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CRACK THE SKY

Heavy Prog • United States


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Crack The Sky biography
Founded in Weirton WV, USA in 1975 - Hiatus 1978-1980, 1983-1986 and 1990-1996 - Still active as of 2019

The band CRACK THE SKY started in the Ohio River valley (the members are originally from the Pittsburgh, PA area; John came from West Virginia to Pittsburgh). Originally named ARCANGEL, they became Crack the Sky when they signed with Lifesong records.

They broke first in Pittsburgh, and eventually "emigrated" to and were "adopted" by the Baltimore, MD area. They recorded albums and played live shows with various personnel changes from the mid '70's until the late '80's. They played an original mix of quirky rock and roll with many time changes and switch-ups mixed in with a few Beatles-esque touches. Originally fronted by John Palumbo, the group's initial lineup also included Jim Griffiths (guitar), Rick Witkowski (guitar), Joe Macre (bass) and Joey D'Amico (drums). They were quasi-adopted by the Baltimore radio station, WIYY (98 Rock); this station above all others continued to play the classic hits from the band, and ended up sponsoring their reunion shows at Hammerjacks nightclub in 1986-1988.

Their first album "Crack The Sky", released in 1975, was declared album of the year by Rolling Stone magazine, and contained such "cult" hits as Ice, Hold On/Surf City and She's A Dancer. Unfortunately, it never got promoted very well, and failed to catch on with the public. This was followed by their second in 1976, "Animal Notes", which contained such songs as Rangers At Midnight and Maybe I Can Fool Everybody (Tonight), was more quirky and less accessible than the first album, but good, nonetheless. Unfortunately it fared as well or worse than thier first album.

John Palumbo left the band in 1978 during the writing of their third album, "Safety In Numbers", which resulted in songs on the first half of the album having words & lyrics by John, but the second half having words & lyrics by assorted (remaining) band members. John's leaving was "due clearly to a divergence in artistic direction." While many thought that losing John would damage the band, they were able to put together a good third album, followed by a tour which received rave reviews and produced their fourth, live album in 1978, "Live Sky". ("This band has come all the way down from an acid trip just to play for you...") This is an excellent example of the band live, with replacement vocalist Gary Lee Chappell, and credits (for the first time) Vince DePaul on keyboa...
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CRACK THE SKY discography


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CRACK THE SKY top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.89 | 91 ratings
Crack the Sky
1975
3.55 | 61 ratings
Animal Notes
1976
3.69 | 66 ratings
Safety In Numbers
1978
2.24 | 33 ratings
White Music
1980
2.40 | 24 ratings
Photoflamingo
1981
2.07 | 14 ratings
World In Motion 1
1983
1.72 | 22 ratings
Raw
1987
3.42 | 26 ratings
From The Greenhouse
1989
2.46 | 18 ratings
Dog City
1989
3.00 | 19 ratings
Cut
1998
3.45 | 20 ratings
Ghost
2001
3.09 | 14 ratings
Dogs From Japan
2003
3.73 | 28 ratings
The Sale
2007
4.13 | 16 ratings
Safety In Numbers - 21st Century Redux
2007
3.48 | 20 ratings
Machine
2010
3.22 | 27 ratings
Ostrich
2012
3.57 | 7 ratings
The Beauty of Nothing
2015
2.33 | 20 ratings
Living In Reverse
2018
3.41 | 22 ratings
Tribes
2021
3.60 | 5 ratings
From the Wood
2023

CRACK THE SKY Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.07 | 10 ratings
WBAB-FM Radio Broadcast
1976
4.10 | 13 ratings
Live Sky
1978
3.67 | 3 ratings
The End
1983
4.04 | 7 ratings
Live - Recher Theater
1999
4.00 | 7 ratings
Alive and Kickin' Ass
2006
5.00 | 2 ratings
Ice
2015

CRACK THE SKY Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

4.92 | 3 ratings
All Access
2009

CRACK THE SKY Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.50 | 4 ratings
Classic
1980
4.25 | 4 ratings
Rare
1994
3.43 | 9 ratings
Crack Attic (The Best of Crack the Sky)
1997
3.33 | 3 ratings
Crackology
2018
4.00 | 1 ratings
Between the Cracks
2021

CRACK THE SKY Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

0.00 | 0 ratings
(We Don't Want Your Money) We Want Mine / Invaders From Mars
1976
0.00 | 0 ratings
A Night On The Town (With Snow White)
1978
3.05 | 2 ratings
Machine - The Demo
2011
0.00 | 0 ratings
Red Rosary
2016

CRACK THE SKY Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Animal Notes by CRACK THE SKY album cover Studio Album, 1976
3.55 | 61 ratings

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Animal Notes
Crack The Sky Heavy Prog

Review by Warthur
Prog Reviewer

4 stars The second Crack the Sky album finds them leaning a little harder on their art rock side and a touch less on their progressive rock aspects compared to their debut album. It's a fine distinction, I'll grant you, but put it this way: I can imagine them supporting Steely Dan, Bowie, or Peter Gabriel with this material more than I can imagine them supporting Genesis or Jethro Tull (though they could still fit well on a bill with Kansas). That said, they aren't completely un-proggy - Rangers At Midnight has a long duration and a somewhat more conventional song structure, and seems to be the designated prog-aligned track here, just as A Sea Epic was on their first album. Good, but precisely because it feels like a slightly less adventurous retread of their first album it doesn't quite hit the same highs as that original release.
 Crack the Sky by CRACK THE SKY album cover Studio Album, 1975
3.89 | 91 ratings

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Crack the Sky
Crack The Sky Heavy Prog

Review by Warthur
Prog Reviewer

5 stars I just don't get why the debut album by Crack the Sky wasn't a monster hit at the time. Sure, the US didn't seem to produce as many big prog groups during the era compared to the UK (or, for that matter, Italy and other hotbeds of the scene), but Kansas and Styx were gathering steam in 1975 and Crack the Sky feel like they should appeal to fans of either group whilst at the same time having enough personality of their own not to seem like bandwagon-hoppers.

In particular, the style on this album finds them straddling the worlds of prog and the harder-edged sort of art rock (with perhaps a touch of glam rock theatricality). There's just enough bite to the harder-edged tracks that if you squint you can almost imagine them as a proto-New Wave group - which by rights should have set them up well to face coming musical changes - whilst at the same time songs like A Sea Epic show their ability to go theatrical when they want.

With a fresh approach, an original sound, a dose of wit to their songwriting, and a clutch of listenable tunes, their self- titled album has an absolute ton going for it. (Modern ears may take issue with some lyrics, but I am reasonably confident they're meant to be a little uncomfortable for the purposes of the song in question.)

As it is, it sank like a stone, winning critical acclaim from major periodicals but failing to perform commercially because their record label, Lifesong, made an absolute mess of the promotion and distribution - for instance, they ended up becoming very big in Baltimore because Baltimore was one of the few cities where Lifesong actually shipped a decent number of copies. It's an injustice on the scale of the commercial faltering of Pavlov's Dog's debut album (the result of an even sillier bit of record company politics).

 Machine by CRACK THE SKY album cover Studio Album, 2010
3.48 | 20 ratings

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Machine
Crack The Sky Heavy Prog

Review by ZUrlocker

4 stars This is my favorite Crack The Sky album. It's clearly a concept-album, almost a rock opera. The themes of man vs his creation, machines taking over permeate the album. And perhaps more than any other CTS album there's a sonic consistency: low key acoustic guitars, dueling rock guitars, extended solos, grandly orchestrated songs. As others have pointed out, if you like the track "From the Greenhouse" or similar works from Pink Floyd, you'll be right at home. I think it's a terrific album. Notable tracks include the opener "Heaven," "Go Johnny," "Goodbye Mrs Nature," "Join Up" and closer "We're all Dead."
 White Music by CRACK THE SKY album cover Studio Album, 1980
2.24 | 33 ratings

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White Music
Crack The Sky Heavy Prog

Review by ZUrlocker

3 stars Respect to those who have rated this album with 1 star. If you're looking for the prog rock songs of the first couple of Crack the Sky albums, or the later material that sounds a lot like Pink Floyd, this is not that. This was a new incarnation of Crack The Sky where John Palumbo focused on writing short, edgy new wave rock songs. There is some good material on here, but it's very distinct from other stages of Crack The Sky. I think the songs Skin Deep and White Music are up there with some of the best material they've done. It's definitely worth a listen if you like early 80s rock.
 World In Motion 1 by CRACK THE SKY album cover Studio Album, 1983
2.07 | 14 ratings

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World In Motion 1
Crack The Sky Heavy Prog

Review by ZUrlocker

4 stars I discovered Crack the Sky only a few years ago. They are the best band no one has ever heard of! Yes, that sounds like a cliche, but they are a fascinating mix of prog rock, Beatles hooks, great rock. That said, their discography is all over the map. If you love the first 3 albums, you might hate the next four. This album is from the 80s and I like it quite a bit. It's not as prog as their early albums, but it's still great. During this period, Palumbo moved away from the more complex songs and focused on straight ahead rock and roll. There are a couple of songs that don't work for me, but overall, great 80s rock sound, similar to Cheap Trick, The Knack, The Cars and others. It's not as sophisticated as some of their later work (like Machine) but if you like the album White Music and want some short & sweet rocking new wave, this is a good follow up.
 Safety In Numbers by CRACK THE SKY album cover Studio Album, 1978
3.69 | 66 ratings

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Safety In Numbers
Crack The Sky Heavy Prog

Review by Phipz-97

4 stars Crack The Sky is a rather obscure rock band from Weirton, West Virginia who released their self titled debut record in 1975. Led by multiinstrumentalist and vocalist John Polumbo they achieved some success in the Baltimore area but went largely unnoticed anywhere else. Their style is a unique blend of the crunchy hard rock of the time with a progressive edge and witty, sometimes sexually charged lyrics. Backed by a fantastic rhythm section their first three albums are quintessential listens I think.

I first stumbled upon them when Rolling Stone magazine included the debut on their list of the 50 best progressive rock albums of all time. 'Safety In Numbers' is their third album and to this date the only one to be recorded without any direct involvement of band leader Polumbo, although he penned all of the songs on the first side. As far as I'm aware he left amicably during this time before returning for 1980s 'White Music' and he his thanked in the albums liner notes. Gary Lee Chappell took on the lead vocals for this one album while guitarist Rick Witkowski was largely responsible for the music on the second side. Under these circumstances it is remarkable that this album is as good as it is.

Album highlights include the opening track 'Nuclear Apathy' which starts out on acoustic guitar with sombre vocals before breaking out into a fierce prog rocker with a riff to die for. A lyrical highlight is 'Flashlight' again with a great lead guitar and some very busy drumming and bass playing it features the great repeating chorus with one of the best sexual innuendos in rock music.

"She showed him her x-rays he turned on his flashlight of love"

'Lighten Up McGraw' and 'Give Myself To You' are more standard rock tracks albeit with great riffs and melodies. Lyrically again very funny is 'A Night On The Town' depicting a poor fellow who is "high on romance" and takes his girl out on a rather.. inexpensive date. Closing track 'Safety In Numbers' (side fact, the first side closing prelude to this song is only available on the vinyl, since this album has not seen a standalone CD release yet) ends the album in a dramatic fashion with great interplay and a late mellotron appearance. The only track I'm not that keen on is the ballad 'Long Nights'.

~ first published at 'audio.philip' on Instagram ~

 Living In Reverse by CRACK THE SKY album cover Studio Album, 2018
2.33 | 20 ratings

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Living In Reverse
Crack The Sky Heavy Prog

Review by aapatsos
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

2 stars 2018 sees two releases from the rock veterans Crack the Sky, a new full album in ''Living in Reverse'' and a compilation named ''Crackology''. Looking at the line-up there is 50% of the original members in the list that produced the 70s albums who made the band's fame.

Unfortunately the music is nowhere near the standards enjoyed in the 70s and would probably be unfair to expect so. There are 12 mid-tempo compositions around the 4-minute mark best described as indifferent rock. Here we have mainly classic retro rock, mixed with funk (Hit) and a bit of dance (Jacket, Bang), alternative rock (Big Dipper, Talk Talk) with the occasional good riffing reminiscent of Blue Oyster Cult (Raining Rain). 'Raining Rain' along with the melodic closing 'Home Tonight' are probably the two songs worthy of mention. Sadly, the title tracks and accompanying lyrics sound extremely shallow, even for a 'traditional' rock album, leaving with little to take away. 'Red Rosary' has a Thin Lizzy ballad feeling which may appeal to vintage rock fans.

Best invest in the 70s releases of Crack the Sky, this may appeal only to fans. 1.5 stars.

 Safety In Numbers - 21st Century Redux by CRACK THE SKY album cover Studio Album, 2007
4.13 | 16 ratings

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Safety In Numbers - 21st Century Redux
Crack The Sky Heavy Prog

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Maybe I'm at a disadvantage here as this is the first time I've ever heard music by this band but I was left very much underwhelmed. The original "Safety In Numbers" was released some 30 years prior to this 2007 release but not with their original singer so he's back on vocals here as they removed his replacements singing plus they spruced it up I understand along the way. Three tracks here weren't on the original but were recorded during that time, just left off. I picked this up mainly because it seems most like this "redux" over the original. I maybe should have checked out their debut first but it having been named album of the year back then by Rolling Stone Magazine certainly doesn't make me run out and buy it.

The first two tracks had my attention and I was thinking I had something really good here. "Safety In Numbers" opens with strummed guitar before it turns fuller with clapping before settling back with vocals. A full sound on the chorus. A pretty good opener. "Lighten Up McGraw" is my favourite by far. I like the sound of the guitar in the intro as it starts and stops before kicking in. Nice. Vocals follow. I like the drums and bass as well. The best part is that instrumental section after 3 minutes as the guitar lights it up.

I'm not going to say much about the rest because I don't like to be insulting but "Nuclear Apathy" isn't bad at all but I found as the album played out I got less interested. The three tracks left off the original probably shouldn't have been added here although that's just my opinion. I am amused with "Jungle Man Lonely" though for some reason(haha). I was surprised how much the vocals and harmonies on "Flashlight(Of Love)" reminded me of SPOCK'S BEARD just not as good.

A low 3 stars as I'm just into commercial sounding music although there is one proggy track in my opinion. This just doesn't suit my poor tastes I guess.

 White Music by CRACK THE SKY album cover Studio Album, 1980
2.24 | 33 ratings

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White Music
Crack The Sky Heavy Prog

Review by drmalba

3 stars I'll start out by saying that I get the overall lack of enthusiasm for this platter, but I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with my fellow Crack Addicts on its place in the pantheon. Of course I can't lift this one to the lofty heights of any of its predecessors, but White Music's embrace of stark new wave and its totally eighties concerns with the state of pop radio, wasteful American consumption, and of course - the Russians, always fills me with some kind of weird cold-war era spiked mixture of nostalgia and wistful admiration. White Music is less a CTS album proper, than a John Palumbo solo album employing two of his of his old CTS cohorts, suitably paranoid synth-ster Vince DePaul and the stinging guitar of Rick Witkowski, who also produces here. Another thing White Music has going for it, is that its got several of Palumbo's best pure rock songs - sly opener "Poptown," the sinister, pulsing hard rock and nasty social commentary of "White Music," and desperate ballad "Hot Razors In My Heart" which eschews Palumbo's normal world-weary cynicism and just goes for a pure radio single - and scores well enough to get maybe the last significant bit of national radio play CTS ever got. As a whole, White Music is definitely a bit front-loaded, and stops being effortless right around the blatant, somewhat tasteless jealous cuckoldry of "Suspicion", maybe finally getting too clever by half with hamfisted "The Techni Generation," and ending in delusions of MOR grandeur in "Songs of Soviet Sons," presaging Sting's ponderous synth-orchestrated Russo-pretension by a good five years. Flaws duly noted, as a piece I think it is fair to say the album has more depth of arrangement and ambition than any of the CTS records that followed up until 2002's Ghosts. A serviceable soundtrack to Palumbo's still-sharp pen, it deserves a little more respect, even if it certainly isn't prog, more like a stripped-down version of the hard rock aspects of the seventies lineup. Maybe in retrospect it also encapsulates and presages the bad habits of the long lost decade to follow, a decade that would finally bury CTS in the bargain bins of the rock kingdom for good (outside of Dundalk, that is).
 Raw by CRACK THE SKY album cover Studio Album, 1987
1.72 | 22 ratings

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Raw
Crack The Sky Heavy Prog

Review by drmalba

1 stars Raw, much like the rest of the 80's CTS albums - Photoflamingo, World In Motion I, and From The Greenhouse, is frequently marred by substandard songwriting, dated, overly artificial 80's production cliches in addition to often indifferent John Palumbo vocal performances. Where Raw differs even from those flawed albums is that there is not a single redeeming song present here. World In Motion I had the ferocious rocker "Breakdown", the ever-so-slightly underrated Photoflamingo had a few gems like "Only Lonely" and the eerie "The Other Guy," and From the Greenhouse held a serviceable refraction of post-Roger Waters Pink Floyd. Raw instead offers unintentional hilarity, like "Elvis is My Daddy" - the most ham-fisted attempt at social satire to be excreted from Palumbo's lackadaisical pen. Or the simpering "Song For Another Year", which is conceptually from the same place as Billy Joel's "Piano Man" or CTS's own, far superior "We Want Mine" - but will definitely not make you forget either. An album so bland it isn't even adored by their cadre of Baltimorons, this is very generic-sounding mid 80s hard rock trying to be lyrically clever and failing miserably. It's hard to even recommend this album to CTS completists who have made it through World In Motion I. Both time and Palumbo himself have publicly forsaken this album, and so should you.
Thanks to TheProgtologist for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

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