Category Archives: ATOMIC ROOSTER

ATOMIC ROOSTER

ATOMIC ROOSTER Anthology 1969-1981

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… alternate mixes, rare or unreleased, of some of the best material by this British power trio. Such outings are fine for fans but such is the quality on offer, ‘Anthology 1969-1991′ still affirms the Rooster as one of the finest hard/progressive rock acts of its day with nary a barrel scraping in sight…this is a commendable re-route to the heart of a fine band.

Peter Muir www.getreadytorock.com (February 2009)


…a definitive 2 disc collection…demos, alternate versions and unreleased gems…when you add in liner notes, rare pictures and track commentary courtesy of Du Cann it all adds up to an excellent package.

Sea Of Tranquility (March 2009)


…it’s a fine example of how a power-rock trio should sound. Effectively the missing link between Cream and Rush.

Martin Hutchinson, The Bolton News (February 2009)


Excellent double disc overview of one of Great Britain’s most underrated hard rock bands from the 1970s…If you never climbed aboard the rooster, this is the place to start 5/5

www.lmnop.com (March 2009)


High energy, Hammond organ-driven rock courtesy of the early 70s, quite possibly the one Rooster collection you should get if you want to hear how it should be done.

Amplifier magazine (May 2009)


Both of these discs are crammed full of the classic sounding Atomic Rooster that rock fans have come to know and love…

www.classicrockrevisited.com (April 2009)


…a collection of alternative versions and rarities…still has a pull like a good old movie.

www.dmme.net (June 2009)


…the inventive interplay between guitarist Du Cann and organist Vincent Crane is the highlight of an excellent prog-rock set

Kevin Bryan, Stirling Advertiser (September 2009)


The year 1971 was the highlight for UK rock trio Atomic Rooster…they serve up tracks including ‘Devil’s Answer’, ‘Death Walks Behind You’, ‘Friday 13th’ and a live version of ‘Tomorrow Night’.

Bev Bevan

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ATOMIC ROOSTER Homework

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This album contains a more modern ROOSTER with influences from New Wave and possibly punk. “A Matter of Time” is one of the better tracks of the album. They still knew how to construct songs and write lyrics, they had simply changed though. A song like “Cut the Wire” is still interesting, it is just not what I expect of an ATOMIC ROOSTER album.

www.metal-only.com


These recordings are somewhat stark and naked…and the odd electronic percussion doesn’t really fit the music. But if you concentrate on substance, Rooster fans are likely to find some real gems in this obscure little basket…An interesting snapshot of things that never gelled decades ago.

www.lmnop.com (March 2008)


Hard-core fans may claim the 17 rough sketches presented here (alongside the Vic Maile-produced singles) to be of Holy Grail significance…

Classic Rock (April 2008)


If Polydor had let Atomic Rooster finish their Homework…it could have been fantastic…

Record Collector (April 2008)


…a bold collection of some diversity that reaches back into their early 70′s roots, while embracing some of the contemporary new wave snarling energy alongside elements of blues and prog rock…with its myriad of approaches, its imagination and energy, ultimately rewards.

RocknReel, April/May 2008


…tracks that were receorded for an aborted Polydor album between 1979 and 1981…

Kevin Bryan, Stirling Advertiser (May 2008)


…a tantalizing glimpse of what might have been had record company executives not moved on to the ‘Next Big Thing’.

www.hardrockhouse.com (April 2008)


…UK raunchy rock, heavy, plenty of organ and guitars…including a nice live version of Devils Answer.

Feedback (April 2008)


A band to be discovered and rediscovered…

Odymetal, www.myspace.com (May 2008)


Pretty much each and every one of these twenty-three songs were well written and clearly had strong arrangements intact… Store this one right next to your Rooster classics ‘Death Walks Behind You’, ‘In Hearing of…’ and ‘Live At The Marquee’. A must-have.

www.aural-innovations.com (May 2008)


…completes the story in the fine style…remind us why the Rooster still was crowing so loudly.

Jo-Ann-Greene, Goldmine (May 2008)

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ATOMIC ROOSTER Atomic Rooster

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You wouldn’t normally put money on prog legends mixing it up with the NWoBHM, but this 1980 reformation and EMI signing is a return to form and it did a pretty good job.

First time on CD, it is well packaged with some bonus tracks. No excuses to overlook it this time round. ****

Joe Geesin, www.getreadytorock.com
(October 2005)


As usual Angel Air has done excellent production work…

Classic Rock Society (November 2005)


Atomic Rooster Mark II were a different proposition from the band who had scored big hits…the new material plainly fashioned to complete with the sound of what longhairs were calling NWOBHM…An attractive enough trinket for more avid fans…

Record Collector (January 2006)


…the reissue of this 1980 album proves that they, like peers such as Budgie, deserve considerably more respect for their consistent excellence…This album may not be a masterpiece, but it has enough moments of clarity and musicality to warrant a place in any collection.

Classic Rock (December 2005)


…Rooster devotees should welcome the album’s long overdue release in CD form now.

Kevin Bryan (January 2006)


…Angel Air have done a great job of the reissue, here with two extra songs and plenty of information within the booklet.

Feedback (February 2006)


…if you’re unfamiliar with this stunning release, do yourself a favour, slip on this CD, crank up the volume and let the Rooster crow.

Hartlepool Mail (March 2006)


The sound is very good and the booklet is very informative…This is a piece of quality that will fit not only in a prog collection.

Maelstrom (March 2006)

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ATOMIC ROOSTER Live At The Marquee 1980

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I would imagine live this band were good value and well worth seeing. The power of the performances comes through loud and clear on the CD. The whole package is well presented with informative sleeve notes…One for Atomic Rooster fans and those who enjoy the 70′s hard rock sound.

Jason Ritchie, get ready to ROCK! (November 2002)


John du Cann has never sounded so deranged on vocals, nor Vincent Crane’s Hammond organ so depraved.

Tony Shevlin, East Anglian Magazine (November 2002)


This is the closest the fans can get to an Atomic Rooster gig, as they never released a live album during their career and the only other CD to feature live material takes its source from two different periods. I can remember seeing the band at this time and this goes some way to capturing the sweaty noisy atmosphere that they generated.

…Invaluable to the fan and worthwhile to those yet to discover them.

Feedback (January 2003)


…the sheer wall of sonic guitar oblivion and organ-grinding power on show is a superb sound. Old hits (‘Tomorrow Night’ and ‘Death Walks Behind You’) sit well next to then-newer songs such as ‘Do You Know Who’s Looking For You’, which has become a classic in the interim.

…this is an archival gem – another Angel Air treasure.

Record Collector (January 2003)


This classic power trio transcend the fairly ropey sound quality to deliver energised performances of Rooster standards…

Retford Times (January 2003)


The sound quality of this 75-minute recording will have true Rooster fans wetting their beds….Atomic Rooster combines brilliant swirling Hammond organ, heavily tuned guitar, and earth pounding drums to create a form of heavy rock that seems to be missing in today’s music scene. A must have. Nice packaging job, as with most Angel Air releases.

Mike Reed Banzai (February 2003)


…a 10 track leviathan that captures the band at the peak of their flirtation with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal…Live At the Marquee is the best-sounding of all the band’s available live recordings and rounds up some of their best-loved tracks…

Jo-Anne Greene, Goldmine (February 2003)


The music is power rock; it’s live and that’s what Atomic Rooster did best, strong keyboards from Vincent and great pounding drums from Paul…play it loud.

Mr Dent, Modern Dance (June 2003)


This classy power trio transcend the fairly ropey sound quality to deliver energised performances of Atomic Rooster standards…for your listening pleasure

Kevin Bryan, Belfast Telegraph

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ATOMIC ROOSTER The First 10 Explosive Years Volume 2

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Purveyors of classic organ driven Rock, Atomic Rooster have been well served by Angel Air’s excellent reissue programme…This CD culls together 18 remastered tracks from the period 1972-1982…and is generally a fine testament to a wonderfully inventive band…

For the very best of Atomic Rooster you can invest confidently in any of the band original albums, but releases such as this are fine samplers of the great British Progressive Rock bands.

Steve Ward, Wondrous Stories (Sep 2001)


This CD is a collection of rare Atomic Rooster songs…Heavy riffs, duelling guitar/Hammond organ solos, and with Paul Hammond’s essential drum playing. The CD – in excellent packaging…is a must have for connoisseurs of Heavy Rock.

Psychedelic Fanzine, (August 2001)


Not quite knowing what to expect from this latest Atomic Rooster collection…overall a better CD than I was expecting…

Jilly’s Rock World, (August 2001)


If Angel Air are issuing a box set in parts, this might be the least-played disc, but it’s still a part of the Rooster story.

Michael Heatley, Classic Rock (October 2001)


It provides all the usual treats you expect from Angel Air, and the ear-drum assault that you’d expect from the Rooster…it’s a great selection from start to finish…The sleevenotes…offer a superb band history. If you like Purple or Sabbath with a touch more eclecticism and energy, start here.

Joe Geesin, Record Collector (October 2001)


…musically this album shows how powerful a unit they could be with the Hammond organ and drums driving Du Cann further on both guitar and vocals…

Feedback, (November 2001)


Sweeping Hammond organ, hard rocking guitar and blistering drum beats combine to make the most memorable music.

Hartlepool Mail, 31 December 2001

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ATOMIC ROOSTER Rarities

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Any Atomic Rooster fans who purchase this CD, are in for a real treat…

Jilly’s (October 2000)


Angel Air are absolute experts in the field of unearthing a wealth of unheard music. This time they have put together 19 previously unreleased tracks from 1970 through to 1981 – including 3 USA radio ads!…With a combination of previously unreleased tracks (7 in total) including the last ever recording – ‘Moonrise’ – and demos or different mixes (9 of those), this album shows the power that was Atomic Rooster…Even in a raw, demo or live state, the power is there to hear.

With an excellent 12 page sleeve booklet and rare photos, this is the usual quality package from Angel Air, that Rooster fans will want to have.

David Pearson,Wondrous Stories (November 2000)


…The latest in a steady stream of unheard/unavailable Rooster material…the incentive to buy are the six early-1970s selections…Two…feature Carl Palmer, so we’re talking Holy Grail here…

Classic Rock (December 2000)


Atomic Rooster fans…will be thrilled to encounter that band’s latest archival treat…1980/81 demos and live material, plus the band’s last-ever recording from 1981, showcase Atomic Rooster coming to grips with their role as grandpappies of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and doing so with considerably more aplomb than many other bands of their vintage…

Jo-Ann Greene, Goldmine(November 2000)


“Featuring 19 previously unreleased tracks from 1970 to 1981 this hour-long CD is a goldmine of undiscovered gems…Complete with extensive sleeve notes this is a scrapbook in sound – a reminder of a rare talent”

Hartlepool Mail (November 2000)


…a 19-track collection of demos, unreleased tracks and radio jingles…It makes interesting listening…”

Frank Blades, Rockhaven


“Included here is the original demo of ‘Devils Answer’ as well as many other rarities from John Du cann’s personal tape archive of the band. Impressive sleeve notes and rare pics!”

Norfolk & Suffolk Preview (November 2000)


…extremely rare tracks (all previously unreleased in this form) from 1970 up to 1981, including the very last recordings of the band with DuCann, Vincent Crane and Paul Hammond in 1981…As one might expect, sound quality of the material contained varies heavily, but that shouldn’t bother real fans too much, regarding the package of rare stuff they’re offered here.

Background (November 2000)


Of most interest here are demos from the Palmer years…but Don’t Lose Your Mind and End Of The Day suggest that arguments that Rooster are one of the great forgotten hard rock bands of the 70s and early 80s may not be entirely misplaced.

Choice Magazine (January 2001)


A couple of shaky demos aside, the real goodies here are a handful of surprisingly funky late period studio outtakes which suggest…the underrated brilliance of the late Vincent.

Mojo (February 2001)


…there are some real gems that show even to the uninitiated that here was a band that never really fulfilled their potential…an interesting compilation that shows just a little of what this fine band was all about. An excellent booklet, as one would expect from Angel Air, which makes this a ‘must purchase’ for the fan

Feedback, (February 2001)


…this set is a cool sampling of tracks from as early as 1971 and as late as 1980….All the tracks are demos and/or unreleased…so collectors take note. There is a great edge to these tracks and even the so-called demo tracks pack some aural punch…Very listenable

Jeff Monk, Mohair Sweets (December 2000)


…a complicated collection of previously unreleased (or unreleased on CD) songs between 1970/81. Some are rather dated and then there are some that still stand up today, including two tremendous songs that should be proud to be in the twenty-first century. These last two on the album are hot, track 18 is “Play It Again” which was a demo from 81, but the piece de la resistance is 8.5 minutes of “I Can’t Take It No More” – live from the Marquee in ’80…this last track is the worth the cover price on its own. There’s just over an hour of music from a once sought after band. Crank it up loud and enjoy.

Modern Dance (April 2001)


Fans of keyboard laden rock will love this bombastic and melodramatic music

Hartlepool Mail (April 2001)


Very well assembled collection/bag of unreleased tunes…it’s a superb 19 track disc…Definitely a fine underground 70s act well worth checking out. Vince Crane’s killer keyboard work is worth the admission price alone. High commendation goes to Du Cann for taking the time and effort of digging through his vault for this priceless compilation.

Banzai

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ATOMIC ROOSTER Live And Raw 70/71

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To be fair to Angel Air, they have issued a warning in the sleeve notes about the (sound) quality and the album title has obviously been well chosen as it describes the contents perfectly. Tracks 1 to 4 were recorded live in London in 1970 and are believed to be the only known live recordings in existence featuring the original line-up of John Du Cann, Vincent Crane and Carl palmer. These songs alone make this album an indispensable piece of rock history…The disc is accompanied by an excellent booklet with extensive sleeve notes by John Du Cann

Steve Ward, Wondrous Stories (April 2000)


…the whole hour has merit once your ears attune to the bootleg quality

Michael Heatley, Classic Rock (June2000)


…despite the poor recording quality, the excitement of a Rooster concert is obvious. An interview in the sleevenotes helps fill in the history, too

Joe Geesin, Record Collector (May 2000)


…there is no doubting the historical importance of these recordings

Feedback (June 2000)


…from a musical point of view it really rips…The attractiveness of the publication is in picking up a fat book full of unique Atomic Rooster photographs and little known facts from the group’s history.

Fists In Pockets (Poland) (April/May 2000)


…there’s some great playing and terrific inventiveness that you could get away with back in the 70′s…the album as a whole is a welcome addition for the avid collector and trust Angel Air to fill that gap.

Modern Stories (September 2000)


Those nice people at Angel Air Records have released …Live And Raw 70/71…which contains eight previously unreleased live tracks from two concerts. The quality of the recording is dodgy in places…but this is a collector’s album…a piece of history…treat it with the respect it deserves!

Frank Blades, Rockhaven


…Angel Air have placed quite large warnings on this CD “the sound quality is very rough” – their honesty speaks for itself, but frankly I am so grateful to hear these wonderful performances.

Zabadak, No.18

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ATOMIC ROOSTER The First Ten Explosive Years

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…My late teens were soothed by bands like Atomic Rooster, a band… that sat between progressive rock and heavy metal…

Very much compared with Deep Purple, this band achieved what few other rock bands achieved, that being several successes in the Top Ten singles chart. Those successes are heard here in live form, ‘Devil’s Answer’ and ‘Tomorrow Night’…

This album is 16 tracks long and is a rocking testament to that of the early 70′s and early ’80s. Those too young to remember could learn an awful lot by purchasing this, especially if your musical diet includes Deep Purple…

Martin Hudson, “Wondrous Stories”


Put together by guitarist and Rooster original John Du Cann, this oddly-titled 16-song ‘definitive’ covers the gamut of prog/hard rock that he espoused with ex-Arthur Brown organ whizz Vince Crane and buddies between ’70 and ’72, and then 1979-82…Squawkin’!

Tim Jones, “Record Collector” (March 1999)


One of the most enjoyable discs that has dropped through the mail slot this year…one of the best examples of the progressive rock/ heavy metal hybrid…be assured that the listener is taken on 75+ minute joy ride…which could just as easily have been titled “The Best Of Atomic Rooster”…As with all Angel Air releases this too comes with extensive liner notes and rare photos of the band

“On The Record” Music America magazine


…the songs stand up well, bringing into sharp focus the Rooster’s unique ability to marry metal toughness with prog pretensions in an eccentric style that’s so British.

For long standing fans, ‘…10 Explosive Years’ is a chance to rediscover old gems and hear a couple of unreleased tracks. If you’re not familiar with their work, check this out. You might be surprised.

Malcolm Dome, Classic Rock Jan-Feb 1999


… all who remember putting on their circa-1970 headphones and having their skull pecked open by a nuclear-powered chicken is not going to hold that against them. Atomic Rooster deserves far more respect than recent years (and reissues) have given the group. The First Ten Explosive Years goes some way to delivering that.

Jo-Ann Greene, Goldmine March1999


The album…contains some great stuff, and whilst a lot of it is definitely ‘of that period’ it still raises those neck hairs…

The Modern Dance #13


…strong and dynamic songs with lots of great solos on organ and guitar…and hot and furious interplay between these instruments…This ‘heavy progressive’ music often evokes a sound between Deep Purple and Argent but more aggressive and harder-edged…

Background (May 2000)

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