In Hearing of Atomic Rooster

In Hearing of
Studio album by Atomic Rooster
Released	August 1971
Recorded	Summer 1971
Genre	Progressive rock hard rock
Label	Pegasus (original UK release) Elektra (original USA release) Philips (original European release) Repertoire (1990 & 1995 German CD reissues)
Producer	Vincent Crane & Atomic Rooster
Atomic Rooster chronology
Death Walks Behind You (1970) In Hearing of (1971) Made in England (1972)

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In Hearing of is the third album by British rock band Atomic Rooster. Although not included on the album, the "Devil's Answer" single was released just prior to it, becoming the band's highest chart success at number 4 in the UK. This helped push the album to a number 18 UK chart placing, despite the fact that the four musicians pictured on the inside cover never played together. Half of the songs were written by Crane along with his first wife, Pat Darnell, who assisted with the lyrics. The backing tracks (and some vocals) were recorded by Vincent Crane, John Cann and Paul Hammond, but Cann and Hammond were let go from the group soon after vocalist Pete French was drafted in. The finished album's sound was dominated by Crane and Hammond, with many of Cann's guitar parts either not used or placed lower in the mix. However, Cann's guitar does still come through loud and clear on his compositions (tracks 2 and 6) and the instrumentals (tracks 4 and 7).

The album reached #45 in Canada.

Track listing

Original version

Side one

1. "Breakthrough" (Vincent Crane, Pat Darnell) 6:18
2. "Break the Ice" (John Cann) 4:59
3. "Decision/Indecision" (Crane, Darnell) 3:50
4. "A Spoonful of Bromide Helps the Pulse Rate Go Down" (Crane) 4:38

Side two

1. "Black Snake" (Crane, Darnell) 6:00
2. "Head in the Sky" (Cann) 5:38
3. "The Rock" (Crane) 4:31
4. "The Price" (Crane, Darnell) 5:16

Original U.S. Version

Side one

1. "Breakthrough"
2. "Break the Ice"
3. "Decision/Indecision"
4. "A Spoonful of Bromide Helps the Pulse Rate Go Down"
5. "Devil's Answer" - U.S. Version with Pete French Overdubbed Vocals

Side two

1. "Black Snake"
2. "Head in the Sky"
3. "The Rock"
4. "The Price"

1990 (and 1995 remastered Digipack) Repertoire Records CD reissue bonus track

9. "Devil's Answer" (Cann) 3.28 - original single version 1971

2004 Castle Music CD reissue bonus tracks

9. "Devil's Answer" (Cann) 3:28 - US version with overdubbed Pete French vocals 1971
10. "Breakthrough" 7:20 - Live in Concert 1972
11. "A Spoonful of Bromide Helps the Pulse Rate Go Down" 4:46 - Live in Concert 1972

2001 Akarma Records unlicensed CD reissue bonus tracks

9. "Devil's Answer" (Cann) 3.28 - original single version 1971
10. "Breakthrough" (Crane, Darnell) 6:10 - Live in Concert 1972
11. "Stand by Me" (Crane) 4:57 - as above
12. "People You Can't Trust" (Crane) 4:29 - as above
13. "All in Satan's Name" (Ric Parnell) 3:56 - as above
14. "Devil's Answer" (Cann) 5:39 - as above

Personnel

Atomic Rooster

• Vincent Crane - Hammond organ, keyboard bass (all tracks), piano (1, 3, 4), vocals (5, 8)
• John Cann - guitars (all but 3)
• Pete French - vocals (1-3, 6, 8)
• Paul Hammond - drums, percussion (all tracks)

Personnel (North American Tour, 1971)

• Vincent Crane: Hammond organ, electric piano, keyboard bass
• Pete French: vocals
• Steve Bolton: guitar
• Ric Parnell: drums

References

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