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Discography
Members featured in the album
JAVIER MARTINEZ - Drums and vocals
CLAUDIO GABIS - Guitar
ALEJANDRO MEDINA - Bass
Members featured in the album
JAVIER MARTINEZ - Drums and vocals
CLAUDIO GABIS - Guitar
ALEJANDRO MEDINA - Bass
Members featured in the album
JAVIER MARTINEZ - Drums and vocals
CLAUDIO GABIS - Guitar
ALEJANDRO MEDINA - Bass and vocals
Biography
Every time somebody mentions Manal, they are referred to as "foundational group" of the Argentine Rock, together with Los Gatos and Almendra. Originally called Ricota, this trio played blues highly influenced by Cream (Eric Clapton’s group) and they played almost every day at La Cueva.
After having their demos rejected many times, Jorge Alvarez (a famous producer of the time and friend of the band) formed together with Pedro Pujó his own record company (Mandioca) so that Manal would be able to release their first single: "Qué pena me das" / "Para ser un hombre más" (1968).
The first presentations of the trio took place at the Sala Apolo (later on Lorange Cinema). Together with Los Abuelos de la Nada’s first line-up they played in Mar del Plata innthe summer of 1969. Pappo participated as second guitar during some shows. The second single was "No Pibe" / "Necesito un amor". Their success was at Festival Pinap, organized at the end of 1969. That year the band had played live almost daily, achieving an incredible instrumental performance. «It was the most glorious day of my artistic life -recalls Gabis. Javier’s drums broke down, Alejandro’s bass had a problem, I broke I don’t know what, but we kept playing and the people were delighted. The three of us ended up singing in one mike: Alejandro with the guitar, Javier with the sticks and myself with the harmonica and the people fascinated. Manal had their best moment that day, it became a big group. We began being part of history that day» (E.Abalos, page 70).
With "Manal", Their first LP (1970), they broke the taboo that it was not possible to play blues and rhythm & blues in Spanish. "Jugo de tomate" and "Avellaneda Blues" are proof of that.
A big offer from RCA convinced Martínez to deal with a "commercial" record company, and their second record was a failure, "El león" (1971), which did not leave the same sensation as the first.
The low quality of the following works and the low sale brought about some differences between the members of the trio which finally broke up.
Taking into account Almendra’s success and their return some years later, Manal followed the same path, in 1980. « Almendra started everything- recalls Alejandro - The producers said that if they had gathered, Manal should do the same, so they called us (...) The meeting was good because it helped to lift the rock and roll movement. We demonstrated many things...» (F.Blumetti / C.Parise, page 23). They did four concerts in Obras, they released the LP "Reunión" (1981) with new material, toured the most important cities of the country to finish again in Obras with "Bye Manal", concerts that were later issued as "Manal en Obras" (1981).
The group appeared locally for a short time in August 1987, under the leadership of Javier Martínez, but with Aldo Yacomino in guitar, Jorge Iacovelli in drums, Jorge Szayso in keyboards and sax and Luis De León in bass.
«The idea to form a new Manal, which is not only a revival. A group that maintains the spirit of the old Manal, but persistent, which lasts throughout time», anticipated Martínez before their second "official" return of Manal (Clarín, 02/08/94). Besides the drummer and Medina Claudio Rodríguez joined in guitar and Carlos Vidal in keyboards. «Gabis has other objectives », he said. In August 1994 they played all the old hits at the discotheque The Roxy. Almost a year later the original version of the guitarist would become known: «Actually, we have fallen apart (...) the last time Manal came back they didn’t even call me, and I really wanted to be there with them» (Clarín, 21/06/95). The point is that Martínez wasn’t even invited to participate in the Selection that Gabis organized with Medina, Charly García, Andrés Calamaro, León Gieco and others.
On October 1, 2014, one of the Argentine Rock's most anticipated encounters took place: it took a long time for Javier Martinez, Alejandro Medina and Claudio Gabis to return to Manal for one day, after more than 30 years of absence. The meeting took place on the stage of Red House (the Rock and Blues club of the production company La Roca). Those present that night could not believe what was happening before their eyes, when the trio began the show with “Informe de un día”. Later they paraded classic ones like No pibe”, “Avenida Rivadavia”, “Para ser un hombre más”, “Avellaneda Blues” or “Una casa con diez pinos”. When it was the turn of "Doña Laura" they had a guest of luxury: Chizzo Nápoli (La Renga). The end of an unforgettable night was, as it could not be otherwise, with “Jugo de tomate frío”.
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# Apologies, translated by https://translate.google.com.ar