Entertainment For Lively Minds
The 100 albums of Rick Wakeman
I heard Rick Wakeman on the radio recently, and it reminded me that although I listened to and enjoyed his 70s albums at the time– I had a friend who was a big Wakeman fan – I had never bought any. I was mildly curious to see if there was a Best of album available, and so I looked up his website. I discovered that compilations do exist, but what amazed me was that there are about 100 original albums listed as well. I’d assumed that he hadn’t recorded much since stuff like The Six Wives of Henry VIII, and had mainly been involved with various Yes reformations, droll TV appearances and the odd low key tour.
I’m not sure what this proves, except that he has managed to construct a career which most of us aren’t aware of, but which has lasted about ten times longer that his years of fame and big-selling albums. There’s probably a lot of this going on, which outside of the hard-core fan base, gets no publicity.
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My favourite Rick Wakeman story
He relates that after his appearances on things like Grumpy Old Men he attracted a demographic who were unaware of his prior career as ivory botherer to the glitterati to his solo shows. After one such gig a little old lady came up to him and asked if he'd ever made a CD? "About a hundred!" he replied. "Oh" she said. "...and did you manage to sell them all?"
Probably
Like most former enormodome-bothering rock gods with several divorces behind him there is still a living to be made thrashing up the motorways playing local town halls for devotees of his past hits. He is quite entertaining with the ivories and banter and there is always an opportunity after the show to get up close and personal with whatever of his 100 CDs you own. The smallest venue I saw him play was Horwich Leisure Centre, outside Bolton, to less than 200 people.
Saw him last year at St. Georges on Park Street, Bristol
billed as 'An Evening With....' and it was fantastic value. Just Rick and a Steinway, virtually unamplified. Some Yes numbers, some classical pieces written by dead people, some Rick classical pieces and some mucking about pieces, all laced together with droll anecdotes. There must have been about 200 people there, at most, and the atmosphere was relaxed and jovial from the off. A highly recommended night out.
Interesting Stuff
but was even more astonished to see he's on Songs of Praise this Sunday performing some of his favourite hymns !!
I believe he's a born again Christian
Morning Has Broken
IIRC he played on Cat Stevens version of this lovely hymn.
He has abysmal taste in vocalists; his solo albums have some of the worst singing in the history of recorded music.
Yes it's the piano part on that ..
.. that makes it as successful as it is. And apparently they paid him a tenner, and didn't even credit him. I'm not a Christian,or a religious type at all, but boy does that recording communicate something profound.
This'll be Wakeman after a few heavy kebabs and a trip to Get An Afro ..
.. A very rare example of an openly religious recording being extremely successful in musical terms. Of course so many of the best tunes are under legal ownership of the Devil. It's certainly an interesting point of debate why this seems to be the case.
Love him
I think he's great. Self deprecating but seriously good, not that I have many of his albums. "6 wives" remains an absolute stone classic though.
Him and Jon Anderson
Did a tour together which was thoroughly entertaining - the album was a bit bad though.
He's entertaining as a comedian but an awful musician,
in terms of originality. Obviously a very talented pianist, but a dreadful composer. Cleverly opportunist career-wise (Yes and then the solo rubbish).
Can anyone name or sing anything he's written?
No, apart from the great piano parts to Life On Mars and Morning Has Broken.
I could hum most of Six Wives
as mentioned above, it's a classic
Me too.
As well as huge chunks of the progtastic hoot that is Journey To The Centre Of The Earth. Not to mention dollops of early Strawbs music, various Yes themes, and the piano parts to oodles of great 70s albums. Check out Harvey Andrews' debut album, Writer Of Songs to hear how Rick's keyboards enrich the experience.
Most of his 90's output
Mate of mine did the cover designs for most of the 90's stuff.
Thought you'd be impressed...