A few years after the release of the Sleeping For Years box set, Cherry Red Records have come back to English hard rockers Atomic Rooster. The release in question is an expanded reissue of the band’s self-titled reunion album from 1980. As to be expected with releases from Cherry Red, this comes with many bonus tracks and even a concert, making for a solid release.
A Little History
Atomic Rooster were formed by keyboardist Vincent Crane and drummer Carl Palmer after the Crazy World of Arthur Brown had split. From 1969 to 1973, the band would release five studio albums with a revolving door of musicians. The band were at the peak of the their career with the release of their second album Death Walks Behind You, a heavy psych classic featuring the commanding vocals of guitarist John Du Cann and the hard hitting drum work of Paul Hammond. For many, this line up of Crane, Du Cann and Hammond is considered to be the band’s strongest line up. After Du Cann and Hammond’s depature after the third album, Crane did a 180 and changed the band’s sound to something more soulful for their last two albums.
A few years after the band’s split, Vincent Crane was back to working with Arthur Brown on Brown’s Chisholm in My Blossom album. They even made a collaborative effort called Faster Than The Speed of Light. Du Cann had recorded a solo album in 1977, which wouldn’t be released until the 1990s. Around 1980, Crane and Du Cann got back in touch and agreed to reform Atomic Rooster. For a drummer, the two recruited session drummer Preston Heyman. This was this line up that would record the 1980 reunion album.
The album
Whereas the first three Atomic Rooster albums were of the hard rock/heavy psych genre, the 1980 album has a sound that fits in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal: the sound is tighter and faster than the heavy psych romp of the band’s earlier work. Du Cann’s voice is almost unrecognizable, sounding more raw and visceral. While this is different from the earlier Atomic Rooster, this is still an enjoyable album.
Right off the bat, the band are off and running with the hard rocking “They Take Control Of You.” Musically, it sounds a bit more Deep Purple than Atomic Rooster but it’s solid way to kick off to the album. From there on out, it’s another nine songs with the above sound but in different variations. Looking for something more in the old-school style? Check out the keyboard heavy “He Did It Again” or the menacing “In The Shadows.” As mentioned before, this is different from other Atomic Rooster albums. For the most part, this doesn’t sound like the old school band though that’s not a bad thing. Check out songs such as the punk ridden “Where’s The Show” and the fast paced “She’s My Woman.” Throughout the album, all three musicians shine throughout the album and gel together as a unit.
If the album had any downsides, the album runs out of steam towards the end. Du Cann’s voice might be grating for some listeners after a while. While a fine singer, his singing on here just isn’t the way it is on the earlier Atomic Rooster albums. Despite these downsides, the 1980 album makes for a solid listen.
Bonus Tracks
This expanded version of the 1980 album comes with some non-album songs in the form of “Throw Your Life Away” and “Broken Windows.” There’s also nine songs worth of demos from 1980-81, which vary in quality. Though of the bonuses included in this set, the full concert from the Death Walks Behind You line up (Crane/Du Cann/Hammond) stands out the most. The concert in question was performed at the Marquee Club in 1980. This was first released in 2002, taken from a cassette recording owned by Du Cann. From research, it was recorded with only one microphone onstage. As a result, the recording quality isn’t top notch but the power that this line up had nearly a decade later is stunning. The band plays a set of ten songs, mixing songs from the 1980 album and Death Walks Behind You.
Conclusion
As a whole, this re-release of the self-titled 1980 Atomic Rooster album is solid. Die-hard fans will appreciate the new content on here along with the liner notes provided in the booklet. If any downsides, one would wonder why the band’s last album Headline News isn’t included. Released in 1983, it was the last studio album released under the Atomic Rooster name. While only Crane and Hammond play on the album, this and the Sleeping For Years set would’ve made for a nice two volume set of the band’s entire studio discography. If anything, it could be an ownership thing. Even then, this is a solid release devoted to a very underrated band.
Album rating: 7/10
Release rating: 7/10
I'm a writer/journalist with a passion for music and pop culture. Having graduated from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PA in 2014, I've been looking for a platform in which I can share my passions. Since 2009, I've been posting to my own blog- The Walrus' Music Blog- via Blogger. I'm also the author of two self-published books, "The Camp: Stories from the Summer" and "The College: Stories from King's." Together, the two books cover the story of my life from 2004 to 2014. I've been lucky enough to interview several of my favorite musicians over the years and go to concerts from time to time. I'm also very devoted to the CBS reality TV show Survivor, which I started watching in 2002 when its fourth season started. I currently live in New Jersey.