Rick Wakeman - Journey To The Centre Of The Earth (2012)

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Rick Wakeman - Journey To The Centre Of The Earth (2012)

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In a big picture this new full-fledge version is a masterpiece work as it tells the whole story with excellent music composition and orchestration. However, it has a very low point on the use of female vocal that really disrupts everything. Fortunately not every vocal line uses female.

My view on original recorded live version (1974)

This album is a BIG thing for me personally. The first time I knew this album was the first period I was introduced to progressive rock world by my brother, Henky, who then was the radio broadcaster for Geronimo radio station based in Yogya, Central Java. That was the time of my "right-placed childhood" (ugh .. what is it? It's an antithesis of Marillion "mis"placed childhood as I was so fortunate that I had a great big brother who forced me to prog ). He just gave me a "naked" cassette with no title at all, sent to me in Madiun, a small town in East Java. I remember that the recording quality was very poor. And at that time I never heard any kind of music with a lot of narration like this album. But the cassette really BLEW me!!! I played it everyday almost 2 or 3 times and not knowing who the artist/band was. I finally realized the artist behind the cassette after I catch a compilation of songs produced by Prambors radio (Jakarta) in which an edited version of "Journey" was listed and yeah RICK WAKEMAN mannnnn!!! Wow .. no wonder! By that time I only knew RW through his involvement in YESsongs and Fragile.

I admire on the high quality standard of this recorded live album. It's so fascinating music that has always made my adrenalin EXPLODED when I listen to this album! I mean it, my friend. No joke at all for a man as great as Mr. Wakeman! He's the greatest keyboard player I have ever known in my life. Needless to say that the overall composition of this album is definitely, absolutely top class! By that time I was not aware any inclusion of orchestra in rock music composition (later I knew DEEP PURPLE's Concerto for Groups and Orchestra and JON LORD's Windows).

About this 2012 version

Thanks to Amazon UK who delivered my fanpack copy faster than I expected. The first impression about this is off course the package which is really excellent especially the Classic Rock magz that describe the whole story about this seminal work from Rick Wakeman. Having read the story I realized that Journey was supposed to be the first solo album by Wakeman. But due to lucrative investment cost he then recorded the Six Wives first until it reached commercial success and used the proceeding to finance the recorded live version in 1974.

On the content of the CD itself I am pleased to hear the introductory narration by Peter Egan as the original narrator died in 2003. It's OK with this new one even though the powerful word of " the Hansbach!" is different in energy than the original version (sounded much more dynamic than the current one). The overture is really beautiful it is now recorded in digital era, the sound production is quite clear. I am really disappointed when the female voice starts to enter the music - it's really the lowest point of this version. It's nt that I don't like female voice but she does not sing charismatically so the music tends to be mellow like typical pop song.

The high point of this new version is when the album reaches The Battle - Cumulus Clouds - The Story - The Cemetary. For those who love this album I guarantee that you would like this new version better when it comes to The Battle. Oh man … I love the dynamics of this piece as it starts wonderfully with Rick's inventive keyboard work. For some reason, I find this new version is much more compelling than the 1974 version. The keyboard solo is much more dynamic and it makes me really hooked with this piece. I keep repeating this piece when it reaches The Battle. I love the parts where it reaches SAVE ME … SAVE ME …as well as PRAISE GOD …PRAISE GOD! Oh maaaaannn ….this is really a real progrock music! Yeah! Not only that, there is an addition 1 minute piece at the end of The Battle and its transition piece. It's sooooo wonderful I tell you! The narration part in Cumulus Clouds is really beautiful. The Story demonstrates great keyboard solo by Rick and it fits beautifully with The Battle. It then flows to The Cemetery (narration) nicely.

This is for sure an excellent addition to any prog music collection. Keep on proggin' ..!!

by Gatot, progarchives

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Rick Wakeman Biography:

Born in Perivale, Middlesex, England, Rick Wakeman's interest in music manifested itself very early, and from the age of seven on he studied classical piano. At the age of 14, he joined a local band, Atlantic Blues, the same year he left school to enroll in the Royal College of Music. He had his eye on a career as a concert pianist, but Wakeman was dismissed from the college after it became clear that he preferred playing in clubs to studying technique.

By his late teens, he was an established session man, playing on records by such diverse acts as Black Sabbath, Brotherhood of Man, and Edison Lighthouse. At the end of the '60s, his name also began appearing on the credits of albums by such artists as Al Stewart and David Bowie, and one set of sessions with a folk-rock band called the Strawbs led to his joining the group in 1970. After two albums with the Strawbs, Wakeman joined Yes, a post-psychedelic hard rock band that had attracted considerable attention with their first three albums. Wakeman played a key role in the final shape of the group's fourth record, Fragile, creating a fierce, swirling sound on an array of electric and acoustic pianos, synthesizers, and Mellotrons. Fragile was a hit, driven by the chart success of the single "Roundabout," and Wakeman was suddenly elevated to star status.

Yes' next album, Close to the Edge, expanded his audience and his appeal, for his instruments were heard almost continually on the record. During the making of Close to the Edge in 1972, Wakeman also recorded his first solo album, an instrumental work entitled The Six Wives of Henry VIII, which consisted of his musical interpretations of the lives and personalities of the said six royal spouses. Released early in 1973 on A&M Records, it performed respectably on the charts. Public reception of Yes' 1974 album, Tales From Topographic Oceans, was mixed, and the critics were merciless in their attacks upon the record. Wakeman exited the group before the album's supporting tour. His new solo album, Journey to the Center of the Earth, adapted from the writings of Jules Verne and featuring a rock band, narrator (David Hemmings), and full orchestral and choral accompaniment, was released to tremendous public response in both America and England, where it topped the charts. In 1975, his next album, The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, was given a grand-scale premiere at Wembley's Empire Pool, although it also cost Wakeman a fortune to stage the event on ice. During this same period, Wakeman began working on film scores with the music for Ken Russell's Lisztomania, which was a modest hit.

In 1977, Wakeman returned to Yes, with which he has continued recording and touring. His solo career continued on A&M into the end of the '70s, with Criminal Record and Rhapsodies, which were modestly successful. Wakeman's biggest media splash during this period, however, came through his alleged role in getting the Sex Pistols dropped by A&M Records soon after being signed. None of this bothered his fans, which rapidly expanded to encompass those he picked up through his work with lyricist Tim Rice on a musical adaptation of George Orwell's 1984, and his burgeoning film work, which included the music to movies about the 1976 Winter Olympics and the 1982 soccer World Cup competition. Additionally, he became a regular on Britain's Channel 4. Wakeman's audience and reputation survived the 1980s better than almost any progressive rock star of his era, as he continued releasing albums on his own label. He also remained associated with Yes into the '90s.

by Bruce Eder, AllMusic

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Rick Wakeman - Journey To The Centre Of The Earth (2012)

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Многодетный отец, любитель гольфа и спортивных автомобилей, настоящий христианин и бывший алкоголик, обладатель неуживчивого характера – этот человек известен всему миру как неординарный клавишник и плодовитый музыкант. Ричард Кристофер Уэйкман родился 18 мая 1949 года. Первое знакомство мальчика с клавишами состоялось в шесть лет, когда родители наняли ему учителя по фортепиано. В школьные годы Рик продолжал осваивать этот инструмент, участвовал в фестивалях и неоднократно выигрывал конкурсы. В 1961 году он собрал свою первую команду – джаз-бэнд «Brother Wakeman and the Clergyman». Примерно в то же время Рик попробовал играть на кларнете и на церковном органе. В 1963-м молодой Уэйкман присоединился к блюзовой группе «The Atlantic Blues», но по прошествии двух лет перебрался в танцевальный квартет «Concords».

Выступления на свадьбах и вечеринках отвлекали Рика от «классических» занятий, однако в 1968 году он принял решение поступить в Королевский Музыкальный Колледж. Помимо изучения фортепиано, кларнета, современной музыки и оркестровки Уэйкман продолжал играть на танцах и даже начал пробовать себя в звукозаписи. В конце концов, тяга к вольной жизни взяла свое, и Рик ушел из колледжа, заделавшись сессионным музыкантом. Среди артистов, пользовавшихся услугами молодого клавишника, были Дэвид Боуи, Кэт Стивенс, «Black Sabbath», Эл Стюарт и другие.

Rick Wakeman В 1970 году Уэйкман присоединился к «Strawbs», где впервые ощутил вкус популярности. Однако это была лишь прелюдия к успеху, и уже в августе 1971-го Рик оказался в стане знаменитых прогрессоров «Yes», а к концу года обзавелся и сольным контрактом. Если первая его пластинка прошла незамеченной, то вторая, «The Six Wives Of Henry VIII», заставила обратить на себя внимание. Настоящий же прорыв в сольной карьере случился в 1974 году, когда вышел диск «Journey To The Centre Of The Earth». Основанный на романе Жюля Верна и записанный с Лондонским Симфоническим Оркестром, этот альбом оказался в горячих десятках многих стран мира. Но ореол славы имел и обратную сторону. Напряженные гастроли и увлечение алкоголем привели к сердечному приступу, случившемуся с Уэйкманом прямо на сцене во время австралийского тура. Однако и в больнице Рик не отдыхал, а за несколько недель, проведенные там, написал материал для «Myths & Legends Of King Arthur».

Этот альбом имел хороший успех, чего нельзя было сказать о вышедшем в том же году саундтреке к фильму Кена Рассела «Lisztomania». Выпустив концептуальную пластинку «No Earthly Connection» и звуковую дорожку «White rock», посвященную зимней Олимпиаде в Инсбруке, Уэйкман вернулся в состав «Yes» и продолжил работу на два фронта. С приходом панка интерес к творчеству Рика заметно снизился, однако ни этот факт, ни потрясения в личной жизни не сломили музыканта. В 1981 году Уэйкман скооперировался с известным текстовиком Тимом Райсом для записи серьезного опуса «1984», основанного на романе Оруэлла.

Rick WakemanВ 1982-м вышел еще один «спортивный» альбом Рика, «G’ole!», в котором отразилось увлечение знаменитого клавишника футболом. Спустя два года композиция Уэйкмана «Glory boys» получила на радио «тяжелую ротацию», однако обзавестись хит-синглом ему так и не удалось по причине банкротства дистрибьюторской компании. В середине 80-х в жизни Рика произошли два интересных события: он бросил пить и обратился к музыке нью-эйдж. Его наилучшим достижением в новом стиле стал диск «Country Airs», продержавшийся в чартах более 20 недель. После выпуска концептуального альбома «Time Machine» (по роману Герберта Уэллса) и очередного реюниона «Yes» Уэйкман издал серию пластинок в духе эмбиент. В 1994 году во время благотворительного американского тура был записан «The Piano Album», где Рик играл только на рояле.

Где-то в это же время у музыканта появилась задумка сделать сиквел на «Journey To The Centre Of The Earth». Однако прошло целых пять лет, прежде чем идею удалось претворить в жизнь, и «Return To The Centre Of The Earth» появился в 25-летнюю годовщину выхода оригинального произведения. Как и множество других музыкантов, Рик не обошел вниманием наступление миллениума и приурочил к этому событию альбом «Preludes To A Century». В том же 2000 году Уэйкман в который раз пережил развод, и в который раз реформировал свою группу «English Rock Ensemble». С ней клавишник провел длительные гастроли и записал очередной диск, «Out there», а вскоре после этого вновь был замечен в компании бывших коллег по «Yes».

~ LastFm

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Rick Wakeman - Journey To The Centre Of The Earth (2012)

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Rick Wakeman - Journey To The Centre Of The Earth (2012)

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