Rick Wakeman: The Caped Crusader of Prog - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Here it is! Arguably, one of the most lavish, excessive and expensive concert performances ever staged in the history of Progressive Rock: KING ARTHUR ON ICE - Live at the Empire Pool, Wembley in 1975, featuring an impressive all-star cast of 130 players, including The English Rock Ensemble, The New World Symphony Orchestra, The English Chamber Choir and The Nottingham Festival Singers. That's quite a line-up! This is the famous (or notorious) concert that takes Progressive Rock to new levels of pomposity, grandiosity and magnificent excess which almost ruined Rick Wakeman's health and career, not to mention his bank balance. Stern Smile

1975: Rick Wakeman - Live at the Empire Pool, Wembley: King Arthur on Ice - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LvKmTio-XAjWqR5mj5iGwID

The magical visualization below comes courtesy of Igor Kovtun, which is only matched for spectacular wizardry and sorcery by the Paul Daniels Magic Show. You'll like it - not a lot. Tongue

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - November 07 2023 at 14:05

Dellinger wrote:

And then, there's Steve Howe's version of Turn of the Century with Annie Haslam in vocals.

And here it is! Annie Haslam & YES - a perfect match made in prog heaven. Heart

Psychedelic Paul wrote:

<span style=": rgb248, 248, 252;"> 1996: Rick Wakeman - Fields of Green - </span>[URL=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LvfF08nkYprRds1mZ2yTXUO" rel="nofollow]https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LvfF08nkYprRds1mZ2yTXUO[/URL]

Have you ever wondered what a classic YESSONG would sound like with a female singer? Rick Wakeman and Chrissie Hammond have. Smile

And then, there's Steve Howe's version of Turn of the Century with Annie Haslam in vocals.

I have often wondered how many speedboats were won/or nearly won on Bullseye? LOL

Psychedelic Paul wrote:

Rick Wakeman in conversation with Andy Fairweather Low, formerly of Amen Corner and more recently, part of Roger Waters' touring band. Is it just me, or is Andy Fairweather Low getting to look more like Jim Bowen of Bullseye! the older he gets? Super! Smashing! Great! Look what he could have won! Smile

Use to love watching Bullseye on a Sunday afternoon ''nothing for 2 in a bed!'' . The contestants used to look pretty miserable compared to todays quiz shows where they have to smile for all they are worth!

1999: Rick Wakeman - Return to the Centre of the Earth - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LsTzjhyPoSljWMK5h2ln9ce

This isn't just a remake. This is a whole new album, and sounding much better than the original too! Thumbs Up

Rick Wakeman - Buried Alive - featuring Ozzy Osbourne, the London Symphony Orchestra, the English Chamber Choir and Sir Patrick Stewart!

Rick Wakeman in conversation with Andy Fairweather Low, formerly of Amen Corner and more recently, part of Roger Waters' touring band. Is it just me, or is Andy Fairweather Low getting to look more like Jim Bowen of Bullseye! the older he gets? Super! Smashing! Great! Look what he could have won! Smile

Rick must have released nearly as many albums as Tangerine Dream, if not more! Confused

We've all heard of ELP's Pictures at an Exhibition, and now, Rick Wakeman invites us all to paint a picture whilst listening to the music on his brand new album, "A Gallery of the Imagination", which is available at all good art shops (probably), so paint brushes at the ready. Smile

Wakey's honest verdict on the album over at Rick's Plaice - http://www.rwcc.com/notices/agoti.php

2022: Rick Wakeman and the English Rock Ensemble - A Gallery of the Imagination - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTsFV6cfnk0

telefunk wrote:

Rick's "over the topness" needs to controlled. .

I would beg to differ and actually the reason I don't like The Red Planet is exactly that it doesn't have enough 'flourish' . Six Wives was a work of total bravado/bravura . It hit me hard as a fan of Keith Emerson because I didn't think anyone could out do Emerson on that level!! King Arthur is also full of synth solos ''look at me I'm brilliant'' and that's why I love Wakey!

In Yes he did learn to take a back seat and that probably rankled with him. By TFTO he was almost shunted into the sidings and it really shows. I would much rather hear Wakeman playing keys than endless Steve Howe noodling but there it is...