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The Best Band You’ve Never Heard

crack the sky

Editor’s Note: This post is one of our earliest, from way back in 2016, and also one of our most popular. Since many of you have just started visiting us, we thought it was worth bringing this one back…


Growing up in Baltimore in the ’70s, I would tune in to WKTK or 98 Rock to hear my favorite performers. Bowie. Queen. Elton. Zeppelin. And Crack The Sky. When I left Maryland, I found my college buddies loved all the same music with one glaring exception — no one had heard of Crack The Sky. The story of Crack the Sky is one of potential success frustrated by missed opportunities. The band, founded by guitarist and songwriter John Palumbo, came together in the early 1970s in a small town in West Virginia, about 30 miles west of Pittsburgh. Palumbo had formed a cover band with guitarist Rick Witkowski after the two met at a local music store. Witkowski was amazed by Palumbo’s prolific songwriting (according to Witkowski, Palumbo had “notebooks full of songs”), and they soon decided to start performing Palumbo’s original compositions. By 1975, the band was a five-piece, and they released their first album.

Crack the Sky’s debut album, Crack The Sky, was magnificent. Their music was like a mixture of Steely Dan, Yes, and the Beatles. David Sanborn and the Brecker brothers added a jazz flavor to some of Palumbo’s songs. A string section turned “Ice” into a worthy successor to the Beatles’ “I Am The Walrus.” Crack’s lyrics ranged from sci-fi epics to twisted love songs to social commentary. Rolling Stone named Crack The Sky the “debut album of the year.” Even today, the magazine ranks it as one of the top fifty prog rock albums of all time.

So then, why has no one heard of Crack the Sky? The trouble began with Lifesong Records, the newly-formed record label that signed Crack the Sky and released their first album. The founders of Lifesong had no clue about how to promote and distribute an album. Despite the raves from critics, Crack the Sky’s album could not be found in record stores and received only limited airplay. To make matters worse, the band had signed a typically one-sided record contract that allowed Lifesong to keep all revenue until the label’s costs were paid off. The band didn’t receive a dime. (Witkowski claims he received a single royalty check of $2.43. He never cashed it.)

There was one place where Lifesong’s limited marketing effort paid off — Baltimore.   There was some airplay in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and a few other cities across the U.S. But only in Baltimore was the album played in constant rotation. Baltimoreans knew every word to “Ice” and “She’s A Dancer” — and they could play air guitar to “Hold On” and “Surf City.”

Crack The Sky tried to build an audience through live performances, which showcased the band’s high caliber musicianship. They opened for ELO, Kansas, Styx, Supertramp, and others, but these stints proved to be only temporary. (Palumbo claimed that they were kicked off tours for showing up the headliners.)   Still, they filled venues in Baltimore with enthusiastic audiences who sang along with every song.

Crack The Sky’s problems would continue despite releasing the highly praised albums Animal Notes (1976) and Safety In Numbers. (1978). The band members argued about their direction among themselves and with the record company. Friction between Palumbo and Witkowski increased as did their perilous financial situation. Finally, Palumbo quit the band to pursue a solo career.

In 1980, the label convinced Palumbo to reform Crack The Sky. Palumbo brought his demos to Witkowski and keyboardist Vince DePaul. The three-piece band’s resulting album, White Music, incorporated elements of new wave and punk and was more pop-oriented than their previous releases. Every song was a potential single, and every track was played on the radio — but only in Baltimore.

Crack the Sky has continued to release albums in different combinations, often with Palumbo as the only common thread. Their recent releases (including 2015’s The Beauty of Nothing) have reclaimed some of the feel of their earlier recordings, receiving great reviews from the few critics who have heard the recordings. And you can still see the band’s great live show with a sold out audience — but only in Baltimore!

10 Killer Crack The Sky Tracks

“Ice,” Crack The Sky (1975)

The epic that started it all. A structurally complex musical journey made for headphones. Crack’s signature syncopated bass and drums. A great Palumbo vocal delivering a mysterious lyric (“are you afraid of the ice?). Dramatic strings (like Paul Buckmaster’s early work with Elton John) are the icing on the cake.

“She’s a Dancer,” Crack The Sky (1975)

The story of a dancer. But, since this is a Crack the Sky song, the “she” is really a “he.”

“We Want Mine,” Animal Notes (1976)

“We don’t want your money – We want MINE!” Let’s just say that Lifesong was not amused! A favorite on Sirius/XM’s Deep Tracks channel.

“Long Nights,” Safety in Numbers (1978)

A beautiful number about an old man mourning his dead wife. Long nights, indeed.

“Lighten Up McGraw,” Safety in Numbers (1978)

The first five notes of the intro are perfect Crack.  It starts and stops, drawing you right into the song.  One of a handful of songs not written by Palumbo after he left the band during the recording of Safety In Numbers.

“Nuclear Apathy,” Safety in Numbers (1978)

Another epic song in multiple sections. “Something’s wrong from the moon.” Nuclear war as contemplated by Palumbo.

“Hot Razors in My Heart,” White Music (1980)

Crack’s biggest hit, even though Palumbo thought it was a throwaway. Listen as the lush intro disappears, revealing Palumbo’s raw vocal sang to the woman who spurned him. And then the band kicks in. Should have been a hit outside Baltimore.

“All American Boy,” White Music (1980)

Tell me this is not a hit single! An unusually “normal” pop song for the band with some nice Crack touches (including Beatlesque harmonies in a slowed-down outro).

“Skin Deep,” White Music (1980)

Palumbo’s ode to excess. The funky horn section (especially in the instrumental break) made this song a highlight of their live shows.

“Your House Is on Fire,” Ostrich (2012)

Crack the Sky updates their sound without losing their unique style. A horn-filled highlight from their 2012 release, Ostrich.

While we’re at it, you might enjoy other CultureSonar articles about great musicians: These Guys Were REALLY Behind the Music profiles some of the greatest-ever studio players; When a Beatle Wrote with Elvis should be relatively self-explanatory; as are Why Doesn’t Anyone Record Squeeze’s Songs? and That’s My Jam.

Scott Freiman

Photo Credit: Illustration by Greg Houston

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40 comments on “The Best Band You’ve Never Heard

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  3. I was introduced to them by a good friend while in the Navy stationed at NTCC Hampton Roads in Norfolk. Lucky enough for this country boy from Indiana to see them at the Bayou in D. C, in ’82. If they mange to remain relatively unknown outside a few regions, that’s ok by me. They are virtually unknown in Indiana (aside from the fortunate few I personally turned them on to). I like to think they are “my” group, and am reticent to share them with too many people. Most simply aren’t worthy.

  4. Steve Butkovich

    No love for “Robots For Ronnie”? Not sure where I was living when that came out, but it got some airplay. I always loved that song.

  5. Craig Lawson

    Nice! Any press is good press.
    I found this band the day “Live Sky” was released. to me, that was the “magic” album.
    “This band has come all the way down from an acid trip, just to play for you. Would you please welcome…Crack The Sky.” 🙂
    My friends heard this at my house A LOT. Of course, it then prompted me to buy the studio albums.

  6. Paul Youngman

    Been a huge fan since day one. Consider myself so fortunate to see them at Club 66, Pier Six, Rams head and others. I don’t miss many shows.

  7. Chuck Schilling

    There are precious few non-killer tracks on the Classic CTS records (through Photoflamingo, though I know some don’t like Photoflamingo all that much), so it’s not shameful for one of your favorites not to appear on that list. I would have liked to see Good Child Gone Wild or Too Nice For That make the list, but I’ll not lose sleep over it.

    One thing is for sure – they could outplay basically any band around and pretty much always embarassed the headliners they opened shows for.

  8. No Surf City on the 10 best?

  9. Mitch Koulouris

    Safety In Numbers by Crack The Sky is one of the great albums ever… Totally under appreciated band. Being signed to Lifesong Records didn’t help….
    Mitch Koulouris
    Los Angeles, CA

  10. Glen Morlas

    I have been listening to Crack The Sky since 1976

  11. Terry Murray

    Sea Epic is a great song

  12. Rick Witkowski

    Five or six years ago, I had a guy on Facebook confuse me with Rick Witkowski from Crack the Sky, because my Facebook profile picture was of me playing a guitar during my bluegrass phase with a local ensemble. I did a little research, and Viola!, that’s how I discovered Crack the Sky. Been listening ever since!

  13. “We Want Mine” was a minor hit where I grew up, in northwest Louisiana, which is nowhere near Baltimore.

  14. jackquigley52

    When I was a DJ in York,PA at Starview 92 I used to play Surf City all of the time…..

  15. Kris Lyons

    Nothing from “From the Greenhouse” or “Machine”? Two excellent albums – CTS is awesome!

    • Agreed. I’m fairly sure somebody like Trent Reznor or Perry Farrell thanked CTS in the liner notes of one of their early cassettes. That’s how I used to find other bands pre-internet. I took a chance on FTG, & dug every track.

      • Manuel Lopez

        I love this band. Check out the live album: ‘these boys came all the way down from an acid trip just to play for you’. It’s great.

  16. Big Giant Head

    Your House Is On Fire is amazing. Wow, thanks!

  17. Fred Green

    Regional fame, a non-entity everywhere. A similar thing happened to Benny Mardones in the Syracuse, New York area. Huge radio play and concert appearances. Funny enough, he was from Maryland.

  18. JACK BOTTS

    My hometown is “30 miles west of Pgh.”; Weirton, WVa. “Palumbo” a Weirton name. Anyone know anyone in this band from “30 miles west of pittsburgh”?

  19. Somehow discovered them while living in Tucson, Az in the late 70’s. Saw them warmup Heart on the Safety in Numbers tour and covered Lighten Up McGraw and Nuclear Apathy in a local cover band. Easily the best band no one knows about.

    • Lifesong was a record label ABC Records gave to Jim Croce’s managers Terry Cashman and Tommy West, no doubt as a consolation for Jim’s posthumous success. Both had their own recording careers as well and Cashman scored a top ten hit in the early 80’s called “Talking Baseball.”

  20. David Colburn

    I was turned onto Crack the Sky thanks to KAAY’s Midnight Album Hour. I would start my tape deck and let it go while I slept. One morning I woke up, rewound the tape and heard Safety In Numbers. I was hooked. I still have that tape. The fidelity is terrible due to how far I lived from Kansas City, where the station was based. But, for me, that was part of the charm and appeal. This incredible music was finding its way to me despite the physical and cultural distance it was crossing.

    • Manuel Lopez

      They’re one of my favorite forgotten bands of the seventies, along with BeBop Deluxe, Gentle Giant, the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, and the Move. More people need to listen to them.

  21. Check out the band Pink Cream 69.

  22. Steve Bartrum

    Been a fan since ’76. I was a young man back then.I had the opportunity to work with them doing media from 01-08
    While Lifesong screwed them up,the in-fighting and disagreements between members of the band led to them not being more popular.
    Yet,after 40 years,they are still together making music and doing shows.

  23. One simply MUST hear “From The Greenhouse”

  24. James McNeill

    Been a fan since picking up their debut in a delete bin (remember those?) in the late 70s. To this day I have never met anyone else who has heard of them. Unless it was through me.

  25. Thank you for posting this. I never heard of these guys, but going through their catalog, they have retroactively become one of my childhood favorite bands, if that makes sense.

  26. I was turned onto them by my manager (also a local musician) at McDonalds when I was 17 (1978). This was my first foray away from top 40 bands and I have never looked back (either from CTS or bands radio has never heard of).

  27. They were popular in San Antonio. Kiss/Kmac had them on the radio

  28. I can’t say for sure I’ve ever heard their music, but I clearly remember the band’s logo from years ago.

  29. Bob DeClue

    I used to go to the Peaches Records store in St Louis and browse. Passed by their debut album the first week…..but I liked the cover. Took a chance the next week and have been a big fan ever since! Seeing them perform live is on my bucket list.

  30. how many times have i seen them at Painters Mill Music Fair…Geezmaaan. hands down coolest venue of its time. john played solo one evening… that damned “Long Nights”… one of my first shows to bring a tear to my eye. so. i hear theyre playing Ardmore in pa. im goin

  31. I lived in Baltimore’88-‘89 & absolutely loved 98 Rock! ‘From the greenhouse’ was played a lot at the time & I thought it had a Pink Floyd feel to it. Remains today one of my favourite tracks & fond memories of great times.
    Ironic I stumbled across this thread on the day your country withdraws from Paris climate agreement.

  32. Andru Reeve

    Huge band with tons of airplay in nearby D.C. WHFS played them, as did DC-101. “Hold On/Surf City” is the greatest pier of opening tracks ever.

  33. Henry Smith

    … and if you ever get a chance to see the absolutely impossible Baltimore-based “Technicolor Motor Home” Steely Dan tribute band, led by Crack the Sky keyboardist Glenn Workman, don’t miss it! (Even if it’s just a youtube clip like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WsmE3fxSMk. I’m hoping Scott Freiman will get to see them some day!

    • I hope I will get to some day!

      • Henry Smith

        Excellent! The fact that Glenn and company can pull off those incredible concerts — which occur only a limited number of times per year (the one at the link at Lurman in Catonsville) — performing that impossible material is just astounding. (Unrelated: the little neighborhood “Music Appreciation Society” I host continues to love all the deep dives, followed by provocative discussions, into your Deconstructing the Beatles DVDs!)

  34. Henry Smith

    Excellent! The fact that Glenn and company can pull off those incredible concerts — which occur only a limited number of times per year (the one at the link at Lurman in Catonsville) — performing that impossible material is just astounding. (Unrelated: the little neighborhood “Music Appreciation Society” I host continues to love all the deep dives, followed by provocative discussions, into your Deconstructing the Beatles DVDs!)

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