"The Five Faces of Manfred Mann" is the debut British and second American studio album by the band Manfred Mann, first released in the United Kingdom on September 11, 1964, by His Master's Voice. It was subsequently released in Canada by Capitol Records in late October or early November. The Canadian version of the album closely mirrors the UK track listing but replaces "I've Got My Mojo Working" with the hit "Do Wah Diddy Diddy." The album has been praised as "one of the great blues-based British invasion albums," noted for its energetic rock sound and impressive musicianship.
The Five Faces of Manfred Mann features a collection of R&B tracks, including notable covers of Howlin' Wolf's "Smokestack Lightning," Muddy Waters' "Got My Mojo Working," and Bo Diddley's "Bring It to Jerome." The album also showcases some of the band's original jazzy compositions. The instrumental sections highlight Manfred Mann's keyboard skills, Mike Vickers' flute and saxophone performances, and Mike Hugg's vibes. Additionally, the album includes "Sack O' Woe" by Cannonball Adderley, reflecting the R&B-influenced early 1960s jazz style.
Bruce Eder of AllMusic praises the album for its enduring quality, noting that it holds up well even decades after its release. He also points out that it stands out as one of the longest LPs of its time, with a runtime of 39 minutes and no wasted notes or overly extended tracks among its 14 songs.
