HEAVY SOUL: ANTHOLOGY

"Heavy Soul: Anthology" is the very best compilation available of Atomic Rooster, no question about it. 2 fabulous CDs jam packed with the best Rooster is irresistible and if you don't have any Rooster and want to hear them I recommend this over every compilation available. It features all their best tracks from the 5 classic 70s albums. I love the way you can listen to this in chronological order and it covers all their albums that are worth getting gin their entirety in any case. But for those who just want a taste of this great band, this compilation is essential heavy prog.

Here's how the tracks line up.

From the debut "Atomic Ro-ooster" there are Banstead, Winter, Broken Wings and Friday the 13th. This early phase has Crane on keyboards a bit rough around the edges and the riffs are not as heavy but this was a solid debut.

There are only 4 tracks from their greatest album "Death Walks Behind You" including the single Tomorrow Night, Nobody Else, Sleeping for Years and the brilliant Death Walks Behind You. The Devil's Answer is included of course as their other massive hit single. This album is an essential purchase so with only 4 tracks it would be worth getting this comp with the DWBY album.

From "In Hearing Of" is Breakthrough, Break the Ice, Black Snake, The Price, Decision/Indecision, Head in the Sky, The Rock. This means the whole album apart from the marvellous instrumental 'Spoonful of Bromide....' which should have been here to replace one of these others. So it is still worthwhile getting this as it features most of that album replacing it in a sense.

From "Made In England" that is often left off compilations due to change in label there is Close Your Eyes, Time Take My Life, Stand By Me, Breathless, People You Can't Trust. These are perhaps the best tracks so a good selection for this compilation.

From "Nice N Greasy" that is ignored by many compilations we have the best of this album; Can't Find a Reason, Save Me, Ear in the Snow, Never to Lose, Take One Toke, All Across the Country. The other tracks were the more recent Moods, Tell your story and O.D..

So in conclusion by all means grab this compilation if you have nothing on Rooster because this is the best of the classic 70s period for AR. Featuring the best of classics and almost the entire "In Hearing Of" I have to award this 4 stars. The packaging is excellent with much info and pics. A very nice package from the best heavy prog from Atomic Rooster and for the uninitiated an essential purchase..