Recorded and mastered at CBS Studios, 52nd St., New York
Recorded at Columbia Records Studio, 32nd St., New York (orchestra on "Ice")
Recorded at Minot Sound Studios, White Plains, New York ("Sleep")
Susan Senk — Cover coordination
Mary Walsh — Front cover photography
Benno Friedman — Back cover photography
Bob Heimall — Art direction and design
Danny Palumbo — Major domo
Petillo Strings — Acoustic guitar strings
"Thank you orchestra and all of our Stainless Steel Groups of Chums"
Amy Bennick — Art direction, design (2002 CD)
"Special thanks to Kevin Stander and Steve Smolen of Record & Tape Traders, Terence P. Minogue for taking the time to tell the story, and Mike Ragogna, as always for his guidance."
Merri Kirkland — Spanish translation ("I Don't Have a Tie")
2002 CD remastered at SAJE Sound, New York, New York
Alternate versions
In 1988, Lifesong released a CD pairing Crack the Sky with White Music on a single disc (LSCD-8801). In order to fit both albums on one CD, the song "Mind Baby" and two tracks from White Music were omitted. In 2002, a remastered CD of Crack the Sky was released. It included four bonus tracks: demo versions of "Let Me Go Home (A Visit to the Projects)", "Eileen, I Lean on You", and "Hold On"; and "Dr. Octopus Part 2" from the Spider-Man: Rock Reflections of a Superhero album. The song "Sleep" fades out more than a minute earlier than the original LP version. Liner notes include track-by-track comments by original producer and long-time CTS compatriot, Terence P. Minogue.
In 1989, Lifesong released a CD pairing Animal Notes with Safety in Numbers on a single disc (LSCD-8803). In order to fit both albums on one CD, one song from Safety in Numbers was omitted.
Safety in Numbers is the third studio album released on LP in 1978 (see 1978 in music) by Lifesong Records (catalog #JZ 35041). Lead singer (and sole songwriter) John Palumbo departed the band during the recording; the band pitched in to write enough songs to round out the album, and they recruited Gary Lee Chappell to sing. Interestingly, only the original band members are pictured on the back cover of the album, with Chappell and Stevens relegated to one small photo each on the inside sleeve. There was a tour in support of the album (documented on Live Sky and Alive and Kickin' Ass), after which the band folded. In 1980, Palumbo and guitarist Rick Witkowski started a new version of the band and released White Music.
Track listing
"Nuclear Apathy" – 8:32 (John Palumbo)
"Long Nights" – 3:59 (Palumbo)
"Flashlight" – 4:45 (Palumbo, Joey D'Amico, Joe Macre, Jim Griffiths, Rick Witkowski)
"Prelude to Safety in Numbers" – 1:15 (Macre, Witkowski)
"Lighten Up McGraw" – 5:08 (Rob Stevens, Witkowski, Macre)
"Give Myself to You" – 3:23 (Witkowski, Stevens)
"A Night on the Town (With Snow White) – 3:25 (Witkowski, Deborah Kucan)
Bobby Baker — Personal management (for Cellar Door Management, Inc., Washington, D.C.)
Alan Hecht — Artist development
LSR Strings — Acoustic guitar strings
Vince DePaul — Keyboards (on tour)
Special thanks to: Bob Sarlin; Diane Kessler; Paul "Banzini" Bilsky; Johnny "The J" Palumbo; Darryl Grysko; P.T. Virgin; Denise Skinner; Donny; Chic; The Resident; Brown; Dave; Bernard; Barbara; B.E.; Gus; Peter; T.C.; STV; Ram; Bubbles; Suzie; Alfie; Harry; Big Stuff; Happy; Ron; Kooks; Block; Auggie; Moe; Larry; Curly; Bo; Karen; T.M.; Carmine; Star Sound; Ralph; Alice; Norton; Trixie; Danny and Georgeann; Kirkie; Marty; The Rocket Man; Marla and Goon; Leslie and Vinnie; Richard; Adam; Miss Piggy; Susan; Wanda; Cox; Tucker; Soup; Fred; Kimmie and Stella; Lifesong; Epic and The Merge; our parents and families; the Ohio Valley air (for motivation); and for safety's sake, the entire Eastern and Western hemispheres
Alternate versions
In 1989, Lifesong released a CD pairing Safety in Numbers with Animal Notes on a single disc (LSCD-8803). In order to fit both albums on one CD, the song "Prelude to Safety in Numbers" was omitted.
White Music is the fourth studio album released on LP in 1980 (see 1980 in music) by Lifesong Records (catalog #LS 8028). It was the first release from the newly reformed Crack the Sky, whose lineup included only two members from the original band: singer/songwriter John Palumbo and guitarist Rick Witkowski.
Track listing
All songs written by John Palumbo
"Poptown" – 3:47
"Living With the Lights On" – 2:56
"The Radio Cries (It's Singles Time)" – 3:11
"Skin Deep" – 4:08
"White Music" – 4:12
"All American Boy" – 3:18
"Hot Razors in My Heart" – 4:38
"Suspicion" – 4:50
"Techni Generation" – 4:05
"Flying" – 1:21
"Songs of Soviet Sons" – 5:05
Bonus tracks on the 2001 CD version
"Hot Razors" (f2) – 4:53
by Feed da Cat 2, John Palumbo (guitars, voice) and Ian Palumbo (drums), with Ronnie Zebron (lead guitar)
"Poptown" (demo) – 1:37
"A Girl Like Mom" – 4:06
"She's So Clean" – 3:47
note: on the 2001 CD, "Hot Razors" and "Poptown" are the first two tracks on the CD, and "A Girl Like Mom" and "She's So Clean" are the last two.
Special thanks: Richard Klotzman, J. DeCesare, Gordon Miller Music, Belli Music, Inc., The Bel Loc (Bill Doxanas), Frank Ayd III and all at Flite III, Cindy Markus, Darrell Grysko for the demo recordings at the Attic, Mary, Kook's, Julie, Jane and Our Families
Recorded ZenLabs, New Jersey, 2001 ("Hot Razors" (f2))
In 1988, Lifesong released a CD pairing White Music with Crack the Sky on a single disc (LSCD-8801). In order to fit both albums on one CD, the songs "The Radio Cries" and "Flying" (and one track from Crack the Sky) were omitted. In 2001, a remastered CD of White Music was released (Lifesong LSCD-7001). It included four bonus tracks: a 2001 re-recording of "Hot Razors in My Heart" by Palumbo and his son Ian, a demo version of "Poptown", and two outtakes—"A Girl Like Mom" and "She's So Clean".
Sources
LP and CD liner notes
Live albums
Live on WBAB (1976)
Live on WBAB
Untitled
Live on WBAB is the first live concert album. The album was released by Lifesong Records (catalog #LS-100) in 1976 (see 1976 in music), but only to radio stations for promotional purposes. It came in a plain white sleeve with only a sticker identifying the record, and photocopied inserts about the band.
In 1988, Lifesong released Live on WBAB on CD (catalog #LSCD 8802). It includes four additional tracks, taken from the 1978 LP Live Sky ("Maybe I Can Fool Everybody (Tonight)", "Lighten Up McGraw", "She's a Dancer", "I Am the Walrus").
Live Sky is a live concert album released on LP in 1978 (see 1978 in music) by Lifesong Records (catalog #JZ 35620). In 1988, four of these recordings were appended to the CD release of Live on WBAB ("Maybe I Can Fool Everybody (Tonight)", "Lighten Up McGraw", "She's a Dancer", "I Am the Walrus"). In 2006, six of these recordings (remixed and remastered) were included on Alive and Kickin' Ass, a live CD compiled from the same 1978 shows as Live Sky. The version of "She's a Dancer" that appears on Live Sky was edited for length; the complete performance appears on Alive and Kickin' Ass.
Track listing
All songs written by John Palumbo, except where noted
"Hold On" – 2:48
"Maybe I Can Fool Everybody (Tonight)" – 6:30
"Lighten Up McGraw" – 5:06 - (Rob Stevens, Rick Witkowski, Joe Macre)
