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BGO Records www.bgo-records.com [Release date 06.10.23]
The reconfigured Atomic Rooster have been a staple of many prog and classic rock festivals since 2016 when they received Vincent Crane widow’s blessing. Carrying the band’s flame are sometime members vocalist Pete French and guitarist Steve Bolton, the latter featured on the first of these two remasters. Steve is also quoted extensively in the liner note.
Made In England (1972) followed their ascendancy in 1971 (when they had a couple of hit singles) but marked a change in direction with a definite jazz rock feel. Chris Farlowe replaced French on vocals (French appeared on the album ‘In Hearing Of Atomic Rooster’) and was best known for his sixties hit ‘Out Of Time’ and stint in jazz rockers Colosseum.
Farlowe’s vocal style fitted in well with band mainman Vincent Crane’s vision, evidently influenced by American funk-soul. The addition of brass to tracks ‘Time Take My Life’ and ‘Stand By Me’ also suggests contemporary bands like Ides Of March and even Sly & The Family Stone.
The band’s musicality is ably demonstrated on the outstanding instrumental ‘Breathless’. Bolton’s writing contributions are actually the weakest, although it’s Crane who takes the lion’s share with drummer Ric Parnell penning a couple of songs. Overall, and even factoring in the changing style, the album is a little inconsistent.
The funk/R&B vibe continued on 1973′s Nice ‘N’ Greasy but without Bolton. He was replaced by John Goodsall (who appears on the album as Johnny Mandela) who later worked with Phil Collins in Brand X. (The album ‘Marscape’ is also worth checking out).
Goodsall/Mandela lends his talents notably to the opener ‘All Across The Country’ and the seven minute somewhat rambling ‘Voodoo In You’ whilst ‘Save Me’ recalls the band’s earlier single ‘Friday The 13th’ complete with horn section. There’s another standout instrumental ‘Ear In The Snow’.
Both ‘Goodbye Planet Earth’ and ‘Take One Toke’ are essentially jam tracks that don’t really maximise Farlowe’s presence with the former in particular merely repeating the mantra “keep your nose on the tracks”. This contrasts with the big ballad and one time single ‘Can’t Find A Reason’ which is enhanced by a string arrangement.
The bonus tracks – ‘What You Gonna Do’ and piano-led instrumental ‘Moods’ were actually included on the original U.S. album release whilst ‘Satan’s Wheel’ (excluded on the U.S. version) is like a variant of ‘Save Me’.
No doubt Dawn Records (a subsidiary of Pye) were as confused by the band’s approach as some of the fans. After the release of these two albums and without wider commercial success the band were dropped by the label. By 1974 only Crane remained in the line-up. In spite of a revival in 1980, the band had already witnessed their heyday a decade earlier.
Several compilation albums came out on Angel Air in the early 2000s under the guidance of one-time guitarist John DuCann but using dubious source material. The label also released the 1980 reunion album in 2005. In spite of a four album plus bonuses package released in 2017 (by Esoteric) there’s an argument that the time is now ripe – over fifty years on – for a definitive box set of the band’s work including live and radio sessions. ***1/2
Review by David Randall
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