"The Good Earth" is the fifth studio album by Manfred Mann's Earth Band, released in 1974. The album opens with a cover of "Give Me the Good Earth," originally written by Gary Wright and featured on his 1971 solo album Footprint. The second and third tracks are covers of songs by the Australian progressive rock band Spectrum.
A distinctive aspect of this album was its promotion: early buyers received rights to one square foot of land in Llanerchyrfa, Brecon, Wales. The inner sleeve included a coupon for registration, encouraging fans to engage with the album's ecological themes. Thousands of fans participated in this promotion, which was designed to raise awareness about environmental issues, and it was all conducted in good faith.
The Good Earth spent three weeks on the US Billboard 200, peaking at number 157 on December 7, 1974. The album's combination of innovative covers and environmental consciousness contributed to its appeal during a time of growing ecological awareness in popular culture.
