From his multi-faceted role as singer, composer, writer and journalist he actively collaborated in the presidential campaigns of Dr. Salvador Allende in 1964 and in 1970, the latter being the campaign that led Salvador Allende to the presidency as the leader of the Unidad Popular government. During this time he recorded the album "Patricio Manns" (1971) which included one of his best-known compositions "Valdivia en la niebla" ("Valdivia in the fog") and the prophetic "No Cierres los Ojos" ("Don't Close Your Eyes"). In this recording, which was accompanied by Inti-illimani, the Symphony Orchestra of Chile and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Santiago, the musical arrangements were done by Luis Advis.