Atomic Rooster emerged from the ashes of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown when Vincent Crane and Carl Palmer regrouped to record the band’s 1970 debut. Nick Graham joined on bass, vocals and flute, though his tenure was brief, and replaced by John DuCann, whose guitar work and vocals helped define the band’s early identity. Carl Palmer’s departure, and Paul Hammond’s arrival, marked the beginning of a long sequence of personnel changes. Yet these shifts never diluted the music’s character. If anything, each line-up injected fresh energy, a point vividly illustrated across this release. Atomic Rooster were among the foremost practitioners of organ‑driven progressive rock in the early Seventies, though often overshadowed by larger names in the field. Their catalogue remains, in many respects, underrated.
This box set from Cherry Red Records brings together of the band’s BBC sessions over an eleven year span. Presented as a two disc collection in a gatefold sleeve, it includes a sixteen‑page booklet packed with recording details, broadcast dates and photographs. As might be expected being sourced from the BBC archives the broadcast tapes provide a solid foundation for Ben Wiseman’s 24‑bit digital remastering at Broadlake Studios, Hertfordshire. His work brings clarity and vitality to the material, resulting in consistently strong sound quality.
The BBC broadcasts represented here are drawn from the Johnny Walker sessions, the Friday Rock Show, Mike Harding sessions and In concert recordings. Four previously unreleased tracks appear from the legendary John Peel Sunday Concerts of 1971, a session many fans regard as the classic Atomic Rooster line-up at full strength. Another unreleased track, a powerful version of Death Walks Behind You, comes from a 1981 Friday Rock Show session.
CD 1 opens with two tracks from the 1970 Mike Harding session, recorded before Carl Palmer’s departure. Listening you can hear what a drumming force he was and it’s hard not to feel it was a loss that he didn’t remain longer, given how impressively the trio gelled. His successors, however, brought their own distinct approaches, each fitting naturally into the band’s evolving sound. A second Mike Harding session from 1971 follows, with Paul Hammond behind the kit, delivering a fierce Death Walks Behind You and a great rendition of the single Tomorrow Night.
The period featuring vocalist Chris Farlowe is well represented, with at least three sessions included, noteworthy with his introduction there’s a distinctly soulful, even funky shift, to accommodate his more strident delivery. Jazz fusion guitarist John Goodsall (recording under the pseudonym Johnny Mandala) and later a key member of Brand X appears on two of the tracks. Also notable that the 1981 recordings feature bassist Shug Millidge, which marked a departure from earlier sessions where Vincent Crane handled the bass duties via foot pedals.
As a complete anthology of Atomic Rooster’s BBC appearances, this set is both comprehensive and revealing. It showcases a band committed to delivering tight, powerful performances across all of their evolving line ups. With excellent sound quality and thoughtful presentation, it stands as another strong archival release from Cherry Red which would deserve a place in any Rooster fans collection, and an ideal entry point for newcomers exploring the Rooster’s legacy.
TRACK LISTING
DISC ONE: The Radio 1 Sessions 1970-1981
– Mike Harding session May 1970
01. Friday The 13th (4:10)
02. Seven Lonely Streets (5:48)
– Mike Harding session May 1971
03. Before Tomorrow (6:07)
04. Death Walks Behind You (5:39)
05. Tomorrow Night (5:03)
– Johnny Walker session June 1972
06. Stand By Me (3:09)
07. Breakthrough (2:54)
08. Save Me (3:25)
09. Close Your Eyes (2:40)
– Friday Rock Show session November 1981
10. In The Shadows (9:09)
11. Death Walks Behind You* (5:54)
12. Play It Again (3:40)
13. Devil’s Answer (3:44)
Time – 61:15
DISC TWO: Atomic Rooster BBC Radio 1 In Concert 1971 & 1972
– John Peel Sunday Concert Jan 71
01. Sleeping For Years* (6:15)
02. V.U.G.* (5:58)
03. Tomorrow Night* (5:46)
04. Friday The 13th* (6:56)
– BBC Radio 1 In Concert July 72
05. Breakthrough (8:04)
06. Stand By Me (5:42)
07. People You Can’t Trust (4:57)
08. A Spoonful Of Bromide (Helps The Pulse Rate Go Down) (5:27)
09. All In Satan’s Name (4:39)
10. Devil’s Answer (7:10)
* Previously Unreleased
Time – 61:00
Total Time 122:15
MUSICIANS
DISC ONE:
Vincent Crane – Organ (1-13), Piano (3-8)
John DuCann – Guitar, Vocals (1-4 & 10-13)
Carl Palmer – Drums (1 & 2)
Paul Hammond – Drums (3,4 & 10-13)
Ric Parnell – Drums (5-9)
Steve Bolton – Guitar (5-7)
Chris Farlowe – Vocals (5-9)
John Goodsall – Guitar (8 & 9)
Tony ‘Shug’ Millidge – Bass (10-13)
DISC TWO:
Vincent Crane – Organ (1-10), Piano (1-4), Electric Piano (5-10)
John DuCann – Guitar, Vocals (1-4)
Paul Hammond – Drums (1-4)
Ric Parnell – Drums (5-10)
Steve Bolton – Guitar (5-10)
Chris Farlowe – Vocals (5-10)
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Cherry Red Records
Country of Origin: UK
Date of Release: 28th August 2026
LINKS
Atomic Rooster – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp (Cherry Red Records) | Release info at Cherry Red Records | Instagram
