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ATOMIC ROOSTER – ‘Atomic Rooster’, 1980

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After disbanding 5 years earlier, and after a number of line-up changes, British progressive rockers ATOMIC ROOSTER were reformed as a trio with keyboardist and founder Vincent Crane was rejoined by guitarist / singer John Du Cann, and new drummer Preston Heyman.

This was the first Atomic Rooster LP I picked up, likely on a trip to Toronto, and out of curiosity, seeing as I knew nothing of them then, and this album never got released here. This would be the band’s heaviest and closest thing to ‘metal’, and having come out during the NWOBHM, I guess I can see where they got lumped in with the heavy metal crowd. But the interplay of Du Cann’s heavy guitar riffs and solos, with Vincent Crane’s 70s sounding Hammond organ, and the the way they feed off each other throughout this 10 track release, makes for a great album for the period, and an underrated gem in the band’s catalogue. Favorites include the lead off cut “They Took Control Of You”, “She’s My Woman”, “Don’t Lose Your Mind”, and the instrumental “Watch Out”. “Do You Know Who’s Looking For You?” was issued as the lead off single.

Last year Cherry Red issued a 2 disc set from this, which included the album, a couple of outtakes, some very good sounding demos, and a not so great show of the band at London’s Marquee, which included songs from this record mixed in with the Rooster classics. Again, not a proper pro recorded show, but listenable, and historically interesting for Rooster fans.

ATOMIC ROOSTER, one of the foremost heavy bands from the early Seventies, have re-formed with original members Vincent Crane and John DuCann. Their first single to be released by EMI is Do You Know Who’s Looking For You, followed by an LP, Atomic Rooster, in September. (Record Mirror, 08-02-80)

ATOMIC ROOSTER: ‘Atomic Rooster’ (EMI EMC 3341), By Malcolm Dome
NO, ‘ATOMIC Rooster’ isn’t the greatest comeback album of ’em all and cynics will doubtless suggest that the reason for this once all -conquering band’s return from beyond the grave was something to do with the singular failure of its two prime protagonists, Vincent Crane and John DuCann, to make their solo mark. However much truth there may be in such idle thinking, the fact remains that this Is a worthy effort and a 1980 recording. ‘Do You Know Who’s Looking For You’ could almost be the Boomtown Rats with a glossy metallic sheen, so catchy Is the heavy melody, while ‘They Took Control 01 You’, taken at almost Olympic sprint – speed, Is propelled along by some vintage firebrand guitar work from DuCann and the slower, subversive ‘In The Shadows; allows Crane to stretch out a little on some claustrophobic keyboard passages. The album’s classic cuts though, are saved for the latter half of side two with ‘Watch Out’ proving to be a red-blooded and lar from pompous ‘theme tune’ that, given free-reign from the production viewpoint’ could Join Iron Maiden’s ‘Transylvania’ and The EF Band’s ‘Instrumental Dufort’ as the year’s most outstanding HM instrumentals. Finally, closing ‘AR’ we have ‘Lost In Space’, a spine-tingler, I assure you. All In all, the Rooster crow once again means happy listening, although in the final analysis I must admit to having serious doubts as to whether the Crane I DuCann re – alliance can sustain its initially promising momentum and EMI would have been better advised to Inject their sagging, moneybags into a younger, more long term prospect. (Record Mirror, 09-22-80)

ATOMIC ROOSTER Atomic Rooster. EMI EMC 3341.
Producers: John Du Cann and Vincent Crane. The old ones are still
the best ones, yet good though this reformation album is, they do not
seem to know quite whether to return to their roots or become an
out and out Heavy Metal band. No matter as they succeed on both
counts and this should find them a whole new audience, while drawing
back much of the old one, (Music Week, 09-13-80)

LINKS:

https://www.cherryred.co.uk/atomic-rooster-atomic-rooster-remastered-expanded-2cd-edition

https://www.facebook.com/AtomicRooster16

ATOMIC ROOSTER – Made In England (1972)

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As I recently had the privilege of interviewing Steve Bolton and Paul Everett to discuss the upcoming new Atomic Rooster album. It was an interesting and lengthy discussion on the band and mainly their current happenings. But, until I’m done editing, I thought I’d take up a retro review on the band’s 1972 album Made In England, which featured Bolton on guitar. ….

On ATOMIC ROOSTER’s 4th album, the line up changed once again, with Steve Bolton now on guitar, and singer Chris Farlowe replacing Pete French. Farlowe already had a lengthy career going back to the early 60s, recording with various bands and as a solo artist, but was a more soul and blues singer and writer. He’d also been (and still is) with COLOSSEUM. And although Atomic Rooster may have gained a reputation as being a heavier, darker sounding band (early proto-metal) on their previous albums, Farlowe brought with him some of that soul and funk influence, as Made In England took a bit of a turn from the earlier albums.

Like most Atomic Rooster albums, Made In England came with different covers from country to country. In Canada and the USA, the album came with very detailed piece from American artist Abe Gurvin, who had done covers for The Mothers of Invention, Jimmy Smith, Bread, and many different genres of music during the late 60s to early 70s. In other countries, Made In England came in a denim wrapped cover, which varied in color depending on the country. The denim cover was designed by Mike Gill, and I gotta wonder if anyone out there has collected them all!? (I have not pictured all different colors below).

While Vincent Crane wrote the bulk of this album, it also featured contributions from other members, with (drummer) Ric Parnell and (guitarist) Steve Bolton each adding 2 cuts, Parnell penned and sang the excellent slower heavy psych rock of “Little Bit Of Inner Air” and the evil titled “All In Satan’s Name”, a rocker that is lead by Crane’s organ playing, while both tracks are highlighted by heavy solos from Bolton. The guitarist would contribute the stand out “Space Cowboy” (a b-side to “Save Me”, that wound up on the next LP); musically fits it’s title, as well as the slower “Never To Lose”; somewhat of a ballad that builds up and then comes back down, again, featuring a heavy solo from Bolton, and so suited for Chris Farlowe’s big voice. “Never To Lose” has also been reworked and rerecorded for the band’s upcoming new album Circle The Sun.

Vincent Crane, aside from organ and piano throughout this, would also add orchestration arrangements, notably on the first 2 cuts “Time Take My Life” and the funk rock of “Stand By Me”. The latter was issued as a single, and I’m sure if this was Rare Earth in the US, it might’ve been a hit in North America. The added soul and funk influence also comes up in tracks like “People You Can’t Trust” with it’s added gospel-like backing voices, and “Close Your Eyes”, featuring piano, and having a pretty upbeat feeling, between Farlowe’s vocals and the backing vocals, and “Breathless”, with it’s jazzy piano, and featuring a powerful guitar break thrown in for added weight, before dropping back to the piano.

Made In England was certainly a new direction for the band, and perhaps an underrated gem of early 70s progressive rock. Although the album didn’t chart well in the UK or US, it did reach #60 in Canada, and #42 in Australia. Bolton left not too long after, and formed Headstone, and later toured with The Who and Paul Young. The band recorded one more album, Nice ‘n’ Greasy (aka as ‘IV‘ in North America), before disbanding until a new line-up emerged in 1980. Later CD reissues of this album would add bonus tracks, notably the band’s BBC performances in ’72.

Two New LPs From Elektra
Elektra Records will soon release new albums by Atomic Rooster and Casey Kelly. “Made In England” is the third album by Atomic Rooster to be released in this country. The group is headed by Vincent Crane, former organist for the Crazy World of Arthur Brown and composer of his greatest hit, “Fire.” This album marks the first appearance with the group of their newest member, Chris Farlowe, who is now their lead singer. The LP contains Rooster’s current single, “Stand By Me.” A tour for the group is being planned for November. (Cashbox, 08-26-72)

ATOMIC ROOSTER – Made In England. Elektra EKS 75039 Although A.R has previously only attracted a small following of self -proclaimed anglo- philes their future now appears bright and their destiny obvious. The acquisition of Chris Farlow as lead singer is a coup to be envied and admired. Farlowe is no musical novice; his credentials are legion his suc- cesses legendary. Group organizer and or- ganist Vincent Crane is again treading upon virginal musical territory. Best cuts are “Little Bit of Inner Air,” and “Breathless.” (Billboard, 09-09-72)

MADE IN ENGLAND- ATOMIC ROOSTER-Elektra 75039
Chris Farlowe, Ric Parnell, Vincent Crane and Steve Bolton present the third installment of their unique brand of heavy British rock. Eleven cuts meant to be played at only the highest volumes, and sure to test the eardrums of all good Rooster fans. (Record World, 09-09-72)