BW&BK; has received the following press release:

Close Your Eyes is the first ever 2-CD, career-spanning collection of the work of the late, prog rock keyboard phenomenon Vincent Crane. The set includes tracks ranging from his early projects with the VINCENT CRANE BIG SOUND and jazz/poetry group WORD ENGINE through his years with ARTHUR BROWN, ATOMIC ROOSTER and his collaborations with RORY GALLAGHER and finally KATMANDU and DEXY’S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS. The set includes rare demo tracks and live recordings.

Known predominantly as the leader of UK prog rock heavyweights Atomic Rooster, Vincent Crane’s musical journey, following his graduation from Trinity College of Music, began with his first professional show as the Vincent Crane Band at the Marquee Club in 1963. Joining The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown in 1966 and touring extensively as a result of the worldwide smash hit single and album, Fire, he would eventually leave after four years and form Atomic Rooster with TCWOAB drummer Carl Palmer in 1970. For five years and four albums, the band enjoyed a number of hit single and album releases plus successful European and U.S. tours. Crane eventually called time on the band in 1975, undertaking an alternative career in musical theatre until re-forming Atomic Rooster in 1980 for another four year run and the release of a further two albums. A desire to explore a more blues-based outlook saw the formation of Katmandu in 1984 and in 1985 he joined Dexy’s Midnight Runners for their Don’t Stand Me Down album.

Vincent Crane's Close Your Eyes will be released by Castle Records on May 5th.