First-ever compilation for this late 70's/ early 80's prog rock outfit, featuring tracks from all five albums they recorded for the Lifesong label: 'Crack The Sky' (1975), 'Animal Notes' (1976), 'Safety In Numbers' (1978),... more » 'White Music' (1980) and 'Photoflamingo' (1981). 16 tracks total, including 'Hold On', 'Surf City', 'She's A Dancer' and 'MindBaby'. 1997 Renaissance release.« less
First-ever compilation for this late 70's/ early 80's prog rock outfit, featuring tracks from all five albums they recorded for the Lifesong label: 'Crack The Sky' (1975), 'Animal Notes' (1976), 'Safety In Numbers' (1978), 'White Music' (1980) and 'Photoflamingo' (1981). 16 tracks total, including 'Hold On', 'Surf City', 'She's A Dancer' and 'MindBaby'. 1997 Renaissance release.
"It's good to see the Crack fans from around the country putting their comments here. I thought i was alone. I am fortunate enough to still live in Maryland and have seen Crack the Sky in concert over 20 times going back to 1978. For those of you not in the Baltimore area the first 4 albums can still be obtained on CD---right now they are only available through Record and Tape traders outlets in the Balt area--each cd contacts 2 albums. One has the first album and White Music-the other has Safty in Numbers and Animal Notes. There is also a live Cd release that has excerpts from a live radio broadcast on Wbab radio in Ny mixed with cuts from Live Sky--if you want any of these CD's --write be and I can pick them up for ya and send them to you. Nothin to hard for a Crack fan. Cya-Billy"
Hearing this band again, is a blast!
centr1@aol.com | 04/01/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I saw these guys at the Tower Theater in Philly in '77 or '78. . .even got taped on their live album when the band announced it was recording live with a very audible, "alllllright!" Crack The Sky came along at the same time as Angel, The Cars, Meatloaf and Bowie was starting his dark trilogy of Low and soon to be released Hero's and later Scarry Monsters. Crack the Sky has withstood the test of time and its music is as relative to the 90's, as it was in the late 70's, early 80's. The only drawback on this cd is that "Safety in Numbers" is not on it. I agree with all of the other fans. . .this is the greatest band that never got past regional status. They also put on a terrific show and sound great live."
The Best From The Best!
Ed Caramanico | Annapolis, MD USA | 08/17/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A nearly perfect, representative collection from the greatest unknown band ever. Beautifully showcases their songwriting, tightness, and musicianship. An excellent starting point to becoming a CTS fan, it's also a great cd to have if it's all you can find. If you like your music "balanced" this is for you - CTS writes listenable, catchy tunes that still features great technical musicianship. Their music is both intelligent and visceral. Their stuff is usually complicated with a lot of time skips and complex arrangements but still easy to listen to. They are also a tremendously powerful live band."
A Good Retrospective
Mr. Joe Haverty | Mount Holly, NC, USA | 05/01/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"A good selection for anyone familiar with the band or just starting out. I was surprised and glad to see so many "Crack Heads" reviewing this and their other albums. I was fortunate to see them live twice in Atlanta at The Great Southeast Music Hall in '76 and '78. Their first self titled album is still my personal favorite and I agree that a greatest hits album from this group is incomplete without "Robots for Ronnie". Buy this one and then check out their first album."
First 12 cuts are keepers...
Mr. Joe Haverty | 12/12/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Crack the Sky burst onto the music scene in the mid-seventies with two brilliant albums, the self-titled debut and the follow up Animal Notes. These recordings presented a creative, energetic and sophisticated prog-pop-rock band that skillfully complimented the quirky, yet brilliant, compositions of writer-singer John Palumbo. This compilation presents 5 cuts from the debut album and 4 cuts(not nearly enough) from Animal notes. All nine are brilliant. Strangely, there is nothing from their terrific live album. One would think that at least their cover of the Beatles' I Am the Walrus from the live disc would have made the compilation. Their third studio album, Safety in Numbers, was not of the same standard as the first two albums. Palumbo co-wrote most of the material but chose to abandon the band prior to recording them. It's still a strong effort and is represented on this compilation by 3 fine cuts. The following material from White Music and a Palumbo solo effort are rubbish and should have been left off entirely. In fact, this compilation would have been greatly improved had it focused entirely on the first three solo albums and the live disc as they ran out of steam after those four recordings. Still, the first 12 cuts make for extremely enjoyable listening. Highly recommended...Simon"