The Debate Rages: Tittyhawk vs. the Ass-Volcano
They’re both obviously classic heavy rock records. British outfit Atomic Rooster released their first album, Atomic Roooster (with the extra ‘o’), in 1970, and Aussie proto-doomers Buffalo unleashed Volcanic Rock three years later. If you’re standing in a store, and the two of them are there on the shelf in front of you, there’s no decision. You buy both.
But what I’m curious about in this new feature (that I hope will be a series from here on out, depending on the reaction/response it gets) is the artwork. Atomic Roooster and Volcanic Rock have some of the most ridiculous artwork ever put on a vinyl sleeve.
The first is a hawk trapped in a glass cube that inexplicably has breasts — and what’s up with that chair in the corner? — and the latter it what looks like a skull-faced neuter from Dragon Ball Z holding a giant penis over his head as he stands atop a giant volcano that turns out on the second half of the gatefold to be a woman’s ass and what may or may not be menstrual lava.
Each astounds in how little sense it makes, so I put it to you — which is the better cover?
Atomic Rooster, Atomic Roooster (1970)
or Buffalo, Volcanic Rock (1973)
Click either to enlarge the image, and leave your vote in the comments.
Tags: Atomic Rooster, Buffalo
And here I always thought “Death Walks Behind You” was the first Atomic Rooster album. I’ve never even heard “Atomic Roooster”!
Anyway, as much as the ‘tit-bird frozen in a block of ice’ (my interpretation) is great, the Buffalo album cover is so far beyond amazing, it clearly wins.
I’ll go with Buffalo, too. That gatefold is…
The chair is what makes it so hard for me to call this. It cancels out the penis on the weirdness meter.
AND THEN you see that ass-gatefold and that just clinches it.
I hate the Tittyhawk…I don’t own the record for that reason…I should try to get over it…
The first 3 Buffalo records are a MUST…”Dune Messiah!!!”
Gotta be Buffalo – it’s not a no-brainer but not a no-vaginer either :P
(sorry, that’s a terrible pun… that I just can’t quite bring myself to delete…)
I have an original 1970 Australian (Interfusion label) pressing of Atomic Roooster and the bird’s boobs have been removed and replaced with feathers (Possibly tooo sexy??).
P.S. I bought some aftershave that smells like breadcrumbs and the birds love it :)
Q. Do you know why the space between the birds boobs and its claws is called a waste?
A. Because you could easily fit another pair of boobs in there (He He).
Great article. Definitely would like to see more.
Check out Chris Farlowe in Colosseum (Pre Atomic Rooster) singing “Take me back to Doomsday” or “Black Snake” live – Not everyone’s taste but I like it.
Chris Farlowe is in Atomic Rooster when he sings “Black Snake” (See clip on YT) but he never sang the original when A R brought it out on their album “In Hearing Of” but both songs are early 70’s.