A comprehensive career overview of the late Vincent Crane, for many years the leading light and inspiration behind Atomic Rooster, a band who it can be said never truly lived up to their undoubted potential. With thirty-odd tracks spread across two discs this serves as an ideal starting point for anyone dipping into the Rooster / Crane back catalogue with enough rarities and oddities included to satisfy even the most devoted fan.

It is across the first disc that Crane's eccentric genius can be best appreciated, this covers the years 1970-73 and encompasses the first five AR albums (two of which graced the UK Top 20). These early numbers are littered with Crane's manic hammond playing, notably on the likes of 'The Rock', 'Breathless' and 'Tomorrow Night' (which would be a hit single for the band and has a fade out which evokes the Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd). The blistering instrumental 'Gershatzer' is a top drawer prog-rock jam and stretches out to eight minutes with a heavy emphasis on Crane's organ work. Whist he was never the band's principal vocalist Crane does step up for the subtle, Doors-like, 'Black Snake'. Chris Farlowe was the vocalist for 1972's 'Made In England' and his soulful voice makes for one of the band's best moments, the rock / soul fusion of 'Close Your Eyes'.

Disc Two is less satisfying, although it does contain one real gem in the form of 'Fire' by the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, of which Crane was a member in the late 60's. Also included are a couple of songs from his time with Rory Gallagher and the latter-day Atomic Rooster period which saw the band ride along the NWOBHM wave by recruiting Bernie Torme for the album 'Headline News'. Whilst the songs here are competent enough they lack the style and substance of the bands early period. After finally calling time on AR Crane briefly hooked up with Peter Green for the blues-based Katmandu project. In the mid 80's he was in the studio with Dexy's Midnight Runners for an unlikely collaboration on their (post- 'Come on Eileen' period) album 'Don't Stand Me Down'. Bizarre as it may seem the album is in fact something of an overlooked classic and merits inclusion here.

Sadly Vincent Crane died in 1989 at just 45 years old after an overdose of painkillers following a long period battling manic depression but play this late at night with the lights off and appreciate one of our most underrated talents.

Let us know your views on Close Your Eyes

Track Listing

Disc 1 - Atomic Rooster 1970-1973
Breakthrough
The Rock
Decision / Indecision
Breathless (Edit)
Tomorrow Night
Gershatzer
Black Snake
Close Your Eyes
Banstead
Satan's Wheel
Nobody Else
Save Me
Can't Find A Reason
Don't Know What Went Wrong
Time Take My Life
Moods

Disc 2 - Sessions, Live & Rooster Reborn '65 - `86
My Baby
The Silver Meter (Live)
Fanfare/Fire Poem Brown
Fire
Rest Cure
Wave Myself Goodbye
I'm Not Surprised
Firefighter
Crazy `Bout My Baby
Taro Rota (Edit)
Taro Rota
Throw Your Life Away
He Did It Again
Taking A Chance
Land Of Freedom
Time
Crane's Train Boogie
Sweet Sixteen
One Of Those Things
Because Of You
Solar Myth/Extro Boogie (live '83)