Wakeman, Rick

Artist: Rick Wakeman
P: 2002
This spectacular 94 minute concert was recorded live with the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra in 1975 in Australia.
 

Artist: Rick Wakeman
P: 2001
The two discs do not contain the original recordings. These tracks are played new.

Artist: Rick Wakeman
P: 2000
Compilation for the Yes keyboard maestro. 14 of his most cherished tracks assembled onto one disc for over 78 minutes of pure Wakeman. Remastered with 24 bit.

Artist: Rick Wakeman
P: 1999
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of his bestselling 1974 album Journey to the Centre of the Earth, keyboard maestro Rick Wakeman has created a conceptual opus that serves as both impressive sequel and ambitious revisitation to his original premise. Wakeman himself has continued the Jules Verne narrative, delivered here with flawless thespian diction by Patrick Stewart, and his music draws together a seamless cohesion of the London Symphony Orchestra, the English Chamber Choir, and guest vocalists including Ozzy Osbourne, Bonnie Tyler, Justin Hayward, Trevor Rabin, Katrina Leskanich, and Tony Mitchell. Wakeman can be accused of overindulgence in both arrangement and production, and, frankly, his talent as a lyricist leaves much to be desired. But even when this bravura effort slips into heavy-handed pretension (which fortunately isn't often), it's great to hear Journey reconceived with the state-of-the-art recording technology. Whether it's heard in its entirety or with music and narration tracks isolated, this is a dynamic recording that grows richer with each listening. Sure, it's likely to appeal primarily to Wakeman's fans and receptive converts, but overall this is a journey well worth taking.

Artist: Rick Wakeman
P: 2002
"Inspired by The Lord Of The Rings"
The Titles on this CD have been selected from and previously released on "The Seven Wonders Of The World" and "Heritage Suite" performed by Rick Wakeman and the compositions have been re-titled for the present compilation. Lothlorien, Rohan and the Grey Havens have some of Wakeman's best piano playing. The music is as relaxing as it is inspiring.

Artist: Rick Wakeman
P: 2001
A 2 CD retrospecitve on the solo career of one of rock music' s most prolific keyboard players, this includes tracks from his voluminous catalog of albums. Tracks include 'Merlin the Magician', 'Myths and Legends of King Arthur', 'Lancelot and the Black Knight', 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth', and more. 14 tracks packaged in a double 2 panel gatefold digipak from Purple Pyramid Records.

Artist: Rick Wakeman
P: 1991
On this album, Rick has re-recorded some of his best-known instrumentals, backed by David Paton on classical guitar and electric bass. The emphasis is on the classical side of Wakeman's style and work, and Wakeman's main instrument is a digital piano. 10 tracks, including 'Gone But Not Forgotten', 'After The Ball', 'They Hymn', 'Merlin The Magician' and more.

Artist: Rick Wakeman
P: 1991
Like the first Classical Connection album, this one is designed to highlight the classical side of Wakeman's playing -- the cover of "Eleanor Rigby" is "arranged in the style of Rick's 'hero composer' Prokofiev," according to the liner notes. Unlike its predecessor, this album features synthesizers as well as piano, and covers and new compositions along with re-recordings of Wakeman's older pieces. Fans will want this for the vintage track "Farandol," recorded during the Six Wives of Henry VIII sessions with Steve Howe, Chris Squire, and Bill Bruford. There are a couple of good new piano pieces as well. But this is not one of Wakeman's stronger albums; as with the first Classical Connection, the playing is not always top-notch. The electronics sometimes seem intrusive in this context, and regarding the re-recordings here, the originals were better.

Artist: Rick Wakeman
P: 2000
Although Rick Wakeman has recorded an enormous number of solo projects, this DVD-plus-CD set The Legend (Live in Concert 2000) must surely be the best in terms of sheer value, quite apart from the fact that the performance is very good. Even long after the glory days of Yes and his grandiose solo albums of the 1970s, Wakeman, the inventor of rock keyboards (before him there were pianists and organists, while after him there were programmers), remains a consummate performer. Taken from one of his one-man shows, in which he mixes musical items from his entire career with some expertly delivered anecdotes, there's something to please every fan. The dozen tracks on the DVD include extracts from his solo albums, some Yes music, the brilliant (and hilarious) "Nursery Rhyme Concerto," and much more, while his story about the theater organ in Seattle is alone worth the price of the set. The extra audio CD features all the music on the show, while the DVD itself has six extra audio-only tracks, plus a very funny biography and a photo gallery.
This breathtaking concert and album, recorded during Wakeman's UK 2000 tour, recaptures the magic and memories from this musical genius' life, including collaborations with Cat Stevens, the English Rock Ensemble and the legendary rock group Yes.