Crack the Sky
Encyclopedia
Crack the Sky is an American progressive rock
band formed in Weirton, West Virginia
in the early 1970s. In 1975, Rolling Stone Magazine declared their first album "debut album of the year", and in 1978, Rolling Stone Record Guide compared them to Steely Dan
; their first three albums charted on the Billboard 200. Despite this, they have had only meager success in the Baltimore
area due to several factors, but continue to release albums to a small, but devoted fan base to this day.
In 1975
, the band released their first album, the critically acclaimed eponymous Crack the Sky, which reached 161 on the Billboard chart. Although praised by The New York Times
and declared the "debut album of the year" by Rolling Stone Magazine, promotion and distribution problems with Lifesong Records prevented its widespread success. According to Terry Minogue, "Records were promised but never arrived at the distribution centers. The record would be on the radio but there would be no product on the store shelves or visa versa. When people wanted it, it would never be available." By what some termed blind luck, the marketing did work in Baltimore, only because a surplus of records were shipped there and put on display in stores when the album was receiving radio play. Subsequently, the album became very popular in Baltimore. Laidback Larry Allen, music director at WYDD
in Pittsburgh, professed love for the recording and played the debut album in heavy rotation, but no other place.
Animal Notes
, the band's second album, was intended originally as a rock opera about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
, but in production the concept was reduced to only one song, "Rangers at Midnight." Like the band's debut release, it too was critically acclaimed, reaching number 142 on the Billboard chart, performing better than their first album. This time, the high concept and lack of "radio singles", due to the band's disdain for commercial music, contributed to lack of sales. The song "We Want Mine" was a slam at Lifesong Records for royalty withholdings.
By this time, Crack the Sky had finished two cross-country tours and had opened for Styx
, Supertramp
, Rush
, Foreigner
, The Electric Light Orchestra, Yes
, ZZ Top
, Kansas
, Edgar Winter
, Frank Zappa
, and Boston
.
As a result of a breakdown in communications with the band's record label, and a divergence in creative approaches to the music, Palumbo left the band in 1977 to pursue a solo career. The remaining band members, with new vocalist Gary Lee Chappell and Pittsburgh keyboardist Vince DePaul, released Safety in Numbers in 1978. Safety in Numbers reached 126 on the Billboard chart, their highest charting album. Promoting the "Safety in Numbers" Crack the Sky opened for Heart
's 1978 Dog and Butterfly tour. Later that year, the band released an album on live concert performances, Live Sky
.
Due to ongoing contractual difficulties with Lifesong, combined with their song writer and front man no longer with them, members of Crack the Sky agreed they had no other choice but to disband. Following the band's dissolution, Classic Crack
, a greatest hits compilation, was released by Lifesong in 1980.
later that year. This record featured a number of the "singles-quality" songs that had earlier proved elusive to the band, including "All American Boy", "Skin Deep", "Techni Generation", and "Hot Razors in My Heart." "Techni Generation" saw small airplay in the Pittsburgh area during this time.
After the release of the album they put the band on hiatus, as Witkowski, Macre & D'Amico went back to the Pittsburgh area to work with the vocalist/songwriter Bill Taylor and formed the B.E. Taylor Group
. They released an independent 12" EP and eventually signed to MCA records for 2 full length LP's: "Innermission" and "Love Won The Fight". The group's catchy single release of "Vitamin L" (written by Witkowski and from "Love Won The Fight", found its way into Billboard's Top 100 charts and gained massive national airplay. This led to being signed to CBS Records; recording & releasing "Our World".
Palumbo reformed Crack The Sky once again in 1981 with DePaul, Carey Ziegler, Michael Taylor and John Tracey, and produced Photoflamingo
. This release, and subsequent efforts including World in Motion 1
and The End
, failed to garner the critical and public acclaim of the earlier releases, and the group disbanded again in 1983. A notable song from this era is "All Fly Away", about the fears of nuclear holocaust.
Palumbo released the studio album Raw
in 1986. Although the album has the signature Crack the Sky sound and feel to it, it featured no past members of the band besides Palumbo (guitarist Jamie LaRitz is the only other musician credited).
Palumbo reunited Crack the Sky with Witkowski, DePaul, Ziegler, and D'Amico for a series of live shows in 1986 at the Baltimore club Hammerjack's
. Between then and 1989 this band performed a number of shows in the Baltimore area, including Painters Mill Music Fair.
In 1988, Palumbo joined with Witkowski, DePaul and D'Amico to produce From the Greenhouse
, in many ways a return to the band's classic sound, with solid efforts including the title track and the song "Lost In America". The album peaked at 186 on the Billboard chart, and received a mixed review from People Magazine. During this time, this lineup performed occasionally in the Baltimore area with Ziegler joining on bass.
in 1990. The period between then and 1996 saw little activity except for the release of the compilation disc Rare! in 1994. During this time, Witkowski composed music for a number of game shows on the children's television network Nickelodeon, including Guts and Figure It Out.
Palumbo gathered the band together again in 1996 beginning a series of live shows at small venues in the Baltimore area. The band at this time featured the same lineup as 1993's The End, with the addition of Nat Kerr on keyboards. A new studio album, Cut
, was released in 1999, as well as a double disc release featuring one of the band's live shows at the Recher Theatre in Towson
, Maryland.
Crack the Sky continues to perform occasional live shows and collaborate on new music under Palumbo's guidance. The albums Ghost
and Dogs from Japan
were released to critical acclaim in 2001 and 2003, respectively, and the band continues to enjoy a devoted fan following. The band completed a new concept album in 2007, entitled The Sale
, which features the return of original bassist Joe Macre performing and producing the record. In 2008, Joey D'Amico and Joe Macre returned as Crack the Sky's drummer and bassist, respectively. In addition the band headlined the ROSfest progressive music fesival and later a full length DVD of their performance called "Crack The Sky, All Access" was produced and engineered by Macre. The DVD was shot on six hi def camaras in 5.1 surround sound and includes pictures and interviews with the band members. The band has released their latest studio album "Machine".
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band formed in Weirton, West Virginia
Weirton, West Virginia
Weirton is a city located in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, United States. Most of the city is in Hancock County, with the remainder in Brooke County. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 20,411...
in the early 1970s. In 1975, Rolling Stone Magazine declared their first album "debut album of the year", and in 1978, Rolling Stone Record Guide compared them to Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
; their first three albums charted on the Billboard 200. Despite this, they have had only meager success in the Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
area due to several factors, but continue to release albums to a small, but devoted fan base to this day.
1970s
Crack the Sky traces its roots to an early seventies band called ArcAngel, which featured John Palumbo, on vocals and Rick Witkowski on guitar. The two had auditioned for Terry Minogue, a nephew of Terry Cashman of CashWest Productions. Minogue convinced CashWest to give them a development deal so they could get a band together and record demos. Minogue later said, "They played some of the most beautiful music I ever heard in my life." ArcAngel, initially a 10 piece band, sized down to five core members. In addition to Palumbo and Witkowski, the first incarnation of Crack the Sky included drummer Joey D'Amico, bassist Joe Macre, and Jim Griffiths on guitar. During that time CashWest Productions started Lifesong Records, and Crack the Sky became the first band to release an album on that label.In 1975
1975 in music
-January–April:*January 2 - New York City U.S. District Court Judge Richard Owen rules that former Beatle John Lennon and his lawyers can have access to Department of Immigration files pertaining to his deportation case....
, the band released their first album, the critically acclaimed eponymous Crack the Sky, which reached 161 on the Billboard chart. Although praised by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and declared the "debut album of the year" by Rolling Stone Magazine, promotion and distribution problems with Lifesong Records prevented its widespread success. According to Terry Minogue, "Records were promised but never arrived at the distribution centers. The record would be on the radio but there would be no product on the store shelves or visa versa. When people wanted it, it would never be available." By what some termed blind luck, the marketing did work in Baltimore, only because a surplus of records were shipped there and put on display in stores when the album was receiving radio play. Subsequently, the album became very popular in Baltimore. Laidback Larry Allen, music director at WYDD
WPGB
WPGB is a conservative talk radio station based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, the station broadcasts at 104.7 MHz with an ERP of 13 kW...
in Pittsburgh, professed love for the recording and played the debut album in heavy rotation, but no other place.
Animal Notes
Animal Notes
-The band:*John Palumbo — Lead vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitar, harmonies*Rick Witkowski — Electric guitar, harmonies*Joe Macre — Bass guitar, harmonies*Jim Griffiths — Electric guitar, harmonies*Joey D'Amico — Drums, harmonies-Additional musicians:...
, the band's second album, was intended originally as a rock opera about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
, but in production the concept was reduced to only one song, "Rangers at Midnight." Like the band's debut release, it too was critically acclaimed, reaching number 142 on the Billboard chart, performing better than their first album. This time, the high concept and lack of "radio singles", due to the band's disdain for commercial music, contributed to lack of sales. The song "We Want Mine" was a slam at Lifesong Records for royalty withholdings.
By this time, Crack the Sky had finished two cross-country tours and had opened for Styx
Styx (band)
Styx is an American rock band that became famous for its albums from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Chicago band is known for melding the style of prog-rock with the power of hard rock guitar, strong ballads, and elements of American musical theater....
, Supertramp
Supertramp
Supertramp are a British rock band formed in 1969 under the name Daddy before renaming to Supertramp in early 1970. Though their music was initially categorised as progressive rock, they have since incorporated a combination of traditional rock and art rock into their music...
, Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
, Foreigner
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
, The Electric Light Orchestra, Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
, Kansas
Kansas (band)
Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
, Edgar Winter
Edgar Winter
Edgar Holland Winter is an American musician. He is famous for being a multi-instrumentalist. He is a highly skilled keyboardist, saxophonist and percussionist. He often plays an instrument while singing. He was most successful in the 1970s with his band, The Edgar Winter Group, notably with their...
, Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
, and Boston
Boston (band)
Boston is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists...
.
As a result of a breakdown in communications with the band's record label, and a divergence in creative approaches to the music, Palumbo left the band in 1977 to pursue a solo career. The remaining band members, with new vocalist Gary Lee Chappell and Pittsburgh keyboardist Vince DePaul, released Safety in Numbers in 1978. Safety in Numbers reached 126 on the Billboard chart, their highest charting album. Promoting the "Safety in Numbers" Crack the Sky opened for Heart
Heart (band)
Heart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music...
's 1978 Dog and Butterfly tour. Later that year, the band released an album on live concert performances, Live Sky
Live Sky
Live Sky is a live concert album by American rock band Crack the Sky, released on LP in 1978 by Lifesong Records . In 1988, four of these recordings were appended to the CD release of Live on WBAB...
.
Due to ongoing contractual difficulties with Lifesong, combined with their song writer and front man no longer with them, members of Crack the Sky agreed they had no other choice but to disband. Following the band's dissolution, Classic Crack
Classic Crack
Classic Crack is a compilation album by American rockband Crack the Sky, released in 1980.-Track listing:Note: the cassette version of this album includes two previously unreleased songs:#"Let Me Go Home " – 3:28...
, a greatest hits compilation, was released by Lifesong in 1980.
1980s
In 1980, Palumbo reunited with Witkowski and keyboardist Vince DePaul to re-form the band and released White MusicWhite Music (Crack the Sky album)
White Music is the fourth studio album by American rock band Crack the Sky, released on LP in 1980 by Lifesong Records...
later that year. This record featured a number of the "singles-quality" songs that had earlier proved elusive to the band, including "All American Boy", "Skin Deep", "Techni Generation", and "Hot Razors in My Heart." "Techni Generation" saw small airplay in the Pittsburgh area during this time.
After the release of the album they put the band on hiatus, as Witkowski, Macre & D'Amico went back to the Pittsburgh area to work with the vocalist/songwriter Bill Taylor and formed the B.E. Taylor Group
B. E. Taylor
B.E. Taylor was the lead singer of the pop rock band B.E Taylor Group, and is currently a solo artist....
. They released an independent 12" EP and eventually signed to MCA records for 2 full length LP's: "Innermission" and "Love Won The Fight". The group's catchy single release of "Vitamin L" (written by Witkowski and from "Love Won The Fight", found its way into Billboard's Top 100 charts and gained massive national airplay. This led to being signed to CBS Records; recording & releasing "Our World".
Palumbo reformed Crack The Sky once again in 1981 with DePaul, Carey Ziegler, Michael Taylor and John Tracey, and produced Photoflamingo
Photoflamingo
Photoflamingo is the fifth studio album by Crack the Sky. It was released on LP in 1981 by Lifesong Records .-Track listing:-The band:*John Palumbo — Lead vocals, rhythm, lead, and acoustic guitars...
. This release, and subsequent efforts including World in Motion 1
World in Motion 1
World in Motion 1 is the sixth studio album by Crack the Sky and the last to be released by the band's second incarnation. Three years later, a new configuration of Crack the Sky released Raw. The album was originally released on LP, and to date has not been released on CD...
and The End
The End (Crack the Sky album)
The End is a live album by Crack the Sky. It was released on LP in 1984 by the Criminal Records label .-Track listing:All songs written by John Palumbo#"Monkey Time" – 3:45#"Skin Deep" – 4:15#"Ice" – 10:46#"Astro Boy" – 5:41...
, failed to garner the critical and public acclaim of the earlier releases, and the group disbanded again in 1983. A notable song from this era is "All Fly Away", about the fears of nuclear holocaust.
Palumbo released the studio album Raw
Raw (Crack the Sky album)
Raw, the seventh "proper" album from Crack the Sky, really is more of a John Palumbo solo album under the Crack the Sky banner. Other than Jamie LaRitz playing lead guitar, all of the musical parts were played by Palumbo. However, Raw is more "Rock" than Palumbo's solo efforts...
in 1986. Although the album has the signature Crack the Sky sound and feel to it, it featured no past members of the band besides Palumbo (guitarist Jamie LaRitz is the only other musician credited).
Palumbo reunited Crack the Sky with Witkowski, DePaul, Ziegler, and D'Amico for a series of live shows in 1986 at the Baltimore club Hammerjack's
Hammerjack's
Hammerjack's Concert Hall and Nightclub was a large concert hall in downtown Baltimore through the 1980s and into the 1990s owned by Louis J. Principio III. The club attracted many big-name national acts, but also showcased many rising stars in the music world...
. Between then and 1989 this band performed a number of shows in the Baltimore area, including Painters Mill Music Fair.
In 1988, Palumbo joined with Witkowski, DePaul and D'Amico to produce From the Greenhouse
From the Greenhouse
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 with the return of keyboardist Vince DePaul...
, in many ways a return to the band's classic sound, with solid efforts including the title track and the song "Lost In America". The album peaked at 186 on the Billboard chart, and received a mixed review from People Magazine. During this time, this lineup performed occasionally in the Baltimore area with Ziegler joining on bass.
1990s
Crack the Sky released Dog CityDog City (album)
-Track listing:-The band:*Rick Witkowski — Guitar, Keyboards, back-up vocals*Carey Ziegler — Bass guitar*John Palumbo — Vocals, bass guitar, drums, guitar*Joey D'Amico — back-up vocals*Vince DePaul — Keyboards...
in 1990. The period between then and 1996 saw little activity except for the release of the compilation disc Rare! in 1994. During this time, Witkowski composed music for a number of game shows on the children's television network Nickelodeon, including Guts and Figure It Out.
Palumbo gathered the band together again in 1996 beginning a series of live shows at small venues in the Baltimore area. The band at this time featured the same lineup as 1993's The End, with the addition of Nat Kerr on keyboards. A new studio album, Cut
Cut (Crack the Sky album)
-Track listing:-The band:*John Palumbo — Vocals, guitar, keyboards*John Tracey — Drums, backing vocals*Cary Ziegler — Bass guitar*Bobby Hird — Guitar, backing vocals*Rick Witkowski — Guitar*Ron Zebron — Guitar...
, was released in 1999, as well as a double disc release featuring one of the band's live shows at the Recher Theatre in Towson
Towson, Maryland
Towson is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 55,197 at the 2010 census...
, Maryland.
2000s
Ghost (Crack the Sky album)
-Track listing:-The band:*John Palumbo — Lead vocals, guitar, synthesizer*Rick Witkowski — Guitar*Bobby Hird — Guitar*Carey Ziegler — Bass guitar*John Tracey — Drums*Glenn Workman — Keyboards, piano...
and Dogs from Japan
Dogs from Japan
-Track listing:-The band:*Bobby Hird — Guitar*Glenn Workman — Keyboards*John Palumbo — Vocals*John Tracey — Drums*Carey Ziegler — Bass guitar...
were released to critical acclaim in 2001 and 2003, respectively, and the band continues to enjoy a devoted fan following. The band completed a new concept album in 2007, entitled The Sale
The Sale
The Sale is a concept album by the American Rock band Crack the Sky. The album was released on November 23, 2007 by Aluminum Cat Recordings and this is their thirteenth studio album.-Track listing:-The band:*John Palumbo...
, which features the return of original bassist Joe Macre performing and producing the record. In 2008, Joey D'Amico and Joe Macre returned as Crack the Sky's drummer and bassist, respectively. In addition the band headlined the ROSfest progressive music fesival and later a full length DVD of their performance called "Crack The Sky, All Access" was produced and engineered by Macre. The DVD was shot on six hi def camaras in 5.1 surround sound and includes pictures and interviews with the band members. The band has released their latest studio album "Machine".
Full-length albums
| Release date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Crack the Sky | Lifesong |
| 1976 | Animal Notes Animal Notes -The band:*John Palumbo — Lead vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitar, harmonies*Rick Witkowski — Electric guitar, harmonies*Joe Macre — Bass guitar, harmonies*Jim Griffiths — Electric guitar, harmonies*Joey D'Amico — Drums, harmonies-Additional musicians:... |
Lifesong |
| 1976 | Live on WBAB Live on WBAB Live on WBAB is the first live concert album by American rock band Crack the Sky. The album was released by Lifesong Records in 1976 , but only to radio stations for promotional purposes... |
Lifesong |
| 1978 | Safety in Numbers | Lifesong |
| 1978 | Live Sky Live Sky Live Sky is a live concert album by American rock band Crack the Sky, released on LP in 1978 by Lifesong Records . In 1988, four of these recordings were appended to the CD release of Live on WBAB... |
Lifesong |
| 1980 | Classic Crack Classic Crack Classic Crack is a compilation album by American rockband Crack the Sky, released in 1980.-Track listing:Note: the cassette version of this album includes two previously unreleased songs:#"Let Me Go Home " – 3:28... |
Lifesong |
| 1980 | White Music White Music (Crack the Sky album) White Music is the fourth studio album by American rock band Crack the Sky, released on LP in 1980 by Lifesong Records... |
Lifesong |
| 1981 | Photoflamingo Photoflamingo Photoflamingo is the fifth studio album by Crack the Sky. It was released on LP in 1981 by Lifesong Records .-Track listing:-The band:*John Palumbo — Lead vocals, rhythm, lead, and acoustic guitars... |
Lifesong |
| 1983 | World in Motion 1 World in Motion 1 World in Motion 1 is the sixth studio album by Crack the Sky and the last to be released by the band's second incarnation. Three years later, a new configuration of Crack the Sky released Raw. The album was originally released on LP, and to date has not been released on CD... |
Criminal |
| 1984 | The End The End (Crack the Sky album) The End is a live album by Crack the Sky. It was released on LP in 1984 by the Criminal Records label .-Track listing:All songs written by John Palumbo#"Monkey Time" – 3:45#"Skin Deep" – 4:15#"Ice" – 10:46#"Astro Boy" – 5:41... |
Criminal |
| 1986 | Raw Raw (Crack the Sky album) Raw, the seventh "proper" album from Crack the Sky, really is more of a John Palumbo solo album under the Crack the Sky banner. Other than Jamie LaRitz playing lead guitar, all of the musical parts were played by Palumbo. However, Raw is more "Rock" than Palumbo's solo efforts... |
Grudge |
| 1989 | From the Greenhouse From the Greenhouse 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 with the return of keyboardist Vince DePaul... |
Grudge |
| 1990 | Dog City Dog City (album) -Track listing:-The band:*Rick Witkowski — Guitar, Keyboards, back-up vocals*Carey Ziegler — Bass guitar*John Palumbo — Vocals, bass guitar, drums, guitar*Joey D'Amico — back-up vocals*Vince DePaul — Keyboards... |
Grudge |
| 1994 | Rare! | Yodelin' Pig |
| 1994 | Crack Attic Crack Attic Crack Attic is a compilation of songs from the first five studio albums by Crack the Sky. It draws most heavily from their 1975 debut and 1976 follow-up, with more than half of the tracks here taken from those two releases.-Track listing:-The band:... |
Renaissance |
| 1998 | Cut Cut (Crack the Sky album) -Track listing:-The band:*John Palumbo — Vocals, guitar, keyboards*John Tracey — Drums, backing vocals*Cary Ziegler — Bass guitar*Bobby Hird — Guitar, backing vocals*Rick Witkowski — Guitar*Ron Zebron — Guitar... |
Stepford Wives (rereleased in 2007 by Aluminum Cat Recordings) |
| 2000 | The Best of the Rest (And Then Some) | Winthrop |
| 2000 | Live—Recher Theatre 06.19.99 Live—Recher Theatre 06.19.99 Live—Recher Theatre 06.19.99 is the fourth live album by Crack the Sky. This 2-CD set was released on the band's own label and includes performances of material from throughout the band's career .... |
Aluminum Cat Recordings |
| 2001 | Ghost Ghost (Crack the Sky album) -Track listing:-The band:*John Palumbo — Lead vocals, guitar, synthesizer*Rick Witkowski — Guitar*Bobby Hird — Guitar*Carey Ziegler — Bass guitar*John Tracey — Drums*Glenn Workman — Keyboards, piano... |
Aluminum Cat Recordings |
| 2004 | Dogs from Japan Dogs from Japan -Track listing:-The band:*Bobby Hird — Guitar*Glenn Workman — Keyboards*John Palumbo — Vocals*John Tracey — Drums*Carey Ziegler — Bass guitar... |
Aluminum Cat Recordings |
| 2006 | Alive and Kickin' Ass Alive and Kickin' Ass Alive and Kickin' Ass is the fifth live album released by Crack the Sky. Recorded live at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the Agora in Cleveland, Ohio in 1978—the same shows that were used for the Live Sky album... |
Lifesong |
| 2007 | The Sale The Sale The Sale is a concept album by the American Rock band Crack the Sky. The album was released on November 23, 2007 by Aluminum Cat Recordings and this is their thirteenth studio album.-Track listing:-The band:*John Palumbo... |
Aluminum Cat Recordings |
| 2010 | Machine Machine (Crack the Sky album) Machine is an album by the American Rock band Crack the Sky. The album was released on February 9, 2010. This is their fourteenth studio album.-Track listing:-The band:*John Palumbo *Bobby Hird... |
Aluminum Cat Recordings |
Compilation appearances
- Supper's Ready—A Tribute to GenesisGenesis (band)Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
(1995, Magna CartaMagna Carta RecordsMagna Carta Records is an independent record label located in Rochester, New York. Magna Carta was formed in 1989 and is owned by Peter Morticelli and his partner Mike Varney. The label has a diverse line-up consisting of musicians from many different genres, but is best known for many of its...
) (song: "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)"I Know What I Like " was the first charting single by the rock band Genesis. The single was first released in the UK in August 1973, but did not become a hit until April 1974, when it reached number 21 in the UK Singles Chart....
")- John Palumbo (Keyboards, guitars, lead vocals), Ian Palumbo (guitars, back-up vocals), Tim Deaner (back-up vocals), Dr. Maurice Hayes (narration)
- Spider-man: Rock Reflections Of A Superhero (circa 1970s Lifesong / Digital Music Works)
- John Palumbo (Keyboards), Joey d'Amico (Drums), Jim Griffiths (Guitar), Joe Macre (Bass) and others.
Crack Pack horn section
Sometimes the band has a horn section—known as the Crack Pack Horns—accompany them at live shows or on album tracks.- Tom Williams — TrumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
(1980s–1990s) - Tom McCormick — Tenor saxophoneTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
(1980s) - Dave Fairall — Tenor & alto saxophoneAlto saxophoneThe alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
(1980s–2000) - Paul Soroka — LyriconLyriconThe Lyricon is an electronic wind instrument, the first wind controller to be constructed.Invented by Bill Bernardi , it was manufactured by a company called Computone Inc in Massachusetts...
(1980s–1990s) - Chris Walker — Trumpet (1990s–2000)
- J.J. Gunning — TromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
(1990s–2000) - Ronnie Fowler — Horns (1986)
- Jim Stienfeld — Horns (1986)
- Keith Zaffino — Horns (1986)
- Dave Makowiecki - Trumpet (2000-present)
- Barry Caudill - Tenor Sax (2000-present)
- Jim McFalls - Trombone (2000- present)