Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Blinded by the Light: How One Song Defined an Era

In the late 1970s, British prog rock outfit Manfred Mann's Earth Band found themselves catapulted to global fame courtesy of a curious cover version. Their interpretation of Bruce Springsteen's anthemic 'Born To Run' precursor, 'Blindness Is Like Having Your Ears Off,' or more commonly known simply as 'Blinded By The Light,' would go down in rock history as one of the most unexpected chart-toppers of all time.

The song itself had been written by Springsteen himself while he was still a struggling artist on the Jersey Shore circuit. Its driving beat and infectious melody immediately caught the attention of Manfred Mann, who saw potential for commercial success. With some judicious editing - namely excising several key verses that referenced Springsteen's own experiences with racism in 1950s America - 'Blindness Is Like Having Your Ears Off' was reborn as a radio-friendly hit.

Released on their eighth studio album of the same name, Manfred Mann's Earth Band's version quickly climbed to number one across Europe and North America. The band themselves were taken aback by the song's meteoric success; lead vocalist and keyboardist Steve Hackett later quipped that 'we thought we'd just recorded another bloody prog rock record.' Little did they know how their peculiar take on a relatively unknown Springsteen B-side would define an era.

For Mann, who had already built a reputation as one of British music's most successful cover artists - his 1968 hit with The Pretty Things' 'Don't You (Forget About Me)' remains an enduring classic to this day - 'Blindness Is Like Having Your Ears Off' marked the apogee of his career. With its blend of lush orchestral arrangements and Mann's distinctive baritone vocals, Manfred Mann & Earth Band were suddenly household names once again.

While some critics at the time dismissed their cover as nothing more than a soulless cash-in - 'another cynical exercise in regurgitating someone else's hits,' sneered Rolling Stone magazine - history has proven them wrong. Despite Springsteen himself reportedly expressing initial disappointment over Mann's version supplanting his own original on the charts, he later came to appreciate its peculiar charms.

Today, Manfred Mann & Earth Band remain one of rock music's most beloved anomalies - a testament to the enduring power of well-crafted pop songcraft and the unpredictable nature of fame itself.

Manfred mann's earth band blinded by the light