Customer Reviews

Death Walks Behind You

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Don't be fooled. The so-called "tape noise" mentioned below is so insignificant in the scope of the album that it's hardly even noticable at all. You can't hear it unless you feel the urge to press your ear against your speaker and count the seconds until it begins. In fact, this noise is so quiet and so subtle, who's to say what it really is. Whatever you do, don't let one person's opinion (which is highly blown out of proportion) affect your decision about buying one of progressive rock's greatest masterpieces. The album has never sounded better than this remaster, and the bonus tracks are the icing on the cake.

I agree with Joe completely, especially concerning the alledged 'hiss'. I actually listened to that portion of "Nobody Else" several times even with my eyes closed and heard nothing but the music itself. The sound of the entire disc is fantastic. With the bonus tracks, the length is just over 75 min.

There was so much good much in the sixties and early seventies that it's not surprising some wonderful albums and even groups are now largely forgotten. Atomic Rooster is one such group and "Death Walks Behind You" was their best studio album. It was influential in the rise of heavy metal, was one of the best albums for taking advantage of separate stereo channels (listen for the guitars to cross over each other from one end of the room to the other), and is laden with great songs. Highly recommended

Atomic Rooster was Vince Crane, a very talented musician, one of the best keyboard players in rock, and certainly one of the best composers, sadly underrated, whose life was cut short few years ago, by his suicide due to his illness (manic depression).
On every Rooster album, his songs shine the most, in melodic virtuiosity, and emotional expressions, whereas the songs that the guitarist John Ducann did the writing, the difference is felt, and what we have instead are average 70s rock songs.

But Crane, had a vision, a passion for his music and his instrument and it shows in all his writing, which are very melodic, with very catchy tunes that are guaranteed to stay with the listener for a long time.
Death Walks Behind You is an example of Crane on top form.
The title track, is one the best rock songs ever written..It is a very dark song, that starts with a haunting piano..can even be a scary song!!VUG is an instrumental melodic piece that has excellent interplay between keys and guitars, and a touch of prog rock..
Other tracks on the albums, show Ducann 's influence in cowriting, as they tend to be rockier, but they still have the power and brilliance and touch of Crane, and are very melodic.
The other classic on this album is Nobody Else, a very touching song, with a lovely piano, that offer the listener in the middle a good time change a la prog rock tradition, with brilliant guitar solo.
Atomic Rooster did some great stuff afterwards, esp. In Hearing Of and Made In England, but could not acquire the recognition they deserve.
Crane did another classic 'Headline News' his most progressive and personal/solo album, with a guest appearance by none other than Dave Gilmour. This album sadly remained largely unheard, and Vincent Crane died soon afterwards.
BUY THIS ALBUM on all account, and i guarantee 'Death Walks Behind You' will truly haunt you like no other song can manage to do!!

I was given this album (as a cassette) when I was a young bloke in the early 1970's. I was an acid rock/heavy metal fan and used to listen to very little other than Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, with a bit of Uriah Heep thrown in for good measure. I remember thinking "who the hell are Atomic Rooster?" as I'd never heard of them before.

Well, it only took one listen of Death Walks Behind You for me to put them in the same league as my 'big three'.

Vincent Crane's work organ work on this album was up there with anything by Jon Lord and in John Cann I had a new guitar hero to go along with Ritchie Blackmore and Jimmy Page.

I was very disappointed with Rooster's subsequent albums and resigned myself to the fact that this was a 'one hit wonder'.

Never mind. I still played Death Walks Behind You over and over and over. Even now, nearly thirty years later, I still sometimes play it as 'shower music' - with the volume turned up high it really gets the blood pumping!

My old cassette is almost worn out, but I've never been able to find the CD in Australia. It's still a case of "who the hell are Atomic Rooster". Now that I'm on line though, it's a case of Amazon.com to the rescue...

Atomic Rooster - This is a band today if you mention them to most of the record buying public; the response will be "who's that?" Pity this band didn't receive the promotion they deserved in the early 1970's. This LP is flat out amazing. Vincent Crane (vocals,piano,organ), John Cann (vocals, guitar)and Paul Hammond (drums)deliver a dark and gothic sounding LP. Musically its inspired and the guitars and organ blaze. The title track starts of with dark piano solo and builts into foreboding rocker that is like a horror movie put to rock music. "Vug" is a great instrumental that reminds of ZZTop's "La Grange" minus the vocals with gothic organ touches. "Tommororow Night" sticks with the dark themes and its a nice tune. "Sleeping for years," the album cover states that it was one of their most requested pieces. For good reason, its a song that would be at home on any classic rock station in the US. Uptempo and great guitar work make this one to definetly enjoy over and over. Another notible on the album is "Gershazter" for its organ/drum solo. If you buy one album of AR's, let this be the one. Its a classic, little known and goth before goth was cool. Buy it and share it with a friend. You'll be turning them onto one of the greatist underrated LP's of the 1970's.

PS. Just think, finding this LP in the 25 cent bin 10 years ago turned me onto them. :)

Just the name alone conjures up thoughts of Demonic Early Seventies Heavy Metal Progressive Rock. You almost feel by natural instinct that if that is your kettle of fish then Atomic Rooster is going to be your bag. Before anyone gets confused by the name we are talking about 'Atomic Rooster' here, not 'Atomic Kitten'.

Atomic Rooster came out with a couple of very powerful early seventies albums. They sounded great, but unless denim, leather, Afghan coats, long lanky hair, mutton chop sideburns, and droopy moustaches are your thing, they probably aren't the best looking band in the world. Not when compared to the three little girls in Atomic Kitten. However, the music... well, it probably will not stand the test of time as well as this incredible collection of songs do. The music, not the mutton chop sideburns as in the pictures of Atomic Kitten, will still look good. In thirty years these guys now look a little dated, but then this Dog has been waiting years for the shaggy dog look to come back.

So who and what were "Atomic Rooster"? They were formed in mid 1969 by keyboard wizard Vincent Crane and Carl Palmer, one of the most bombastic drummers on the planet, after the collapse of "The Crazy World of Arthur Brown" and in the middle of an American tour. (Arthur Brown had one hit which was a number one "Fire", but that was it. Brown went on to lead Kingdom Come and released three very weird albums in the mid-seventies. He still makes a living to this day as a celebrity, hosting parties and festivals whilst singing the odd verse of "Fire".) Adding Nick Greenwood on bass, an album was recorded and released with the confusing title of "Atomic Ro-O-oster" . After a period on the road they had built a strong cult following, but then started a revolving door of musicians coming and going. (Mostly going in the early days. John Paul Jones was asked to join, but wisely took the offer of Jimmy Page's to join 'Led Zeppelin'. Jack Bruce decided to stick with his solo career, although fellow Cream band mate Ginger Baker turned up in "Atomic Rooster" in the eighties. Rick Grech was also asked, but he had just joined Ginger Baker along with Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood in "Blind Faith". Most bizarrely a meeting was set up between The Rooster boys and Brian Jones, who had just left the Rolling Stones. He was found drowned in his swimming pool the day before the meeting was set for.)

First to abandon ship was bass player Nick Greenwood. He was replaced by guitarist Paul Ducann, whilst Crane took up bass duties using the bass pedals of his trusty Hammond organ. Then prior to going into the studio to record the all important second album, Carl Palmer was lured away from the Rooster to be the "P" in E.L.P. Are we talking Spinal Tap here or what? To any other band this would of been the death knell, but not to the Rooster. Vincent Crane simply recruited gangly powerhouse drummer Paul Hammond (possibly influenced by his surname), dived into the studio, and came out with this classic slab of awe inspiring music. One of the forerunners to form the music that is now called Heavy Metal. Although it was really Crane's band and the sound of the keyboards is dominant in the same way as say Jon Lord was in Deep Purple or Ken Hensley in Uriah Heep, there was still room for the other two to shine. In fact, Ducann wrote three songs on the album as well as getting a credit for the title song. Paul Hammond got to show his spurs on final track "Gershatzer", a number written specially for him by Crane with a fine three minute drum solo. Still today probably one of the best drum solos recorded specifically in the studio by a Rock 'n' Roll drummer .

Opener and title track "Death Walks Behind You" has a haunting spaced out piano intro before breaking into its sledgehammer riff and demonic vocals. It also features the first of musical jousting between guitar and keyboards, again drawing comparisons to Deep Purple. Second in is "Vug", a studio jam that was fortunate to be played whilst the tapes were rolling, so caught in all its fresh excitement. Next up was the much desired hit single "Tomorrow Night", a catchy little number played here to its frantic climax, whereas for the single the record company had faded out to make it a round little three minutes for radio play. The three Ducann songs follow, giving beautiful light and shade to the album whilst retaining Rooster's hard edge, before returning for two more Crane numbers with "Nobody Else" being as close to a ballad as Rooster were ever likely to get. Then "Gershatzer" brings us to a rousing conclusion.

"Death Walks Behind You" reached the top twenty in England, putting the Rooster alongside Black Sabbath and the Rolling Stones. Peter French was then recruited as vocalist for the next album, "In The Hearing Of", which also charted "Tomorrow Night" peeking at no 11 and follow up single "Devils Answer", charging past that to reach no 4. The table seemed laid for world domination, but no in true Strange Fruit style, they even managed to bodge it up from there. Within twelve months of recording this classic, French, Ducann, and Hammond left claiming Crane's impossibly high standards as impossible to live up to. In the eighties Crane was quoted as "I always demand a band that's got a pretty A-plus standard every night". Crane recruited new guys and carried on, but the magic was gone. They reformed in the mid eighties, but the timing was wrong and they ended up being little more than a nostalgia act with Ducann and Crane being the only stable part of the lineup.

Tragically Vincent Crane, who had always suffered from bouts of manic depression, took his own life on Valentine's Day in 1989. A sad story of "If Only"...

But when the Roosters strutted their stuff, they were magnificent. Enjoy a bit of Atomic energy, but leave the Kittens alone.
Mott The Dog.

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various recordings from the 60's and 70's.

Vincent Cranes greatest contribution to the 2nd Rooster is that there even was a follow-up to the amazing self-titled debut. With Carl Palmer going to Emerson, Lake, & Palmer and Nick Graham heading toward the improvisational outfit "Skin Alley" it seemed a musical death walked behind. Cranes genius should increase a few more points for the replacements. Paul Hammond (First recording session was with Rooster) may not be Palmer but his drumming is tremendous in a demanding album both mentally and physically. John Du Cann from Andromeda (Psychedelic) came aboard as well. Cann walked through the door as a guitar player and singer. Another musician didn't replace Graham's bass. Vincent Crane used the Ray Manzarek (The Doors) idea to cover the bass from the keyboards.

"Death Walks Behind You" The Title track (Fitting as the opener) with the power, conviction, and total gloom is a monsoon. Seeking and destroying everything in its path. A shock to the mind and senses. It is one of the finest tunes from the era and the record was first getting started!

"Vug" already showed the musical diversity. More to the progressive rock sound with all instrumentation, it doesn't need lyrics to engross you every second.

"Tomorrow Night" became the most remembered tune on the album. Catchy, clever, but not common in its construction. There are the Rooster intangibles throughout.

"Seven Streets" brings us back to the darkness. The band keeps us in search for the light. The energy and aggression is an example of why many metal fans of early Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult proudly display this masterpiece in their collections.

"Sleeping For Years" continues the onslaught. The speakers grab you by the throat. The reason Rooster gained such respect (Especially in Europe) they didn't rely on the cliché riffs and simple power chords. There were more complex structures to their compositions.

"I Can't Take It No More" (A John Du Cann penned tune) brings down the altitude only a bit. The words and the music blend as one. Crane stays more in the background, allows the guitar, and drums to be the focal points.

"Nobody Else" Turnabout is fair play. The piano of Crane dominates the spotlight or so we are lead to believe. The first half of the song is Crane solo but then the troops are brought in and it is a full throttle takeover. The pain is evident and we feel it "My whole world has gone away." The most overlooked of the eight original tracks. Give this a couple of listenings to fully appreciate the pain.

"Gershatzer" can be summed up in five words THEY GET RIGHT TO IT. Another instrumental (With a drum-solo to boot) of explosive passion.

Can a five star recording get better? If you get the bonus tracks it does! "The Devil's Answer demo has Carl Palmer and the BBC material will further the destruction (In a good way).

One of the best recordings of its time. The fidelity is fine!

Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

It must be at least 26 years since I last heard this album. I'm sure that the LP I borrowed changed hands several times at the boarding school I attended. Bruce Dickinson, eventually of Iron Maiden, was also there, and this was one of the few LPs in his collection, which also contained Van Der Graaf's PAWN HEARTS, Black Sabbath's first album, Wild Turkey (I can't remember the title) and Deep Purple's MADE IN JAPAN. I was therefore pleased to read in Chris Welch's excellent sleevenotes that this album clearly had some influence over the likes of Iron Maiden.

So on the evidence of this album, how does AR compare to ELP? The drumming sounds as good as Carl Palmer's (who was also previously a member of AR), John DuCann's guitar is more aggressive than Carl Palmer's, and Crane's organ work, although less classically trained, matches Emerson's. I assume that the dark themes of this album were suggested by the satanic success of the first Black Sabbath LP.

All in all, it's excellent to hear this record again, which has been well remastered and repackaged. Some time in the past 8-12 years I woke up one night with a tune on my mind that I couldn't place. Now I realise it was 'Nobody Else' from this album. That's one fewer thing to nag at me!

BUY THE DAMN ALBUM!!! Without doubt the best rooster album. B3..Les Paul\Strat' and Ludwig cranked to the max. This was a turning point in my teenage years to first hear these guys...the kind of album you were desperate to turn your buddies onto.These guys define heavy..talk about riffs!!!!! Sad to say that Vincent Crane (keyboards) passed away St' Valentines day 89..his wife has an excellent web site...go look for it (Atomic Rooster)...buy the .... album!!