THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII

This album is a special one, because not only it is fantastically GOOD, but also because it serves for someone new here in progarchives to understand what makes a five star album for some of the members

First, it came in 1973, when Progressive movement was already consolidated. In the Court of Crimson King, which for many of us was the mark zero of progressive rock, was far away, it was released in the distant 1969. But, even so, you can see Six Wives Of Henry VIII as a kind of groundbreaking, because it is a keyboard centered instrumental one that did not had any definitely similar album before to inspire.

Second, you have here, at your disposal, a complete set of keyboards topping available technology available at the time. It is an album that succeed in exploring all those available tools without becoming boring or excessive. Last of all, and more important, are the compositional quality. Nothing above would matter if Mr. Wakeman´s inspiration was not at full speed here. But, and there is a but, be careful here. This is not an album for everyone. Rick excels himself in creating fantastic melodic themes as the easily recognized King Arthur´s one, which can be appreciated, for example, by my wife. But here things are harder, you only discovers its musical wealth after many listenings. People like my wife does not listed frequently to TSWOHVIII

I am definitively a Rick Wakeman´s fan. Reasons are related above and I cannot forget to say that his musical abilities turned available a kind of OCCULT melodic achievements like this album and Criminal Records, side by side with a kind of easier ones like King Arthur, Journey and my beloved 1984 really drives me MAD