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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.
| Death Walks Behind You | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 1970 | |||
| Recorded | August 1970 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| 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 | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
Reception edit
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."[3]
Track listing edit
| 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 |
| 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 | ||
| 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: | – | |||
| 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 edit
- Atomic Rooster[4]
Chart performance edit
The album reached No. 44 in Canada.[5]
References edit
- ^ Sleazegrinderpublished (19 August 2021). "10 proto-metal albums you should definitely own". louder. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Atomic Rooster – Death Walks Behind You: Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ Berry, Raffaella (15 March 2011). "From the Vault: Atomic Rooster – Death Walks Behind You (1970)". Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "Death Walks Behind You – LP (B&C Records CAS-1026) liner notes". Discogs. September 1970. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums – October 2, 1971" (PDF).
- The New Musical Express Book of Rock, 1975, Star Books, ISBN 0-352-30074-4