AL ROSS & THE PLANETS brilliant new album BLUE CRYSTAL, recorded at Abbey Road Studios, is out now!
“BLUE CRYSTAL really is superb, proper music - it is beautifully orchestrated and the songs take you on a journey, just as they should”
SIMON BIRDS - ARC RADIO - UK
“An emotional, thoughtful album…an accomplished recording…a triumph of artistry over adversity”
BRIAN McGOWAN - GET READY TO ROCK - UK
“BLUE CRYSTAL is really growing on me…Love the band - they’re amazing! Great record!"
CHRIS BAXTER - BBC RADIO SOUTH WEST (UK)
“Eight tracks, all quality pieces. BLUE CRYSTAL is an unqualified triumph that deserves to be heard in every household"
AMPLIFIED - UK
“That Blue Crystal sounds so silky smooth shouldn’t come as a surprise as it was recorded at London’s famed Abbey Road Studios and producer Marc Rapson has done a great job in creating a warm and textured sound. This could be the album that propels Al Ross & The Planets into the uncharted stratospheric heights”
PETER DENNIS - THE MIDLAND ROCKS – UK
“One of my favourite places to listen to music is in the car and Al Ross & the Planets Blue Crystal goes great in my car. No matter how long the journey having Al and the Planets for company makes it all the more enjoyable."
LEE JAY - HEART RADIO 1 MALAGA - SPAIN
"British rock veterans win the day with a fantastic set of tunes - a triumph! *****"
LET IT ROCK - CANADA
"Blue Crystal is a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience."
RED GUITAR MUSIC UK
"A Musical masterclass, harkening back to the 60s and 70s, with vocals pushed front and centre, and melody and harmony the driving force behind the songs"
RETROPOP MAGAZINE - UK
"A Musical masterclass, harkening back to the 60s and 70s, with vocals pushed front and centre, and melody and harmony the driving force behind the songs"
RETROPOP MAGAZINE - UK
"There’s not a weak moment on this exhilarating, lushly produced sophomore CD…tuneful, anthemic tracks - The Planets have an original sound and an exciting one"
JEFF BURGER - AMERICANA HIGHWAYS USA
"BLUE CRYSTAL is an album that demands your attention and to me is the kind of release that really captures you the more you listen to it – 8.5 / 10"
DAMIAN SULLIVAN – MAXIMUM VOLUME MUSIC - UK
"BLUE CRYSTAL has huge soul sensibilities…powerful arrangements and clashes and confluences of counterpoint gospel melody and instrumentation build emotive, goose-bump inducing crescendos” ****
RnR MAGAZINE UK
"The wide array of talent involved in the collaboration of Blue Crystal has yielded spectacular results. The piano-led “Something changed my mind” is gorgeous, laidback pop rock”
EXCLUSIVEMAGAZINE.COM - USA
LONG-RUNNING LONDON BAND’S STYLISTICALLY DIVERSE SECOND ALBUM
FEATURES DEEPLY FELT NEW POP CLASSICS, BLUESY ROCKERS,
SOUL-INFUSED GOSPEL, AND SAMBA-TINGED JAZZ GROOVES
Recorded at London’s legendary Abbey Road Studios, BLUE CRYSTAL is augmented by a stellar array of session players, including guitarist Norman Beaker (Jack Bruce, Chris Farlowe, Van Morrison) and keyboardist Lyndon Connah (Level 42, George Michael, Joe Cocker). With members taken ill by Covid-19, and recording taking place during strict lockdown protocols, BLUE CRYSTAL is a triumph of artistry over adversity.
When Al Ross & the Planets entered the legendary Abbey Road Studios to commence recording their second album in January 2020, they never guessed that a pandemic was about to turn their plans upside down. Band members would soon be sidelined by the virus, travel around London became forbidden, and — when sessions did finally resume in May 2020 — there was a long list of safety measures.
As key band members became unable to take part due to Covid, Al realized that he would need to hire session players to fill the gaps. He asked his longtime friend Lyndon Connah to play keyboards and assist with production. Lyndon’s extensive resume includes work with Level 42, George Michael, Squeeze, Joe Cocker, Thomas Dolby, Nik Kershaw, and Go West. Next, Al contacted legendary blues guitarist Norman Beaker. A native of Manchester, Norman has been involved with the British blues scene since the 1960s and has toured and/or recorded with Jack Bruce, Chris Farlowe, Van Morrison, Chuck Berry, and B.B. King, among many others. Additional musicians on BLUE CRYSTAL include Tansy Garrod (violin), Paul Jefferies (double bass), Jamie Masters (guitar), Holly Petrie (backing vocals), Jamie Wall (trumpet), Alex Ward (lead guitar), and the Sing Gospel Choir.
The wide array of talent involved in the collaboration has yielded spectacular results.
The Abbey Road sessions were engineered by Lewis Jones and Andy Maxwell, with additional sessions at Echo Studios in Buckinghamshire engineered by Jamie Masters. The entire BLUE CRYSTAL album was mixed by Chris Bolster at Abbey Road.
Al Ross: “Facing huge obstacles in a horrendous year — with two members getting Covid — we have managed to produce a truly great album that we are very proud of. Despite all the difficulties and stress involved recording under such conditions, it was a great way to pass the hours rather than staying at home feeling depressed! We were able to create something very positive out of 2020 and we cannot wait for the world to hear the results!”
LATEST SINGLES VIDEOS
Al Ross & The Planets debut album “THE PLANETS ONE” now available on Amazon, Spotify and I-Tunes
“THE PLANETS ONE” consists of eleven original tracks recorded, mixed and mastered at Abbey Road Studios. The album was released to very positive reviews:
"The Planets One is fantastic!"
Janice Long
BBC Radio
"I cannot believe this is a debut album – it is that good. If you love good music, then I can highly recommend this album"
Chris Hawkins
BBC 6 Music
"Really nice album – some great tracks recorded at Studio 2 Abbey Road"
Barry James
DJ Radio Caroline
"New album is great…Excellent music…brilliant…love it!”"
Geoff Dorset
Express FM Portsmouth
