Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Why does a second-tier British heavy prog/hard rock act deserve three different two-CD anthologies? Hard to say, really, but there are in fact a trifecta of very distinct Atomic Rooster roundups: the simply titled Anthology, released on Repertoire in 2002; the superior Heavy Soul, released on Sanctuary in 2006; and now this one, which gathers B-sides, live tracks, demos, and studio rarities from the full gamut of the band's career, including its 1979-1981 revival as a heavy metal act. Atomic Rooster were led by organist Vincent Crane, formerly of the Crazy World of Arthur Brown; when the group first formed, another Arthur Brown veteran, Carl Palmer, was on drums, but he quickly left to join Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The Rooster really came into their own when guitarist John Du Cann joined. Their first three albums, particularly sophomore release Death Walks Behind You, showcased a guitar-and-organ front line that was relatively unique and bridged the gap between Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, with a gaunt Crane hunched over the organ like the Phantom of the Opera as Du Cann crunched out heavy riffs and fleet solos. The fourth and fifth releases explored a blend of funk and soul along with heavy rock, and weren't quite as noteworthy as the early albums -- and after a few years off , the group returned in 1979 attempting to piggyback on the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with a faster, more aggressive sound that didn't suit them or hold up to their earliest work. This compilation features alternate takes, live versions, B-sides, and other ephemera from the early years (including three tracks with Carl Palmer on drums) and the "metal" years, and the difference is quite stark. A particularly useful contrast is provided by the inclusion of an alternate mix of the band's best-known song, "Death Walks Behind You," on disc one, and a sped-up, Alice Cooper-esque reworking from 1981 on disc two. This may seem like a diehards-only release, but Atomic Rooster deserved more attention than they got, at least early on, so serious devotees of early-'70s hard rock will find much to enjoy here.
© Phil Freeman /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From kr133.33/month
Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 1970 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Vincent Crane, Composer - Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2004 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Vincent Crane, Composer - Atomic Rooster, MainArtist
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2006 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Vincent Crane, Composer - Atomic Rooster, MainArtist
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Vincent Crane, Composer - Atomic Rooster, MainArtist
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 1980 John Du Cann John Du Cann
DISC 2
Vincent Crane, Composer - Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 1980 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Vincent Crane, Composer - Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 1981 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 1982 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Vincent Crane, Composer - Atomic Rooster, MainArtist
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Vincent Crane, Composer - Atomic Rooster, MainArtist
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Vincent Crane, Composer - Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Vincent Crane, Composer - Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer - John Du Crane, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 1980 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 1980 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Vincent Crane, Composer - Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Vincent Crane, Composer, Writer - Atomic Rooster, MainArtist - John Du Cann, Composer
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann John Du Cann
Album review
Why does a second-tier British heavy prog/hard rock act deserve three different two-CD anthologies? Hard to say, really, but there are in fact a trifecta of very distinct Atomic Rooster roundups: the simply titled Anthology, released on Repertoire in 2002; the superior Heavy Soul, released on Sanctuary in 2006; and now this one, which gathers B-sides, live tracks, demos, and studio rarities from the full gamut of the band's career, including its 1979-1981 revival as a heavy metal act. Atomic Rooster were led by organist Vincent Crane, formerly of the Crazy World of Arthur Brown; when the group first formed, another Arthur Brown veteran, Carl Palmer, was on drums, but he quickly left to join Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The Rooster really came into their own when guitarist John Du Cann joined. Their first three albums, particularly sophomore release Death Walks Behind You, showcased a guitar-and-organ front line that was relatively unique and bridged the gap between Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, with a gaunt Crane hunched over the organ like the Phantom of the Opera as Du Cann crunched out heavy riffs and fleet solos. The fourth and fifth releases explored a blend of funk and soul along with heavy rock, and weren't quite as noteworthy as the early albums -- and after a few years off , the group returned in 1979 attempting to piggyback on the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with a faster, more aggressive sound that didn't suit them or hold up to their earliest work. This compilation features alternate takes, live versions, B-sides, and other ephemera from the early years (including three tracks with Carl Palmer on drums) and the "metal" years, and the difference is quite stark. A particularly useful contrast is provided by the inclusion of an alternate mix of the band's best-known song, "Death Walks Behind You," on disc one, and a sped-up, Alice Cooper-esque reworking from 1981 on disc two. This may seem like a diehards-only release, but Atomic Rooster deserved more attention than they got, at least early on, so serious devotees of early-'70s hard rock will find much to enjoy here.
© Phil Freeman /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 29 track(s)
- Total length: 02:12:17
- Main artists: Atomic Rooster
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Cherry Red Records
- Genre: Metal Hard Rock
© 2009 Cherry Red Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 John Du Cann
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.