Three members of badfinger joey molland, tommy evans, joe tansin also appear on the album which was. And proud records, says crack the sky guitarist rick witkowski. Johnny alonso talks with john palumbo of crack the sky. 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. John palumbo lead vocals, guitar, keys rick witkowski lead guitar, percussion joe. It was the first release from the newly reformed crack the sky, whose lineup included only two members from the original band. Feb 21, 2020 we had so much fun covering crack the sky a band we all grew up listening to.
Crack the sky hits the stage at jergels entertainment. Crack the sky reprend ses origines dun groupe appele uncle louie and sugar. Home interview prog rawk crack the skys john palumbo. John palumbo is having trouble with his lawn mower. The album was originally released on lp, and to date has not been released on cd. Recorded in baltimore, they were mostly thin imitations of whatever style was hip at the time. Palumbo, palumbo, palumbo of the brother brothers a746660 artist. Glenn workman, rick witkowski, bobby hird, john palumbo, dave demarco, joey damico of crack the sky a whole lot of crack the sky is coming our way this week.
The tongueincheek genius of john palumbo and his henchmen playing to two appreciative audiences with the fire of their impassioned youth. Though departing leader john palumbo contributed a few vocals before quitting the band, new singer gary lee chappell and other bandmembers filled in nicely on a mix of palumbo s songs and new. The strange survival story of the cult prog favorites. Dont look back posted in interview, prog, rawk by bill kopp on november 6, 2017 the landscape of pop history is littered with oneanddone acts, artists whose first album no matter how good it might have been failed or was lost in the commercial marketplace. May 30, 2019 a lot of those bands werent keen on us opening for them, crack the sky singer and lyricist john palumbo recalled last week in a phone interview. That afrosporting, trenchcoatclad stranger was the prolific and idiosyncratic john palumbo, who would become barring a brief, yet notable, hiatus crack the sky s frontman and chief.
Crack the sky is a progressive rock band that started in the 1970s. Crack the sky biography founded in weirton wv, usa in 1975 hiatus 19781980, 19831986 and 19901996 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 palumbo biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. The astonishing success of crack the sky s eponymous first album raised expectations that the band was never able to fulfill for the rest of their career. Palumbo brought his demos to witkowski and keyboardist vince depaul. John palumbo does have a unique and identifyable voice.
Crack the sky rick witkowski and john palumbo, june 26, 2004 crack the sky continues to perform occasional live shows and collaborate on new music under palumbo s guidance. Please enjoy please enjoy please look out for john palumbo and crack the sky on tour, and check out their. The band completed a new concept album in 2007, entitled the sale, which features the bands original bassist joe macre performing in the band and producing the record. More crack the sky albums were released, though palumbo insists that depaul was the driving force behind these projects. Rick witkowski talks about the ongoing saga of his 70s band. In 1989 they signed to grudge records for the concept album from the greenhouse. Crack the sky should be part or every music lovers library. Crack the sky rick witkowski and john palumbo, june 26, 2004. Crack the sky members from left john palumbo, dave demarco and bobby hird at the heritage fair. Warm welcome for returning headliners crack the sky local.
Crack the sky for those not living in, or around the city of baltimore, maryland during the midto late 70s had a story somewhat like san franciscos moby grape in that each produced one incredible album, then, due to poor marketing strategies, or lack of proper support by their labels, sank, nearly without a trace, from the view of the mass public. The rocking guitars,funky bass,and some tasty keyboard flourishes. Jan 11, 2016 in 1980, the label convinced palumbo to reform crack the sky. Now for the first time, both are together in a single. Crack the sky reflect on touring with frank zappa, breaking big in. Keyboardistvocalist john palumbo, who had previously composed all of crack the sky s material, departed the band early in the recording process for safety in numbers. He has been invited to lecture around the world, including ukraine, mexico, poland, canada, and jamaica, on the psychology of human nature, john is a member of the national speakers association and brings humor and animation to the platform to help others exceed their performance goals.
Please enjoy please look out for john palumbo and crack the sky on tour, and check out their website here click. Mar 26, 2015 john palumbo and crack the sky never really gone away. It is therefore somewhat surprising that safety in numbers was not merely a good album, but one which rivals crack the sky s awardwining first release. They have multiple new releases and continue to play to packed audiences today. Aug 15, 2018 that afrosporting, trenchcoatclad stranger was the prolific and idiosyncratic john palumbo, who would become barring a brief, yet notable, hiatus crack the skys frontman and chief. Often, the key cited is john palumbo, the groups eternal focal point, even when absent but that misses the point. Every song was a potential single, and every track was played. Crack the sky is the best band no ones ever heard of. Glenn workman, rick witkowski, bobby hird, john palumbo. The sun isnt going down on crack the sky pittsburgh post.
Although the truly rare cts at least for me is the first four albums, this is a compilation of a couple of john palumbo solo albums and dog city, raw and from the greenhouse, the last three cts cds. Shop for vinyl, cds and more from john palumbo at the discogs marketplace. It has been announced that the founding members of rock legends crack the sky have agreed to reunite with all original members for a rock extravaganza for carnival cruise line in the spring of 2018. Three years later, a new configuration of crack the sky released raw. John palumbo and rick witkowski recently stated that they reached an agreement with the other 3 original band members to put. In 1975, rolling stone declared their first album debut album of the year. Crack the sky was one of those bands which found its voice right at the very start, in a unique blend of musicians on fire with a chemistry requiring exacting equilibrium. John palumbo lead vocals, guitar, keys rick witkowski lead guitar, percussion joe macre bass, vocals jim griffiths lead guitar, vocals joey d. Crack the sky finds success after decades of obscurity weekend. Photos by nicole rodman a large crowd gave the band a warm welcome. John palumbo john palumbo is an artist, producer, performer and composer.
Forgotten bands of the 70scrack the sky r s crabb presents. Crack the sky is an american progressive rock band formed by john palumbo center and guitarist rick witkowski just left of center in weirton, west virginia in the early 1970s. These days he makes music for fun, and has long since accepted that crack the sky wont change the world or set the charts on fire. Crack the sky continues to perform occasional live shows and collaborate on new music under palumbo s guidance. World in motion 1 is the sixth studio album by crack the sky and the last to be released by the bands second incarnation. Animal notes is the latest overt act in crack the skys conspiracy to unleash the sardonic vision of that elegant lunatic john palumbo. In conversation with john palumbo of crack the sky. It was 1973, and at that time, 22 yearold john palumbo and his buddy ricky witkowski, then 20, were holed up in a seedy hotel on eighth avenue, writing songs. Jan 29, 2009 yes, as john palumbo vocals, guitars, songwriting has said himself, cts has found pockets of fandom in several places but theres nothing like baltimore my hometown for these guys. The threepiece bands resulting album, white music, incorporated elements of new wave and punk and was more poporiented than their previous releases. To tout the album, lifesong placed a full page ad in billboard, which read in part.
Johnny alonso talks with john palumbo of crack the sky at. Palumbo is an international speaker, author, and expert in the science of influence and persuasion. Frontman and songwriter john palumbo, once the source of crack s potential, is quick to take the blame for why the band didnt become, say, genesis. I lean on you 1978 john palumbo crack the sky youtube. Crack the sky has provided the startling and everchanging musical backdrop for the insights of this mad genius.
Crack the sky are prolific progressive rockers who play with great fire, passion, and skill. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. Basically its john and rick witkowski playing most of everything but overlook the dated electric drums and its a decent listen although palumbo never sounded more pink floydish or roger waters. Founded by john palumbo and rick witkowski they had 5 albums on. Original crack the sky to reunite in 2018 channel 45 news. Tracks 7 and 8 from john palumbo victim of the nightlife tracks 9 and 10 are out takes from world in motion sessions 1983 tracks 11 to are out takes from safety in numbers sessions 1977. Slight yellowing or minor bump at a corner accepted. Critics and audiences alike delighted in the wry, intelligent lyrics, complex and powerful progressive rock, and carefully crafted harmonies. The albums ghost and dogs from japan were released to critical acclaim in 2001 and 2003, respectively. Spin the disc a few dozen times, then view this dvd in its entirety. Consequently, palumbo is not credited as a band member on the finished album, though the reorganized group did end up using three of his songs one a cowrite with several other. Crack the sky is an american progressive rock band formed by john palumbo center and guitarist rick witkowski just left of center in weirton, west virginia.
With the exception of sealed lps, all lps are removed from their outer sleeves to prevent seam splitting. The first incarnation of crack the sky included drummer joey damico, bassist joe macre, john palumbo, rick witkowski and jim griffiths on guitar. How crack the sky became famous in nowhere but baltimore. Original united states pressing of this vinyl record album, released in 1984. Dec 27, 2018 john would tell me, make them into crack the sky songs, and thats what we did we just attacked them and added the signature crack the sky guitar stuff to them. From the john palumbo innocent bystander lp also included on the band crack the sky album best of the rest and then some album. Their first three albums charted on the billboard 200 and in their early years the. A white 1975 porsche and a purple intrepid sit in the driveway. It is an overcast spring afternoon in the shady philadelphia suburb where he lives.