The Roaring Silence

The Roaring Silence is the seventh studio album by English rock band Manfred Mann's Earth Band. It was released on 27 August 1976, by Bronze Records in the UK and by Warner Bros. Records in the US. Like other Earth Band albums, this includes material by other composers. "Blinded by the Light", which reached number one the Billboard Hot 100, is a cover version of a song by Bruce Springsteen; "Questions" is based on the main theme of Franz Schubert's Impromptu in G flat Major; "Starbird" takes its theme from Igor Stravinsky's ballet The Firebird; and "The Road to Babylon" is based on the canon "By the Waters of Babylon" by Philip Hayes. This album marked the arrival of vocalist/guitarist Chris Hamlet Thompson, and Dave Flett who replaced longtime guitarist/vocalist/composer Mick Rogers. It is also the last album recorded with founding member Colin Pattenden.

The main riff of "Waiter, There's a Yawn in My Ear" is taken from the Manfred Mann Chapter Three track "Fish" which was recorded for their abandoned third album. It was ultimately released in 2005 on the Odds & Sods – Mis-takes & Out-takes box set.

Track listing
The first CD-release (1987) of this album did not contain bonus tracks, and tracks No. 3 and No. 7 had changed places

The Earth Band

 * Manfred Mann – keyboards, backing vocals
 * Colin Pattenden – bass
 * Dave Flett – lead guitar
 * Chris Hamlet Thompson – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
 * Chris Slade – drums, backing vocals, percussion

Additional musicians

 * Doreen Chanter – backing vocals
 * Irene Chanter – backing vocals
 * Susanne Lynch – backing vocals
 * Mick Rogers – backing vocals
 * Barbara Thompson – saxophone
 * David Millman – string arrangements

Technical

 * Manfred Mann's Earth Band – producers
 * Laurence Latham – engineer
 * David Culpan, Margaret Wood, Tony Rowell, Edwin Cross – assistant engineers
 * Shirtsleeve Studio – design. Modelled by artist Derek Goldsmith
 * Martyn Goddard – photography