Phil Manzanera Discography | The Man with Fly Eyes Like an Egyptian Scarab

The third-most interesting member of Roxy Music, which might sound like a back-handed compliment, but you have to remember that Roxy Music was a very interesting band. During Roxy Music’s mid-seventies hiatus, Phil Manzanera released several solo albums featuring his bandmates in Roxy Music, The MacCormick brothers (Bill & Ian) and Tim Finn. You’ll find some good songs on those albums, though nothing that will make you think that Manzanera’s songwriting was underrepresented in Roxy Music. After Avalon, Manzanera released an album of instrumentals (Primitive Guitars) and a series of commercially-geared albums with John Wetton and Andy Mackay. Many of his records explore his Cuban roots (which extends sometimes to Brazil) and continue his exploration of different guitar textures (versus speed-based soloing). Assuming you’ve already gone after the solo albums from Bryan Ferry and Brian Eno, the first four or five albums from Phil Manzanera are probably your next logical destination or, better yet, dig up his pre-Roxy records with Quiet Sun.

The Discography

DIAMOND HEAD (1975)
Frontera / Diamond Head / Big Day / The Flex / Same Time Next Week // Miss Shapiro / East of Echo / Lagrima / Alma. Released on elpee in May 1975 in the UK (Island, ILPS-9315) and the US and Canada (Atco, SD 36-113) with lyrics innersleeve. Re-issued on elpee and cassette in 1977 in the UK (Polydor, 2302 062/3100 362) and Germany (Polydor, 2344 096) with lyrics innersleeve. Re-issued on elpee in 1978 in Japan (Polydor, MPF-1123). Re-issued on compact disc in the US (EG, EGCD-19). Re-issued on compact disc in 1989 in Japan (EG, VJD 28055). Re-issued on compact disc in 1999 in Europe (Virgin, 88457-2). Re-released on expanded, remastered compact disc on November 20, 2000 in the UK (Expression, EXPCD-14) with one bonus track. Re-released on remastered super high material compact disc on March 25, 2019 in Japan (Expression, BELLE 193087).

801 LIVE (1976)
Lagrima / T.N.K. (Tomorrow Never Knows) / East of Asteroid / Rongwrong / Sombre Reptiles // Baby’s on Fire / Diamond Head / Miss Shapiro / You Really Got Me / Third Uncle. Released on elpee in 1976 in the UK (Polydor, 2302 044), the US (Polydor, PD-1-6148), Germany (Island, 28 187 XOT) and Japan (Polydor, MPF-1101). Re-issued on elpee, cassette and compact disc and cassette in the US (EG, EGLP/EGMC/EGCD-26).

LISTEN NOW (1977)
Listen Now / Flight 19 / Island / Law and Order // ?Que? / City of Light / Initial Speed / Postcard Love / That Falling Feeling. Released on elpee, cassette and 8-track on September 23, 1977 in the UK and France (Polydor, 2302 074/3100-408), the US (Polydor, PD/8T-1-6147) and Japan (Polydor, MPF-1117) with lyrics innersleeve. Re-issued on compact disc in 1991 (EG, EGCD-30). Re-released on expanded, remastered compact disc on December 11, 2000 (Expression, EXPCD-17) with 3 bonus tracks.

Flight 19 (1977)
b/w Car Rhumba. Released on 7-inch single in 1977 in the UK (Polydor, 2001 733).

K-SCOPE (1978)
K-Scope / Remote Control / Cuban Crisis / Hot Spot / Numbers // Slow Motion TV / Gone Flying / N-Shift / Walking Through Heaven’s Door / You Are Here. Released on elpee, cassette and 8-track in December 1978 in the UK (Polydor, POLD-5011), the US (Polydor, PD/8T-1-6178), Australia and India (Polydor, 2310 633), France (Polydor, 2302 083), Germany (Polydor, 2344 127/3100 475) and Japan (Polydor, MPF-1216) with inner sleeve; reached #176 on the US charts. 8-track features different track order. Re-issued on elpee, cassette and CD in 1991 in the US (EG, EGLP/EGMC/EGCD-37). Re-released on expanded, remastered CD on February 5, 2001 in the UK (Expression, EXPCD18) with 3 bonus tracks. Re-released on super-high material CD in 2008 in Japan (Arcangelo, ARC-7291). Re-released on SHMCD on April 29, 2015 in Japan (Vivid Sound, VSCD-4300).

Remote Control (1978)
b/w K-Scope. Released on 7-inch single in 1978 in the UK (Polydor, 2001 835).

PRIMITIVE GUITARS (1982)
Criollo / Caracas / La Neuva Ola / Bogota / Ritmo de Los Angeles // Europe 70-1 / Impossible Guitar / Big Dome / Europe 80-1. Released on elpee and cassette in February 1982 in the UK, the US and Canada (Editions EG, EGED/EGEDC 14), Japan (Editions EG, 28MM-0141) and the Netherlands (Editions EG, 2311 106). Re-issued on elpee, cassette and compact disc in the US (Carolina, 1579). Re-issued on remastered compact disc in 2000 in the EU (Virgin, EXPCD19). Re-issued on expanded super high material compact disc on April 25, 2019 in Japan (Belle Antique, 193108) with 5 bonus tracks.

GUITARISSIMO (1986)
K-Scope / Frontera / TNK / Criollo / Diamond Head / You Are Here / Rude Awakening // Listen Now / Caracas / Lagrima / Europe 70-1 / Island / That Falling Feeling. Released on elpee and compact disc in 1986 in the UK (EG, EGLP/EGCD-69).

WETTON MANZANERA (1987)
It’s Just Love / Keep on Loving Yourself / You Don’t Have to Leave My Life / Suzanne / Round in Circles // Do It Again / Every Trick in the Book / One World / I Can’t Let Her Go / Have You Seen Her Tonight? Released on elpee and cassette in 1987 in the US (Geffen, GHS/M5G-24147), the UK (Geffen, 924 147-1), Canada (Geffen, XGHS-24147), Germany (Geffen, 92 41471) and Japan (Geffen, P-13486). Re-packaged as One World on expanded compact disc on August 19, 1997 in Austria (Blueprint, BP-241-CD) with one bonus track. Re-issued on expanded compact disc in 2007 in the US (Renaissance, RMED-118) with one bonus track.

CRACK THE WHIP (1988)
Another Lost Soul on the Run / Soul Fantasy / Men with Extraordinary Ways / Safe in the Arms of Love / Forgotten Man // Crack the Whip / Two Worlds Apart / Falling for Nightlife / It Always Rains in Paradise / Robert Louis Stevenson. Released on elpee and compact disc in 1988 in the US (Relativity, 8263).

UP IN SMOKE (1989)
Black Gang Chine / Free Yourself / Every King of Stone / Many Are the Ways / Prussian Blue // Venus de Milo / I Can Be Tender / Lorelei / Dreams of the East. Released on elpee and expanded cassette and compact disc (w. 3 extra tracks) in 1989 in the US (Relativity, 1010).

Guajira Guantanamera (Acid) (1989)
b/w Guajira Guantanamera (Latin Mix). Released on 12-inch single in 1989 in Spain (Producciones Twins, 2T-0533).

MATO GROSSO (1990)
Mato Grosso / The Mission / Pink Dolphin / Brazilia / Floresta / Espiritu. Released on compact disc in 1990 in Germany (Black Sun, 15010-2).

SOUTHERN CROSS (1990)
A Million Reasons Why / Frontera ’91 / The Great Leveller / Tambor / Southern Cross / Rich and Poor / Dance (Break This Trance) / Verde / Dr.Fidel / Venceremos. Released on elpee, cassette and compact disc in 1990 in the UK (Expression, EXPAL/EXPMC/EXPCD 1), Australia (Interfusion/Festival, D30526), France (Expression, VG 406/651) and Japan (Victor, VICP-52) with lyric sleeve. Re-released on 10-track CD on October 22, 1991 in the US (Agenda, 74707) with unique cover.

A Million Reasons Why (1990)
b/w Southern Cross + Blood Brother. Released on 7-inch and three-track 12-inch single in 1990 in Australia (Interfusion, K10342) and Germany (Expression, EXPR12 1) with picture sleeve.

Guantanamera (1990)
b/w Southern Cross. Released on 3-inch CD single in 1990 in Japan (Expression, VIDP-14).

LIVE AT THE KARL MARX (1992)
Live tracks: Yo Te Queria Maria / Mama Hue / Yolanda / Caiman No Come / Mi Canto Sube / Cantar el Son de Cuba / Southern Cross / Astrud / Musican / Corazon, Corazon. Released on compact disc in 1992 in the UK (Excursion, EXCD2) and EU (Excursion, EXVP4CD).

THE MANZANERA COLLECTION (1995)
Tomorrow Never Knows / Over You / Out of the Blue / Fat Lady of Limbourg / Impossible Guitars / Charlie / Take a Chance With Me / Frontera / Diamond Head / Needle in a Camel’s Eye / Miss Shapiro / The End / Gun / Europe 70-1 // Leyenda / Frontera 91 / Southern Cross / Sphinx / Amazona / A Million Reasons Why / Fifth Wheel / It’s Just Love / Talk to Me / Suzanne / Black Gang Chine / Lorelei / Criollo / Mama Hue / Corazon Corazon / Flor de Azalea / Espiritu. Released on 2CD in 1995 in the UK (Virgin, CDVDM9033).

A MILLION REASONS WHY (1997)
Leyenda / Frontera ’91 / Southern Cross (live) / Sphinx / A Million Reasons Why / Tambor / The Great Leveller / Astrud / Southern Cross II / Blood Brother / Guantanamera / Rich and Poor / Dance (Break This Trance) / Verde / Dr. Fidel / Vencermos. Released on compact disc in September 1997 in Austria (Expression, EXVP1-CD).

VOZERO (1999)
Vozero / Mystic Moon / Verdadero / Tuesday / Rayo de Bala / The Art of Conversation / Vida / Golden Sun / Mundo Con Paz / Hymn / La Vida Moderna. Released on compact disc in 1999 in the UK (Expression, EXVP 12CD) and on July 26, 2000 in Japan (Expression, TECI-24013). Re-issued on expanded compact disc in 2005 in the UK (Hannibal, HNCD-1474) with one bonus track.

THE MANZANERA ARCHIVES: RAREONE (2002)
RFD / Years of the Quiet Sun 1971 / Corazon y Alma 1971 / Law and Order / Remote Control / That Falling Feeling / Down / Brokenhearted / The Beat Goes On / Tre Amore / RFD. Released on compact disc in 2000 in the UK (Expression, EXPCD21).

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. Released on compact disc in 2004 in the UK and the US (Hannibal, HNCD-1471). Also released on expanded compact disc in 2004 in Japan (Hannibal, VACK-1285) with one bonus track.

50 MINUTES LATER (2005)
Revolution / Technicolor UFO / That’s All I Know / 50 Minutes Mas Tarde / Desaparecido / Dusza / One Step / Swimming / Bible Black / Till the End of the Line / Enotonik Bible Black. Released on compact disc in 2005 in the UK (Hannibal, HNDC-1503) and Japan (Expression, VACK-1301).

THE MUSIC 1972-2008 (2008)
Amazona / Needles in the Camel’s Eye / Out of the Blue / Prairie Rose / Frontera / Diamond Head / Miss Shapiro / East of Asteroid / Manifesto / Over You / Running Wild / Criollo / Take a Chance With Me / Big Dome // La Vida Moderna / Mystic Moon / Hymn / Green Spikey Cactus / Broken Dreams / 6PM / Love Devotion / Wish You Well / Technicolor UFO / Desaparecido / Enotonik Bible Black. Released on 2CD in 2008 in the UK (Expression, EXPCD-28) and in 2009 in Japan (Arcangelo, ARC-1131).