This album was released in 1971. It definitely fit with the style of music I was listening to at the time (heavier), but it had a new angle. I was very much guitar-centric in my tastes, and the keyboards-centric style of Atomic Rooster was a departure for me. The organist & leader of the band, Vincent Crane, came from The Crazy Word of Arthur Brown, along with the drummer Carl Palmer (you may recall the single “Fire”). There were numerous lineup changes around Crane over the years, with Palmer going on to Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
Another new angle for me was their lack of a bass player; Crane supplied bass through a pedal on his keyboard setup. I also liked that “The Rock” was used as a theme song for NFL television broadcasts at the time. It was a nice thing to point out to football lovin’, rock hatin’ fathers. We would then have to leave the room….
Songs
Overall, I like the album for its heavier, fast paced rock. There is a great mix of keyboards and guitars which I found refreshing at the time, and I still very much enjoy it today. There are a couple of really good breaks in pace (“Decision/Indecision” & “Black Snake”) which gives you a bit of a rest and gets you ready for the next songs. “Head in the Sky” just plain kicks.
Look up some Atomic Rooster videos on YouTube. Energetic may be an understatement.