In Hearing of Atomic Rooster


In Hearing of is the third album by British rock band Atomic Rooster. Although not included on the album, the "Devil's Answer" single was released just prior to it, becoming the band's highest chart success at number 4 in the UK. This helped push the album to a number 18 UK chart placing, despite the fact that the four musicians pictured on the inside cover never played together. Half of the songs were written by Crane along with his first wife, Pat Darnell, who assisted with the lyrics. The backing tracks were recorded by Vincent Crane, John Cann and Paul Hammond, but Cann and Hammond were let go from the group soon after vocalist Pete French was drafted in. The finished album's sound was dominated by Crane and Hammond, with many of Cann's guitar parts either not used or placed lower in the mix. However, Cann's guitar does still come through loud and clear on his compositions and the instrumentals.

Track listing

Original version

Side one
  1. "Breakthrough" 6:18
  2. "Break the Ice" 4:59
  3. "Decision/Indecision" 3:50
  4. "A Spoonful of Bromide Helps the Pulse Rate Go Down" 4:38
Side two
  1. "Black Snake" 6:00
  2. "Head in the Sky" 5:38
  3. "The Rock" 4:31
  4. "The Price" 5:16

    Original U.S. Version

Side one
  1. "Breakthrough"
  2. "Break the Ice"
  3. "Decision/Indecision"
  4. "A Spoonful of Bromide Helps the Pulse Rate Go Down"
  5. "Devil's Answer" - U.S. Version with Pete French Overdubbed Vocals
Side two
  1. "Black Snake"
  2. "Head in the Sky"
  3. "The Rock"
  4. "The Price"

    1990 (and 1995 remastered">Remaster">remastered [Digipack]) [Repertoire Records] CD reissue bonus track

  6. "Devil's Answer" 3.28 - original single version 1971

    2004 Castle Music">Castle Communications">Castle Music CD reissue bonus tracks

  8. "Devil's Answer" 3:28 - US version with overdubbed Pete French vocals 1971
  9. "Breakthrough" 7:20 - Live in Concert 1972
  10. "A Spoonful of Bromide Helps the Pulse Rate Go Down" 4:46 - Live in Concert 1972

    2001 Akarma Records unlicensed CD reissue bonus tracks

  12. "Devil's Answer" 3.28 - original single version 1971
  13. "Breakthrough" 6:10 - Live in Concert 1972
  14. "Stand by Me" 4:57 - as above
  15. "People You Can't Trust" 4:29 - as above
  16. "All in Satan's Name" 3:56 - as above
  17. "Devil's Answer" 5:39 - as above

    Personnel (original album)