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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: 40037 |
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 Posted: January 03 2021 at 14:40 |
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Thanks. I'll take that as a compliment.   Rock 'n' Roll Prophet (1982) - An album with a quirky 80's sound that's reasonably good overall.Rick's Perspective "I mentioned the Buggles earlier on and Rock and Roll Prophet was recorded in the late 70's in Switzerland and was meant to be a spoof on them in many ways. I wanted to release it under a different name as my name stunk at the time with the growth of Punk. I wanted it to come out under a band name of KUDOS. This never happened of course and the album remained in moth balls until after 1984 had actually been recorded and released. A big mistake." Rick's Verdict "I love the sounds on this album. Very analogue and a pretty decent production too. It was later released as Rock and Roll Prophet Plus with extra tracks." I'm So Straight I'm a Weirdo (video courtesy of Rick Wakeman) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1Lufpi2OwFqSUvl2Czroe9Ia Review by Josh Young on 14th July 2002:- "I can vividly recall purchasing this album at my local used record store not knowing what to expect. Sure, I was familiar with his shining Yes moments and The Six Wives Of Henry The VIII record but I wanted more of the same thing.What you get here is toe-tapping,slightly psychedelic,light-hearted "pop" tunes,a marvelously odd-ball record and quite underrated."
Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 06 2021 at 11:08 |
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verslibre
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Posted: January 03 2021 at 14:23 |
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Paul, you have already demonstrated you are anything but average!
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 03 2021 at 13:41 |
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I guess I'm not the average Wakeman fan then, because 1984 is now one of my favourite Rick Wakeman albums, even though I only heard it for the first time today, forty years after its release!
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 03 2021 at 13:15 |
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 1984: Live at the Hammersmith Odeon (1981) - A good concert, but even by Rick's own admission, not one of his best, and not as good as the "1984" studio album.Rick's Perspective "This was a strange era for me. Concept albums and prog rock were at possibly their lowest ebbs and there was I having just recorded a massive concept album, co-written with Tim Rice, and followed it up with a huge prog rock concert at Hammersmith Odeon…..err…..no points Wakeman! 1984: Live at the Hammersmith Odeon (video courtesy of Rick Wakeman) |
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verslibre
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Posted: January 03 2021 at 12:26 |
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^I suspect I like those two albums, The Burning and 1984. a lot more than the average Wakefan.
One side of The Burning features arrangements that exist separately from the film's cues. The best track from 1984. |
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 03 2021 at 10:13 |
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 1984 (1981) - An epic magical masterpiece with a full orchestra and choir and featuring Jon Anderson & Chaka Khan!"The wrong album at the wrong time, with all the wrong people around at the time. To do an orchestral rock concept album at a musical time when I probably couldn't even have got a job as a piano tuner was nigh on suicidal. I formed the wrong band, (the worst I have ever had), the deal for the stage show fell through and all in all I listen back to the music with my head in my hands. True there are some good moments, but my personal life was such a mess at the time that I should have run away rather than run into the studio!" Rick's Verdict "In retrospect, a mistake. Great lyrics from Tim Rice though and a magical performance from Chaka Khan." Julia (with Chaka Khan) (video courtesy of Dacrequena) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LvgRcMpruBRAAEmmDCBfU9F Review by Daniel Hull on 6th June 2014:- "I, like many others was shocked to read Rick's verdict on this one and again, I couldn't agree less with his own verdict. This is one of those albums that hooked me instantly, for the summer of 2009 I couldn't stop listening to it. It flows nicely and the lyrics are great with the just the right balance of catchy easy to listen to songs and grander arrangements, I'd rate this above most of Rick's albums. Rick, listen to your fans, take pride in this work, we're telling you it's great."
Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 06 2021 at 11:02 |
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 03 2021 at 05:53 |
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The Burning (soundtrack) (1981) - Not as famous as The Exorcist soundtrack, but still just as spooky. Rick's Perspective "This is an album of two sides. One side is actually great analogue stuff of arrangements of music taken from the film and the other side is...well, not so hot! Always difficult to produce soundtrack albums as you're trying to please so many people and it's never possible really. It's the only album I used the Prophet 10 keyboard on and so I like it purely for that reason!" Rick's Verdict "One for the collectors - but not really anybody else!!" Theme from The Burning (video courtesy of Sister Lighten) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1Lv1NuYgg79wWUSEgvoLeCac Review by Mark Ingle on 19th June 2004:- "The Burning I picked up in a music shop in Sutton Surrey in the 80's and it instantly was a masterpice as far as I was concerned. Their are two sides, one side with the music from the film - the other side is variations and shows Rick at his best on the improvising. I suppose the thing I love about Rick is his ability to imrpvise and make it better than the original and this is a classic example. Although Rick does not rate this as one of his great works - I beg to differ. If you can get hold of 'The Variations' then do, no true Rick collector should miss this track."
Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 06 2021 at 10:53 |
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 03 2021 at 01:54 |
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Live 1980: Swedish Television Special (1980) - One of the live hidden gems from Rick Wakeman's Video Vaults. Rick's Perspective "To be honest, I don’t remember too much about this particular show except that it was a great period in Europe for rock shows on television and it was quite common to be invited to Scandinavia, Italy, Holland and Germany to do live shows which were broadcast on major network channels at prime time. Watching this performance back reminds me just what a fantastic time it was for musicians back then. Interesting to note that two of the band in this performance (Ashley Holt and Tony Fernandez) and still in the English Rock Ensemble today! (The phrase “Gluttons for punishment” springs to mind) and whilst the sound quality is not the greatest in places, it is a very unique recording and piece of film as to the best of my knowledge this is the only record on either film or audio of this particular line-up of the ERE." Live 1980: Swedish Television Special (video courtesy of Rick Wakeman) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LsdDrXK6QACUrQoFPEABHN9 Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 03 2021 at 10:14 |
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 02 2021 at 14:54 |
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Rhapsodies (1979) - A diverse double-album that may have been better condensed into a single album. Rick's Perspective "This album is probably the most confusing I have ever made. It contains so many differing styles that it is hard to keep track of what the album is all about. A&M decided I had to have a producer and Toni Visconti was brought on board who I got on great with. A&M demanded everything from disco...(please, I know ) and that's how Rhapsody in Blue came about plus all sorts of other styles some of which I loved and some of which I didn't. Great sounds on tracks like March of the Gladiators though." Rick's Verdict "Worth buying for the fact that half of the album is what I wanted to do and as it's a double album it's still worth it. The last of my recordings for A&M and the end of an era in many ways." The Palais (video courtesy of Dacrequena) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LsBa678B77po3qoNYcozkLU Review by Robert Nancarrow on 12th March 2015:- "Whilst this album represents the end of the A&M years, and some people have been rather dismissive, I really like this album. It highlights, even from a relatively young age, Rick's great diversity and his ability to interpret music through a range of styles and genres. I think the fact that he wasn't trying to take himself too seriously was also to his credit. The album gives some sense of what he can deliver through tracks as diverse as Sea Horses, Gladiators and his sublime interpretation of Gershwin’s Summertime. I really enjoyed Credits, the last track, which perfectly captures Rick's essential sense of humour."
Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 06 2021 at 10:49 |
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verslibre
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Posted: January 02 2021 at 13:45 |
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I just showed that to someone the other day — file under "enrichment"!
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 02 2021 at 13:28 |
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Yes, I feel privileged to have lived at the same time as all of the living legends of prog, and it's wonderful that Rick is still around, especially bearing in mind he had a heart attack at the age of 25, brought on by the glorious excesses of living life as a rock star.
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A Crimson Mellotron
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Joined: September 10 2020 Location: Bulgaria Status: Online Points: 4111 |
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Posted: January 02 2021 at 13:02 |
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I just stumbled upon the official video for his song 'I'm So Straight I'm a Weirdo' yesterday which I hadn't heard before, and I was quite... stunned. Anyway, Rick Wakeman is a legend, a long-living one!
Edited by A Crimson Mellotron - January 02 2021 at 13:02 |
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 02 2021 at 12:33 |
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verslibre
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Posted: January 02 2021 at 12:25 |
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You might want to save that one for when you're fully awake.
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 02 2021 at 12:24 |
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I think the epic Judas Iscariot is by far the best song on Criminal Record, having just heard it for the first time, literally a few minutes ago. It's also a good thing that the best song on Criminal Record is more than twice as long as all of the other tracks on the album. I'll have the Rhapsodies (1979) album coming up around midnight (GMT), if I can stay awake that long.
Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 02 2021 at 12:24 |
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verslibre
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Posted: January 02 2021 at 12:24 |
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Indeed! Then there's "Ice Run," aka "Rick shows everyone how to play a clavinet"! |
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verslibre
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Posted: January 02 2021 at 12:17 |
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Rick writes about the making of the movie in one of his Grumpy books. That tale is something else. If you want, I'll "spoil" it for you (abridged), but I'd rather not!
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verslibre
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Posted: January 02 2021 at 12:16 |
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Criminal Record is my favorite Wakeman record.
It's amazing. Majestic. Magical. It is PROG!
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 02 2021 at 12:10 |
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Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record (1977) - A criminally underrated record! Rick's Perspective "This was always a loosely based concept album that was recorded in Switzerland with Alan White on drums and Chris Squire on bass. The album never really turned out as I wanted it to except perhaps for the Judas Iscariot track. The drums and bass were recorded after the keyboards and they did such an excellent job that I wanted to redo some of the keyboards again and change a few things I'd played....but there were no tracks left and no money either." Rick's Verdict "A "nearly" album. It was intended to be another 6 Wives but for me it never quite made it. Perhaps it was a mistake to try for another such album. Some excellent all round performances though." Statue of Justice (video courtesy of Dacrequena) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1Ls_2pVHejy2XkIqbTXkL-H0 Review by Marianne Donnachie on 10th October 2005:- "How does one describe such a seminal piece of music history? This album has been my all time favourite for many years and for many reasons. The six pieces of musical composition has everything, from the humour of The Breathalyser to the primeval gut wrenching emotion of Judas Iscariot. I defy anyone with a soul to listen to Judas Iscariot and not be moved. The sheer power of the Church Organ and choral vocals make the hairs stand up on your neck. This piece leads one through the betrayal of Christ and to his ultimate crucifixion, portrayed by the popular hymn 'there is a green hill far away without a city wall'. It ends with the moving music depicting Judas Iscariots suicide and his obvious angst and regret. I simply cannot hear this piece and not be absorbed by it. I can only liken it to Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings. It has that sort of power to evoke feelings of longing, of understanding regret. Quite simply moving. Conversely The Breathalyser makes one smile. The car chase reminds me of the old keystone cops music and the choice of Bill Oddie for the vocals is pure genius! The Birdman of Alcatraz is a wonderful piece, Rick accurately has depicted birds in flight so well. Those who know the story will easily recognise the dichotomy of a prisoner and the freedom of birds in flight. Take my advice...listen to Chamber of Horrors in the dark and imagine yourself locked in there after dark, that girl's scream makes me jump every time! Don't analyse this album by genre or even in comparison with Rick's other albums. Just get it! It is simply a work of pure genius. Thanks so much Rick for the many happy hours I’ve had with this masterpiece."
Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 08 2021 at 09:58 |
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: January 02 2021 at 10:38 |
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White Rock (soundtrack) (1977) - The towering title track is a mountainous tour de force of sheer keyboard wizardry. Rick's Perspective "In many ways another album ahead of its time, mainly due to the tremendous foresight of the late Michael Samuelson who produced the film of the Winter Olympics in 1976 and decided that he was fed up with hearing orchestral music or brass band music on sports films and that it was time for rock and roll to make an entry. By telling me this was what he wanted he gave me the opportunity to pave the way for all sports films from that day on, and all television sport, to look at music differently." Rick's Verdict "The percussion on this album is outstanding. Remember there were no boxes of tricks in those days. What you hear is what was played. All credit to Tony Fernandez." White Rock (video courtesy of Michael Byrne) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LvBvlRjvXBnl_U7DHxzlmkW Review by Tim Boudewijn van der Wart on 30th March 2002:- "Yet another great masterpiece from the maestro. The Loser is the one of the most beautiful Wakeman tracks ever, and White Rock is the song the mini-moog was probably invented for! Lax’x is a very abstract and complex composition, very good though. Searching for gold is also very good, it has a catchy chorus; the entire album can be called brilliant if you ask me. There is lots of piano and organ use, also is there a good choir. Among the fast rock pieces there are very beautiful piano compositions enhanced with synths Rick does so amazingly well. In my list the album ranks probably at number two. Such a masterpiece must be possible to play always, and not to be worn out till here are no copies left anymore."
Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 08 2021 at 10:05 |
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verslibre wrote: