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Rick Wakeman: The Caped Crusader of Prog |
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Psychedelic Paul 
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Joined: September 16 2019 Location: Nottingham, U.K Status: Offline Points: 40379 |
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 Posted: January 09 2021 at 00:46 |
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^ Buenos Dias! I'm really looking forward to seeing Rick's concert in Buenos Aires and I love the sound of Chrissie Hammond's voice, especially on the 5-star Prayers album above.
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 09 2021 at 04:58 |
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 Rick Wakeman Chronicles (1994) A compilation of live performances of some of Rick's best-loved classic tracks.Rick's Perspective "This is really the original Journey to the Centre of the Earth as recorded and filmed in Australia. A piece of classic history and worth having just to spot the odd famous face that pops up." Rick's Verdict "Forget the video and get the enhanced DVD - much better!!!" Merlin the Magician (video courtesy of Dacrequena) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1Lt04ZApwgz90SAFjv9uB9QB Review by Julia Harries on 11th November 2000:- "This is definitely one for the collection! If you didn't have the privilege of seeing Rick live in the early days, you need to get this video to see what you missed. Filmed in Australia in 1975 at a huge venue, it shows the maestro in his flamboyant youth, all flowing hair, sideburns and voluminous spangled cape. Why he never featured in shampoo commercials is beyond me because his hair is in such great condition and he swings it around in true superstar fashion! Performing with the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra and the Melbourne Chamber Choir as well as a six piece rock band, Rick dominates the proceedings and looks confident and in control throughout. He tells a couple of anecdotes that are very funny. The whole thing evokes the mood of the time perfectly with Terry Taplin giving it large in true thespian style as he narrates Journey to the Centre of the Earth, complete with giant plastic dinosaurs. Gary Pickford Hopkins is every inch the rock vocalist, lithe and svelte in tight trousers and a lacy shirt, in direct contrast to the more robustly built Ashley Holt. Journey is performed in its entirety and there are two tracks from the then unreleased King Arthur. Three of the Six Wives complete the set list. Particularly good is Catherine Howard that has a good acoustic guitar solo by Jeffery Crampton that includes a snippet of Waltzing Matilda, much to the delight of the Aussie crowd. The mixing is a bit dodgy in places but it doesn't spoil the enormous fun. This is Rick in his heyday and is a great piece of rock nostalgia." |
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Psychedelic Paul
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Joined: September 16 2019 Location: Nottingham, U.K Status: Offline Points: 40379 |
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Posted: January 09 2021 at 07:36 |
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The Stage Collection (with Adam Wakeman) (1994) - Also known as Wakeman with Wakeman Live. Lure of the Wild (video courtesy of Rick Wakeman) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1Lv3eHBEMzwPndWRSYDKu7IF Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 09 2021 at 16:12 |
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Psychedelic Paul
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Joined: September 16 2019 Location: Nottingham, U.K Status: Offline Points: 40379 |
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Posted: January 09 2021 at 09:05 |
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Almost Live in Europe (1995) (also known as Rock & Pop Legends) - A much better album than Rick gives it credit for, again! Rick Wakeman is his own worst critic.  Rick's Perspective "This was recorded in Italy with a very strange line up of the English Rock Ensemble with no guitar player. The tour was a disaster and badly organised and I had the crew from hell out with me as well which just about took the biscuit!!! When I finally got to hear the tapes they were really not acceptable so I dragged some of the guys back in and we re-did quite a lot and added guitar as well, hence the title, "Almost Live in Europe"." Rick's Verdict "Probably the weakest arrangements of the classic pieces that I ever put together for a tour but nevertheless an important part of ERE history." Catherine of Aragon / Crying Heart (pt. 1) / Jane Seymour / Crying Heart (pt. 2) / Catherine Howard (video courtesy of Rick Wakeman) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1Lu1-7pgOxSbweM2_S6mf12E Review by Max Hult on 12th January 2000:- "This album misses the big set of instruments that Rick used in earlier days, like Journey and Arthur. Ashley's voice is not as good as it use to be either. What's good about this album is "The Prisoner", where Rick shows his great ability of playing the keyboard in baroque-style, As voice fits nicely. The tracks on the Arthur and the Wives sections are put together in a different way, quite nice to hear as a change from the original albums. The best point of the album is "Jane Seymour" which is very different from the original, with great rock/heavy metal-guitar added. For more richful instrumentation, check out the "King Biscuit"-album."
Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 09 2021 at 09:14 |
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Psychedelic Paul
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Joined: September 16 2019 Location: Nottingham, U.K Status: Offline Points: 40379 |
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Posted: January 09 2021 at 10:11 |
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The Piano Album (1995) - More piano magic from the fastest piano player in the west! Rick's Perspective "Taken from a live performance during one of my church tours, this has some really nice nostalgic piano playing on it. Unfortunately the company that released it had about as much interest in it as Crufts has in mongrels. Sad really." Rick's Verdict "Probably worth collecting at the end of the day if you like the piano!!" Gone But Not Forgotten (video courtesy of Rick Wakeman) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LvigghkBblyfrUwzoUdacOT Review by Robert Nancarrow on 14th February 2013:- "For those of us who have been listening to the caped crusader for more years than we care to admit to, this album is a yet another example of his seemingly limitless talent. Many people associated Rick with the grand and the epic that is so well represented throughout his back catalogue. However, on this album, his undoubted skill as a musician and as an imaginative arranger of other people's material is peerless. Having seen him perform in this style on many occasions, he has the talent and the charisma to make an evening’s entertainment seemingly pass in minutes. Highlights include "A Glimpse of Heaven" from his time with the Strawbs, “Space Oddity" and “Life on Mars" from his association with the great David Bowie and a really moving arrangement of his own “Gone But Not Forgotten". If you haven't heard this offering yet, take the opportunity to catch up with an intimate evening of Rick Wakeman at his very best." Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 09 2021 at 10:45 |
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verslibre
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Posted: January 09 2021 at 11:13 |
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^That's a winner. Great review by Robert!
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 09 2021 at 14:52 |
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 Romance of the Victorian Age (with Adam Wakeman) (1995) - Gentle piano ballads for a romantic evening for two, if you're lucky!  Rick's Perspective "Easy listening but reasonable classy I always felt. Adam joined me on this one and produced some fine stuff himself for the album. A cross between light rock and new age it has some nice moments and is nice to play if you're having a beautiful romantic evening! I never got to play it much." Rick's Verdict "I'm still waiting for that romantic evening!!!" Still Dreaming (video courtesy of Rick Wakeman) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LtozfXjwZIzs_NTc7-85qye Review by Mats Landstrom on 24th September 1997:- "Beauty is what this music is about. Not much rockin' n' rollin here. My favourite album from the duo Wakaman & Wakeman. A lot of piano throughout. One of my favourites." |
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Dellinger
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Posted: January 09 2021 at 20:02 |
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BUT, the Live at Buenos Aires DVD is from a tour from after Chrissie Hammond. This one is from the band that recorded Out There (one of my favourite post 70's albums), with Damian Wilson on vocals. It's only the "bonus" DC with the "Official Bootleg" CD that features Chrissie Hammond (with, as I already said, with terrible sound quality). As for Prayers, I don't think I have heard that album, but I believe Can You Hear Me is a sort of re-recording, or re-imagining of that album, with the resources Wakeman wanted for it since the beginning, and I do have that one and like it very much, with great vocals from Chrissie indeed. |
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Dellinger
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Posted: January 09 2021 at 21:06 |
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I didn't find this one on the PA database... for a moment I thought it might be a recording from the times of the Official Bootleg thing, but it seems this concert is totally instrumental, so it isn't  . By the way, I did find a Live in Buenos Aires official Bootleg on the PA database, but it doesn't seem to be the one I was talking about either, since it doesn't feature Chrissie Hammond.
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 10 2021 at 04:32 |
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^ The Stage Collection is listed on PA amongst Rick Wakeman's compilation albums.
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Seven Wonders of the World (1995) - The Seven Wonders are brought to life in spectacular symphonic style, with dramatic narration by Garfield Morgan (Chief Inspector Frank Haskins in The Sweeney).Rick's Perspective "I really like a lot of this album as there is some really good all round playing and some nice thematic melodies and solos. The problem was that I always knew it was never going to get any airplay or publicity and so sadly I had to watch it fail to become the 8th wonder of the world." Rick's Verdict "One of the best of the instrumental prog rock albums that I have produced. Well worth a listen." Pharos of Alexandria (video courtesy of Wm. Thomas Sherman) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1Lt43ZgoLm4C773jIxoZWiyj Review by Mats Landstrom on 24th September 1997:- "Wonderful! Instrumental except for the narration at the beginning of each piece describing the 7 ancient wonders of the world. This is in the same class as 70's works like Criminal Record or Six Wives only with a more modern sound. The arrangements chosen are so beautiful and each tune really has its own character. Some are soft and laid back and others powerful and full of musical climaxes. I wish Rick makes more of this kind." Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 10 2021 at 04:33 |
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 10 2021 at 06:21 |
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Visions (1995) - If this tranquil New Age album sends you to sleep, then that's the whole idea! Rick's Perspective "A genuine attempt to make a really nice relaxation album, but at the end of the day it was just another New Age type of album. Not for the want of trying though. Pleasant to listen to, but so is the Queen's speech after a nice plate of roast turkey." Rick's Verdict "If you like the new age type of stuff then this is for you." Fantasy (video courtesy of Rick Wakeman) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LuG-y7Ncs29BmWm15htt5BO Review by Denilson Neves Rampin on 23rd June 1997:- "A perfect match between music and mind. Rick provides a sole musical experience to makes us relax from daily stress and put our imagination to work in each track texture created. A complement for the environmental work that was done in "Suntrilogy"." Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 10 2021 at 08:33 |
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 10 2021 at 08:11 |
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Cirque Surreal (1995) Roll up, roll up, for all the fun of the circus with ringmaster Rick Wakeman. Rick's Perspective "Difficult one this for me as some of the music is excellent. Sadly I had to sell the album on to another company because of lack of funds mainly due to the fact that the people who ran the circus and for whom the music was written turned out to be less than honest and I was left holding the baby to the tune of £38,000." Rick's Verdict "I would like to buy this album back one day if I could. I really liked the jig!!!" Review by Ben Jordan on 26th January 2003:- "Rick goes to the circus! I've never seen Cirque Surreal, but the music does seem to convey that kind of circus atmosphere, something to accompany feats of daring, constantly active performance that you would expect. Wings Of Fortune and Static seem to convey this to me most strongly, with that carnival-like organ playing. I must freely admit I don't know much about keyboards, but at least one used here sounds exactly the same as that used in Return To The Centre Of The Earth (only 4 years between them after all), and so I was sometimes reminded of that album, especially during the songs on Cirque Surreal. I'm afraid that the songs here did little for me. They don't sound bad, but they don't stand out. To put it another way, if this had been the first RW album I'd ever heard, I would've concluded "Stick to the instrumentals Rick, that's where you shine so well." Of course I do know better, and he has written some great songs, from Guinevere to Still Waters Run Deep. But that greatness does not shine here for me. As I intimated though, the instrumentals are excellent. It probably comes as no surprise then that my favourites on Cirque Surreal are devoid of lyric, they being the aforementioned Wings Of Fortune, Static, and the final track, The Jig. The Jig is wonderfully upbeat, and sounds like modern day Celtic folk music. It's a perfect finale to the album. Overall, I think Cirque Surreal should appeal to those of you that liked Return To The Centre Of The Earth. It isn't the same huge production, but Rick and his band are so pumped up here, it doesn't need to be. There are definitely at least a few tracks here that deserve to stand out up among the greats."
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 10 2021 at 09:27 |
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 Fields of Green (1996) - A simply sensational classic album, including an amazing rendition of Starship Trooper with lovely Chrissie Hammond on vocals.Rick's Perspective "It's always difficult to get enthused in the studio about any album that you know is not really going to get heard by very many people. I did my best and there is some pretty decent stuff on board,, but at the end of the day will never be considered a classic simply because it wasn't." Rick's Verdict "If you've bought everything else then you might as well buy this one!!!!" Election '97/Arthur (video courtesy of Rick Wakeman) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LvfF08nkYprRds1mZ2yTXUO Review by Sergey Lenkov on 10th June 2003:- "Classical mainstream prog-art-rock album. One of the best albums of the 90s. It starts with remake of Yes song "Starship Trooper". Romantic and emotional "The Promise of Love" follows it (with very beautiful keyboards party). After that - instumental "Spanish Wizard" (with acoustic guitar party)... It`s not a concept album, but Rick very well harmonized the sequence of songs, so you would listen to this album as a single piece of music. And the spirit of this album.. A kind of new beginning for Rick. Very optimistic. It seems that music were written by experienced craftsman (but still young and a little bit naive). By the way, if you are starting your acquaintance with Rick - this album would be a good choice. In this case I also recommend you "Six Wives of Henry VIII", "Journey" and "Return to the Centre of the Earth"." Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 10 2021 at 10:33 |
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Cristi
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Crossover / Prog Metal Teams Joined: July 27 2006 Location: wonderland Status: Offline Points: 43855 |
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Posted: January 10 2021 at 09:32 |
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^ I've never seen anyone pay so much attention to RW's discography, what is it, how many days have you listened so far, aren't you bored, want to listen to something else?
I do not understand listeners who do long marathons, I rarely can do it, I rarely stick with the same artist listening days on end. I do not understand how you can do it...
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 10 2021 at 09:42 |
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Au Contraire! I'm not bored in the slightest. I've been listening to Rick Wakeman's albums practically non-stop since New Year's Day (that's 58 albums so far), and I've never had so much fun in all my life, so I suppose I must have led a sheltered life.  The music of Rick Wakeman is tremendously varied too, so you just never know what to expect from one album to the next. It could be Symphonic Prog; Pop/Rock; New Age; Classical; or even comedy with Norman Wisdom. And then there's the hidden gems, like the 5-star album above:- Fields of Green.
Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 10 2021 at 09:56 |
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Cristi
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Posted: January 10 2021 at 09:50 |
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 10 2021 at 10:29 |
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Tapestries (with Adam Wakeman) (1996) - Another interwoven selection of gentle piano ballads. Rick's Perspective "The last of the middle of the road type of new age meets soft rock albums and by the end of this recording I knew I'd exhausted the format. A beautiful cover though and some pretty nice music too. If you can manage three romantic evenings then buy this one as well." Rick's Verdict "I really must get into this romance lark!!!!" Review by Bjorn Olaf Syvertsen on 14th October 1999:- "Tapestries is a very nice and relaxing father and son coproduction. Mainly acoustic, except for some calm and quiet synthesizers in the background, the album is perfect when you lie on the sofa and just want to relax and let your thoughts stray... The opening track is my favourite, but it is a good album all the way through. The up-tempo tracks are my favourites on this album, though."
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chopper
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Posted: January 10 2021 at 10:50 |
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You need to get out more! (well, perhaps not right now). Just think of the fun you will have with those Phrozenlight albums, and then Buckethead!
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 10 2021 at 10:58 |
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You can have the pleasure of listening to all of Buckethead & Phrozenlight's gazillion albums. In the meantime, I'm now about halfway through Rick Wakeman's huge discography, so only about another 58 albums to go before the end of the month, then it'll be time to move on to a Brian Auger marathon.
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verslibre
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Posted: January 10 2021 at 11:35 |
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Paul is doing this because he said he has never listened to Rick's solo discography. So he's hearing these albums for the first time. If you've not seen anyone "pay so much attention," it's only because nobody dedicated a single thread to this.
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Psychedelic Paul wrote: