Rock Portal Oficial del Gobierno de la República Argentina.(Spanish) The band members were Claudio Gabis on guitar, Javier Martínez on drums and vocals, and Alejandro Medina on bass and vocals. Unusually for a drummer, Martínez was the band's lead vocalist and leading songwriter.
The band grew out of the mythic "La Cueva" club, birthplace of the first generation of Argentine rock groups. Martínez was a regular, and Gabis played guitar with several bands, including Miguel Abuelo
Miguel Abuelo
Miguel Angel Peralta, known by his artistic name Miguel Abuelo, was an Argentine rock musician and singer.-Early days:...
's Los Abuelos.Explorando el blues argentino Claudio Gabis Biografía (Spanish) Gabis was not keen about joining a band and regularly as he was committed to college, but eventually was persuaded by Martínez, and Manal was born.
The name "Manal" was based on the word mano ("hand"), which had acquired an additional meaning among young people in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, to refer to "things" or "the situation" (e.g. cómo viene la mano, lit. "how's the hand coming", would mean "how are things going"). Martínez would use "manal" as a made-up adjective, instead of the correct "manual".
Manal was influenced by Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
, Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
and other blues-rock acts, bringing the blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
to Argentina's rock conscience.
History
In 1968, after their demos being rejected by multiple record labels, the band approached long time friend and producer Jorge Alvarez, who teamed up with Pedro Pujó and created the Mandioca label, which became the first label exclusively dedicated to Argentine rock.Under the fledgling label, Manal released their first two singles in 1968. Their moment of triumph came at the 1969 Pinap Festival. On the back of their near daily performances throughout the year, the group's tightness was apparent. Fans ended up doing choruses and singing along with Manal's three members, who had resorted to a-capella vocals as their bass and drums broke down from overuse.
Following this event Manal released a self-titled debut album in 1970. Sales were encouraging, prompting RCA to offer the band a contract. Their major label debut El León (1971) proved less successful than Manal.
By 1972 however, musical tastes had changed. Acoustic rock (with folk-rock influences) was on the verge of an explosion fueled by artists such as León Gieco
León Gieco
Raúl Alberto Antonio Gieco, better known as León Gieco is a pop-folk music composer and interpreter. He is known for mixing popular folkloric genres with Argentine rock, and for lyrics with social and political connotations...
, and a heavier rock had become dominant. Blues-rock fell out of favor, and Manal couldn't make the transition. Their third album in 1972 was poorly received, leading to the break-up of the band that same year. Pappo
Pappo
-, 1968:-, 1969:# # # # # # # # # -Rock de la mujer perdida, 1970:...
, who was more at ease courting heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
audiences, would become the godfather of Argentine blues, a role he kept for over thirty years.
However, in 1980, Argentine rock was caught up in a revival period of rock from the late 60s, with Almendra successfully reuniting. Producers asked Manal to do the same, which they did, and produced one last LP in 1981, named Reunión (reunion).
In 1987 Javier Martínez returned from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and reunited Manal with Aldo Giacommino (guitars), Luis de León (bass), Jorge Iacobellis
Jorge Iacobellis
Jorge Iacobellis is an Argentine drummer, tour promoter and producer primarily known as the drummer of the thrash metal band Hirax and former drummer of Todos Tus Muertos...
(drums) and Jorge Szajko (keyboards and saxophone).
Manal's well-attended last concerts across Argentina led to a live album, and helped mitigate the unfortunate climate of their first separation. Furthermore, during the 1982 war
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
, English-language music was informally banned from the airwaves for several months, resulting in increased airplay for Argentine bands, including Manal.
Today, Manal are credited with bringing the grittier form of blues-rock to Argentine rock,. Few at the time could have foreseen the strong influence Manal would have on the suburban rock explosion of the mid 1990s.
Throughout their career, Manal's lyrics suggested a more mature outlook on life than their hippie-influenced colleagues. One song advised that the recipe for success was to have "cold tomato juice [flowing] in your veins".
Discography
- 1970 "Manal" - Mandioca/Microfon
- 1971 "El león" - RCARCARCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
- 1981 "Reunión" - CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
- 1992 "Cronología" - RCARCARCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
, Sony BMG - 1994 "Manal En Vivo" - (Live at the Estadio Obras Sanitarias, June 1980) M&M
- 2002 "Obras Cumbres" - Sony BMG