Death Walks Behind You

Death Walks Behind You
Studio album by Atomic Rooster
Released	September 1970
Recorded	August 1970
Genre	Progressive rock hard rock proto-metal [1]
Length	45:27
Label	B&C (original UK release) Elektra (original USA release) Philips (original German release) Repertoire (1990 & 2000 German reissues) Akarma (2006 Italian reissue)
Producer	Atomic Rooster
Atomic Rooster chronology
Atomic Roooster (1970) Death Walks Behind You (1970) In Hearing of Atomic Rooster (1971)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
The Rolling Stone Record Guide	[3]

Death Walks Behind You is the second studio album by British rock band Atomic Rooster, released in September 1970. ^[2] It was their first album to receive a US release, albeit in a different sleeve. It is commonly thought of as the archetypal Atomic Rooster album, recorded by the 'classic' line-up of Vincent Crane, John Du Cann and Paul Hammond. Certainly it is their most successful album, critically and commercially, and often hailed as a classic of the progressive rock genre. It produced the hit single "Tomorrow Night" (UK No. 11), which became one of the band's best-known songs. The album cover features the William Blake monotype Nebuchadnezzar . Band photos were taken at Churchfield Road Cemetery, Acton W3, by former actor-turned photographer Richard Lyon.

Reception

In a retrospective review of 2011, Raffaella Berry wrote, "Though not exactly flawless, Death Walks Behind You is an impressive offering that is almost a must-listen for Hammond fans and anyone who likes their prog with a harder edge (though not necessarily metal). A fascinating, almost addictive album by an underrated band, whose long but chequered career ended tragically with Vincent Crane's death in 1989." ^[4]

Track listing

Side 1

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Death Walks Behind You"	John Du Cann, Vincent Crane	7:28
2.	"Vug"	Crane	4:57
3.	"Tomorrow Night"	Crane	3:56
4.	"7 Streets (also called "Seven Lonely Streets")"	Du Cann	6:40

Side 2

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
5.	"Sleeping for Years"	Du Cann	5:24
6.	"I Can't Take No More"	Du Cann	3:32
7.	"Nobody Else"	Crane, Du Cann	4:58
8.	"Gershatzer"	Crane	7:58
Total length:			45:27

2004 Castle Music CD reissue bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Notes	Length
9.	"Play the Game"	Du Cann	Tomorrow Night B-side 1971	4:42
10.	"The Devil's Answer"	Du Cann	Demo with Carl Palmer 1970	3:59
11.	"Tomorrow Night"	Crane	BBC Radio Session 1971	5:28
12.	"Shabooloo aka Before Tomorrow"	Crane, Du Cann	BBC Radio Session 1971	6:05
13.	"Death Walks Behind You""	Crane, Du Cann	BBC Radio Session 1971	6:06
14.	"Devil's Answer"	Du Cann	original single version 1971	3:26
Total length:				–

2006 Akarma Records unlicensed CD reissue bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Notes	Length
15.	"Tomorrow Night"	Crane	BBC Radio Session 1971	5:27
16.	"Shabooloo"	Crane, Du Cann	BBC Radio Session 1971	6:10
17.	"Death Walks Behind You"	Crane, Du Cann	BBC Radio Session 1971	6:04
18.	"The Rock"	Crane	In Hearing of Atomic Rooster album track	4:32
Total length:				–

Personnel

Atomic Rooster ^[5]

• John Du Cann – guitars, lead vocals
• Vincent Crane – Hammond organ, piano, keyboard bass, backing vocals
• Paul Hammond – drums, percussion

Charts

Chart (1971)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [6]	13
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [7]	44
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [8]	40
UK Albums (OCC) [9]	12
US Billboard 200 [10]	90

References

1. Sleazegrinderpublished (19 August 2021). "10 proto-metal albums you should definitely own". louder. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
2. "Atomic Rooster – Death Walks Behind You: Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
3. The Rolling Stone Record Guide. Random House. 1979. pp. 14–15.
4. Berry, Raffaella (15 March 2011). "From the Vault: Atomic Rooster – Death Walks Behind You (1970)" . Retrieved 24 April 2024.
5. "Death Walks Behind You – LP (B&C Records CAS-1026) liner notes". Discogs . September 1970. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
7. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 7555". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
8. "Offiziellecharts.de – Atomic Rooster – Death Walks Behind You" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
9. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
10. "Atomic Rooster Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2024.

• The New Musical Express Book of Rock, 1975, Star Books, ISBN   0-352-30074-4