The Best of Atomic Rooster Volumes 1 & 2 | ||||
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Compilation album by | ||||
Released | 20 November 1992 | |||
Recorded | 1971–1982 | |||
Genre | Rock, Progressive rock | |||
Length | 101:18 | |||
Label | Blueprint | |||
Atomic Rooster chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic |
The Best of Atomic Rooster Volumes 1 & 2 is a double compilation album by British rock band Atomic Rooster.
It is unofficial and unlicensed; like numerous other such collections, it consists mostly of latter-era, John Du Cann-penned recordings. It was, however, made without any involvement from Du Cann, nor has he ever received any royalties from its sales.
It is particularly notable[ according to whom? ] for the fact that, besides being more representative of that era than similar compilations, it also contains a quantity of previously unissued recordings, of great interest to keen collectors of the band.
It has been issued on at least three separate occasions; the first time was in 1992 on Saraja Records, a subsidiary of Satellite Music Ltd. Satellite Music is owned by Ray Dorset, of Mungo Jerry fame.
As this is only a semi-official release, it could be considered a bootleg of sorts; indeed it has itself been bootlegged twice:
It was repackaged, retitled The Millennium Collection and re-released in 1999 by Digimode Entertainment Ltd. Secondly, in 2000 it was repackaged yet again, retitled simply Anthology and released on the Double Classics/Delta Music label.
Both latter versions used crude noise filtering to suppress the inherent ‘hissiness’ of the source material, but this had the added effect of making them sound duller and less distinct than the original CD issue.
John William Cann, later known by his stage name John Du Cann, was an English guitarist primarily known through his work in the 1970s band Atomic Rooster. His early bands included the Wiltshire-based The Sonics and London-based The Attack, which released "Hi Ho Silver Lining" a few days prior to Jeff Beck. He went on to lead a psychedelic, progressive, hard rock band called Andromeda, before being asked to join Atomic Rooster, featuring re-recorded guitar parts and vocals for their 1970 self-titled debut album, and the albums Death Walks Behind You (1970) and In Hearing of Atomic Rooster (1971). Cann wrote "Devil's Answer", Atomic Rooster's biggest hit, which reached No.4 in the UK singles charts in July 1971.
Atomic: The Very Best of Blondie is a compilation album of recordings by the band Blondie released by EMI/Chrysalis Records in the UK and the rest of Europe in late 1998, at the time when the band reunited and shortly before the beginning of Blondie's successful comeback tour.
Atomic Rooster is the sixth studio album by British rock band Atomic Rooster. It was recorded when the band regrouped after breaking up for five years, and they embarked on a raw style, which was in marked contrast to that of their past few albums. In addition, its heavier sound fit in better with the new wave of British heavy metal scene.
Death Walks Behind You is the second studio album by British rock band Atomic Rooster. It was their first album to receive 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. It is certainly, critically and commercially, their most successful album and often hailed as a classic of the progressive rock genre. It also produced the hit single "Tomorrow Night", which became one of the band's best-known songs. The album's cover features the William Blake monotype Nebuchadnezzar. Band photos were taken at Churchfield Road Cemetery, Acton W3, by former actor-turned photographer, Richard Lyon.
Made in England is the fourth album by British rock band Atomic Rooster. Although previously known for generally having a progressive rock style, this album saw the band moving in more of a funk/soul direction, largely influenced by new singer Chris Farlowe. Apart from founder member Vincent Crane, the album was recorded by an entirely different lineup to that of the band's prior effort, In Hearing of Atomic Rooster. Previous members John Du Cann and Paul Hammond had departed in protest at Crane's intended new musical direction.
Nice 'n' Greasy is the fifth studio album by British rock band Atomic Rooster.
Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1 is a compilation album of recordings by American R&B/funk singer Chaka Khan, first released on the Warner Bros. Records label in 1996. Although the compilation, which reached #22 on Billboard's R&B chart and #84 on Pop, was given the "Vol. 1" tag, it remains without a sequel to date.
Atomic Rooster are a British rock band, originally formed by members of the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, organist Vincent Crane and drummer Carl Palmer. Throughout their history, keyboardist Vincent Crane was the only constant member and wrote the majority of their material. Their history is defined by two periods: the early-mid-1970s and the early 1980s. The band went through radical style changes, but they are best known for the hard, progressive rock sound of their hit singles, "Tomorrow Night" and "Devil's Answer", both in 1971.
Assortment is Atomic Rooster’s first compilation album, issued by Charisma Records in 1973. It is composed of tracks from their first three studio albums.
The First 10 Explosive Years is a 1999 compilation album by British rock band Atomic Rooster. It is on the Angel Air record label and, like all their Atomic Rooster and related-artists releases, is derived from original tapes owned and remastered by John Du Cann.
The First 10 Explosive Years Volume 2 is a 2001 compilation album by British rock band Atomic Rooster.
Heavy Soul is a compilation album by Atomic Rooster, a British rock band.
Devil's Answer is a compilation album of live recordings by British rock band Atomic Rooster.
Homework is an album of previously unreleased demos by John Du Cann, with drum programming by Paul Hammond.
The Devil Hits Back is a compilation album by British rock band Atomic Rooster.
Rarities is a compilation album of rare and unreleased material by the British rock band Atomic Rooster.
Anthology 1969–81 is a 2009 compilation album by British rock band Atomic Rooster.
In Satan's Name: The Definitive Collection is a 1997 compilation album by British rock band Atomic Rooster. It was released on the Recall Records label.
Close Your Eyes: A Collection 1965–1986 is a career-spanning compilation of Vincent Crane recordings. He was the founder and only constant member of British progressive rock band Atomic Rooster. As well as having 21 of its 37 tracks culled from all of Atomic Rooster's studio albums, it includes several rare and previously unreleased cuts from various Vincent Crane solo and side projects. As with all previous Castle Communications/Sanctuary Records Atomic Rooster CDs, it was compiled by music journalist Colin Harper, who also supplied a detailed biography.
The World's Not Big Enough is the only solo album by John Du Cann, who was best known as guitarist and vocalist with Atomic Rooster and Hard Stuff in the 1970s. The album was recorded in 1977, but remained unreleased until 1992, and was remastered in 1999.