Atomic Rooster is underrated

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   My favorite will always be 'In Hearing Of". Pete French who later sang with Cactus, was my favorite singer with the band. The entire album has consistency in the area of writing. Now that I'm older, I have a difficult time enjoying "Death Walks Behind You". There is a piano improvisation solo on the track "Breathless" from Made In England which just blows me away! Vincent Crane's left hand syncopation on that solo is just flippin' beautiful. He really didn't have many complimenting viewpoints about Keith Emerson in the Heavy Soul bio booklet. It may have had more to do with Atomic Rooster losing Carl Palmer to ELP. Vincent Crane may have been emotionally charged over that experience, who knows? I have read up on his interest in witchcraft and if what the books say is true, then it explains a great deal about his creativeness in composing dark rock songs with errie atmospheres. It was a plus for sure. The errie sounding piano was jazzy and rock out with darkscape progressions. Lucifer's Friend came close to that level of writing on "Where the Groupies Killed the Blues" but Vincent Crane ruled the kingdom as far as I'm concerned. 

I remember going the distance and purchasing Headline News and various other titles. Some tracks were actually very good. Maybe not as consistent like the early titles but worthy for a listen. The first album I did not prefer because of the vocalist. However, the piece...."Winter" which is sung by Crane is very reminiscent of an old Gentle Giant tune. He sings a bit like Shulman and with the writing style of the song, it could almost be placed on the self-titled Gentle Giant album. Though Atomic Rooster were very original in style.  