Newsletter from Cohesion label (6 Nov 2003)

Dear All

We've been planning release schedules for the next few months and would like to let you know what's going to be happening.

As you are aware, Manfred is putting the finishing touches to a new Earth Band album. This has involved collaborations with a lot of musicians and we hope it will be all be ready for release by Spring of 2004. The plan (as Andy has already set out in his letter) is for a single release in the UK, followed by the album release and a further single. As yet there is no confirmed release in Europe but we will let you know as soon as we have details.

With regard to some new tracks from the album, we are looking into offering two or three of them either as a direct download or as an exclusive single/EP. Anything which you pay for these tracks will be deductible from the cost of the new album when purchased directly through the site. This is something we are looking into as a way of giving an exclusive through the site. We will let you know when we have finalised our research.

On the Elgar front, Manfred will be doing some promotion work around this release at the beginning of the year. The album will be released in February.

Yet again, the 4-cd set release is being put back. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, Manfred is obviously very excited about his new album: we all share his enthusiasm and it is far more important that we concentrate on that. In the current economic climate retailers are unlikely to take a new album and a retrospective set so we all feel the new album should come first. Economies of scale mean that we need to manufacture several thousand sets but this is not feasible until we can get them into the shops around Europe. Sorry to all of you who are keen to listen to the set and we'll keep you updated with this release.

We have just begun research on a Manfred Mann's Earth Band Greatest Hits DVD. There are obviously various places where clips can be found, but if anyone has any favourite clips and information as to where they can be found, we would be extremely pleased to hear from you. For those who are awaiting an official live DVD, this is again something we are trying to sort out, and may try to record something during 2004.

The tour pages have been causing some controversy lately. We're sure everyone in the UK and Norway is disappointed that they will be unable to see the band this year. We are not exactly sure of the whys and wherefores of the UK cancellation but will endeavour to ensure that you continue to get news on the live shows as quickly as possible through the site. Please remember that we offer this information purely as a service. As a label we are not involved in the Band's touring activities and have no say as to when or where they play. When gigs are pulled at the last minute we get the information up on the board as soon as we can, but this always depends upon our being told in the first place! Thanks to Karin for her updates and corrections.

Hope this has clarified some matters. Please feel free to continue raising questions via the message board or by e-mailing us directly.

Best wishes

Helen and Steve

Cohesion Label