Hard Stuff is essentially Atomic Rooster without Vincent Crane. Though without the latter, you don't have Atomic Rooster. In any case, that band was a power trio with an organ, guitar, drums lineup. Hard Stuff is a traditional guitar-bass-drums setup. Perhaps because there is no keyboards, Hard Stuff doesn't even bother with proggy nonsense. This is straight up hard rock, no chaser. Up there with the boneheaded best like May Blitz, Elias Hulk, Pinnacle, and the rest of them. Were any of these tracks on a private 45 release from the States, you could pretty much bet that it's $500 to get in the door, and a lot more at the tables.Ownership: 1972 Purple (LP). Gatefold. Interesting to note this album has never been issued here in the US. 6/1/24 (acquired / review)
Atomic Rooster was born out of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, and were one of the first bands to introduce the keyboard progressive rock trio. Of course The Nice were the progenitors, and the combo of both these bands ultimately formed Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. Perhaps you've heard of them. The lineup for Atomic Rooster's debut (title spelled with 3 O's) is two-thirds unique to this release, and adds some unique twists to their formula. There is no guitar for one, and there's the addition of flute for another. All the same, even sans guitar, this debut rocks hard. Plenty of great songwriting as well. One of the pioneers taking England from the psychedelic era to progressive rock, and ultimately worldwide. One can hear Atomic Rooster in some of the Italian prog bands that were to emerge only two years later, as but one example.
Ownership: 2017 Esoteric (4xCD) Box set entitled Sleeping for Years. Includes a full history, all five of their original incarnation albums, and copious bonus tracks. Includes three tracks rerecorded with John Du Cann's guitar (all excellent). Apparently this version was to be released in the US, but that never happened. Also included are two demo tracks for Death Walks Behind You, including one with Carl Palmer. And finally the A-side to their single, which was released after their second album. The B-side resides on disc 2.2003 (first acquired); 5/25/17; 8/27/23 (review)
A very interesting curveball from the music scene that was 1980 England. Atomic Rooster felt they belonged closer to the new metal and punk movements rather than the old dinosaur keyboard rock of Rainbow or ELP. So they went about releasing a very hard hitting rock album, with sneering vocals, guitars, and... Hammond Organ. What? The latter from band leader Vincent Crane is the x-factor here. A complete throwback to 1972 in an otherwise heroic attempt to be relevant. Which probably explains why Atomic Rooster could never get over the hump to the next level. As with White Spirit, they were no Judas Priest. In retrospect though, it's a very cool anomaly. Paved the way for the 90s renaissance of bands such as Death Organ or jazz rock revivalists Niacin. But those were made for niche markets, not the masses that Atomic Rooster were attempting to play to. And it does beg the question: Does this have the most Hammond of any rock album from the 80's? I'm thinking the answer is yes.Ownership: 1980 EMI Germany (LP)
7/14/23 (review)
Other albums I own and need to review: Death Walks Behind You; In Hearing Of; Made in England; Nice 'n' Greasy
7/14/23 (new entry)
7/14/23 (new entry)
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