Rick Wakeman: The Caped Crusader of Prog

 

 

"Written and recorded during what I lovingly refer to as "My Great Unwanted Period", as whatever musically I tried at the time was received with total disinterest by media and press alike! In fact I was so fed up at the time that I even turned half the songs into Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band type of efforts. "Ghost of a Rock and Roll Star" and "The Dancer" being classic examples. Then in contrast there are prog rock tracks such as The Opera and then of course the almost poppy Silent Nights track. Confused? I was!"

 

 

"If you want to hear what I was recording when I was somewhat confused as to what direction to go in, then this is the album for you."

 

Elgin Mansions (video courtesy of Hyun Wook Cho) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LsZDu3PfXio5Qqi3DUSkD7-

 

 

Review by Mats Landstrom on 24th September 1997:-

 

"Most songs on this album are quite straightforward melodic rock. Not many classical influences here compared with Rick's other work. Musically unadventurous with a weak production."

 

 

  Live at Hammersmith (1985) - A true return to form with four symphonic epics from the previous decade given an 80's makeover.

 

 

"A pretty half decent live album in as much as it as least an honest appraisal of how my live performances were at that time. Not much else to say about it really. I thought the cover was dreadful when I first saw it, but after all these years I have warmed a little to it's "dreadfulness"!"

 

 

"If you collect live albums in order to compare how the different pieces have changed over the years, then this is a must."

 

Arthur (video courtesy of Rick Wakeman) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LuAEq1ubEUr2xphGq46o7Qy

 

 

Review by Bruce Treadwell on 19th June 2020:-

 

"Wow, it's 2020 and I gain even more respect for this album over the years, it's from a 1985 performance. What a great capture of the voices Rick was using in the early to mid 80s. To me, this is a hidden gem amongst his vast catalogue. If you come across a copy, buy it, you will thank me later. I actually have a mint vinyl copy, which I treasure. My favorite track - The Three Wives, a 16+ minute medly that's so rich!"

 

Country Airs was a hit and it did top the UK new age album chart. "Waterfalls" sort of became an unofficial "hit single." 

Rick performed an intimate concert that featured only himself on keyboard and a chum on guitar. In the front row were seated a bunch of bikers!

When the show ended and they took their bow, one of the biker toughs actually leaned over and grabbed Rick's arm and told him "Waterfalls" was his favorite tune, and were they going to play it?

Well, naturally, Rick obliged; thus, "Waterfalls" was the night's encore! 

I don't know the album but I find it really sad that Rick could be that hard up.

 

 

"The original deal for this album was with Polydor records, who just as I finished the album had a change of Chairman who told me he hated the idea, hated me and hated the music and was not going to release it. I tried to buy the album back but he refused. Six months later he sold it to President Records. Amazingly enough the album got pretty good reviews but it suffered through my being about as popular as a skunk in a perfume factory at the time and disappeared into oblivion."

 

 

"I think some of the songwriting on this album is some of the best I have ever written. Ocean City and Custer's last Stand are two of my favourites and Ice is for me the best overall song I have ever written. Worth having in my book!!!"

 

Ice (video courtesy of Home Studio 35) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LvqW99pL9OhSEBCrjdGiGq1

 

 

Review by Tatiana P. Wakeman on 7th January 1998:-

 

"Time Machine shows the influence of the 80s music in Rick's style. This is an album which has got one of the best moments from the keyboard wizard, and for the ones that haven't listened to the album, you should try to listen to songs like Ice, Angel of Time, Make me a Woman and Custer's Last Stand. Here comes a great album with great performances and great songs for people who like Rick's rock songs."

 

 

 A Suite of Gods (with Ramon Remedios) (1988) - Rick Wakeman's first classical excursion, and it's an opera, but not as we know it.

 

 

"This for me is a little masterpiece. It was recorded in the mid eighties and used one of the first computer recording packages that was about as stable as Iraq. The software was very primitive and crashed at regular intervals. All the sounds were keyboard created with the exception of the percussion which again although played by Tony Fernandez, was in fact electronic. The vocals were some of the best ever recorded by Ramon Remedios and all in all I was very proud of this album and only wish it could have been performed live."

 

 

"I would dearly have loved to have recorded this with an orchestra but there was not the finance in place to do this. An album worth having...well in my opinion anyway!"

 

Dawn of Time (video courtesy of Rick Wakeman) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LtgiI7SPaX18D2MaLYdrXcw

 

 

Review by Norman Hansen on 1st June 2014:-

 

"Of the 52 albums I own from Rick, this I must say is the most beautiful. Not everyone, RW fan or not, can enjoy opera but this has the magic touch by Rick and tenor Ramon Remidios. "Giants roaming with a single eye". What a lyric. I think it's a classic. From creation to padamonium to the flood to hero's' it covers all of that era gone by. A must for true fans."

 

 

 

"Originally recorded in Israel with a full orchestra and narration by Robert Powell the only tragedy is that I had not rewritten it before this filming took place. When the ultimate DVD is filmed of the New Gospels then certainly elements of this one will be incorporated as part of the music's history."

 

 

"Wait for the ultimate DVD."

 

The Word and the Gospels (video courtesy of EarthDog005) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LvRntLkqT7ztMe2PpWQ36hP

 

 

Review by Julia Harries on 11th November 2000:-

 

 "Open this video with a fabulous Rodney Matthews cover and you have a live performance recorded in an outdoor amphitheatre in Caesarea, Israel in 1988. It starts at sunset and the backdrop to the performance is a tranquil beach. Rick, soberly dressed in a black suit and wing collar shirt with sparkly dicky bow, looks really great and the performance is lovely. The story of Jesus Christ is narrated capably by Robert Powell both live and in the intercut scenes out and about in the Holy Land. This gives the video an interesting dimension and adds texture to the musical performance. Rick performs with the Israel Symphony Orchestra, the Eton College Chapel Choir and Ramon Remedios and the whole show is delightful. Regulars David Paton and Tony Fernandez are also in evidence. There are good shots of Rick playing and although his performance in this show is obviously more restrained than his rock shows, it's good to see him perform in this style. Highlights for me are the charming "Welcome a Star", Rick's great twiddly bits in the style we know and love on "The Baptism", "The Lords Prayer" which Ramon Remedios does brilliantly and "Children of Mine" which combines a terrific melody with great playing by Rick and vocals by Ramon."

 

 

I'll make a start on Phrozenlight's albums on the 12th of Never.

 

Rick Wakeman's 100+ albums should keep me busy till near the end of the month, then I'll be ready to start adding the third A-Z list of artists to my prog channel.

 

Brian Augur

Bill Bruford

Curved Air

Dire Straits

The Enid

Fantasy

The Graeme Edge Band

Justin Hayward

Indian Summer

Jackson Heights

Karda Estra

John Lodge

Magenta

The Nice

Orpheus

Mike Pinder

Quatermass

Roxy Music

Supertramp (for Cristi)

Ray Thomas

UFO

Visitor 2035

Richard Wright

 

 

 

Do him after Phrozenlight then!

This is great work Paul, thanks for this. The only problem is I keep reading about albums of his I'd never heard of, then going to check them on Spotify only to find they're not on there. Just listening to the Planets at the moment.