Crack The Sky

Crack The Sky - From The Greenhouse - 1989 - Grudge

From the Greenhouse, the eighth "proper" Crack the Sky album, expands on the "John Palumbo and a guy to play the guitar solos" format of their previous album (Raw, 1986) with the return of keyboardist Vince DePaul. Also returning to the CTS fold are founding members Rick Witkowski (lead guitar) and drummer Joe D'Amico (relegated to just singing back-up vocals). This album is a must-have for any fan of aggressive, prog rock. The album has late 80's synth. sound in places, but it's still a great album from this very underrated band. Crack The Sky could have been a huge, but in the music business you're only as good as your last album. Although the band have reformed at various intervals since 1975, arguably, they never bettered their classic mid seventies s/t release which received Rolling Stone magazine's 'album of the year' award, or their 1976 "Animal Notes" album. CTS's "Live Sky" album can be found @ CRACKTHESKY/LIVESKY

TRACKS

A1 From The Greenhouse 5:40
A2 Under Red Skies 3:26
A3 Big Money 5:43
A4 The Frozen Rain 5:51

B1 Monkeyboy 3:48
B2 All The Things We Do 5:00
B3 Lost In America 4:28
B4 Can I Play For You (Ian's Song) 8:17

All songs composed by John Palumbo

BAND

Guitar [Lead] - Rick Witkowski
Voice, Guitar, Bass, Drums - John Palumbo
Keyboards - Vince DePaul
Guitar Solo - Dave Carrero on "Lost In America" [Guest]
Brass - Louis Roscar , Otis Demteen [Guests]
Lyricon [Solos], Brass - Paul Soroka [Guest]
Backing Vocals - Joe D'Amico, Marvin Brown, Terry Brown [Guests]

SHORT BIO

Progressive rock group Crack the Sky was formed in the Ohio River Valley region (Steubenville, OH) in 1975 by frontman John Palumbo, guitarists Jim Griffiths and Rick Witkowski, bassist Joe Macre, and drummer Joey D'Amico. According to the website at www.crackthesky.com, the band was originally dubbed ArcAngel, building a loyal following on the Cleveland and Baltimore club circuits before signing to the Lifesong label to issue their self-titled debut LP, which earned critical acclaim for Palumbo's acerbic lyrics and the songs' complex structures and time changes. Commercial reward was minimal, however, and after completing Crack the Sky's second LP, 1976's Animal Notes, Palumbo exited to pursue a solo career. D'Amico assumed lead vocal duties on 1978's Safety in Numbers, with singer Gary Lee Chappell featured on the Live Sky release. Crack the Sky then disbanded, but in 1980 Palumbo, Witkowski, and keyboardist Vince DePaul briefly reformed the group to record the White Music album before again dissolving. Palumbo then formed another new lineup for a series of albums including Photoflamingo, World in Motion I, and Raw before reuniting with Witkowski, D'Amico, and DePaul for a series of 1986 live dates at the Baltimore club Hammerjacks and eventually a new 1989 studio LP, From the Greenhouse. Dog City followed in 1990, and Crack the Sky infrequently reunited throughout the decade to come. © Jason Ankeny © 2010 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0ifuxqw5ldte~T1