In 1975, the band released their first album, the critically acclaimed eponymous "Crack the Sky", which reached 161 on the Billboard chart. Although praised by "The New York Times" and declared the "debut album of the year" by "Rolling Stone", promotion and distribution problems with Lifesong Records prevented its widespread success. According to Terry Minogue, "Records were promised but never arrived at the distribution centers. The record would be on the radio but there would be no product on the store shelves or . When people wanted it, it would never be available." By what some termed blind luck, the marketing did work in Baltimore, only because a surplus of records was shipped there and put on display in stores when the album was receiving radio play. Subsequently, the album became very popular in Baltimore. Laidback Larry Allen, music director at WYDD in Pittsburgh, professed love for the recording and played the debut album in heavy rotation, but no other place.