The Ultimate Rick Wakeman Experience [Box]

Performer: Rick Wakeman
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: Personnel: Rick Wakeman (keyboards); Jon Anderson (vocals); Steve Howe (guitar); Chris Squire (bass guitar); Bill Bruford (drums). This is a strange triple-CD compendium of Rick Wakeman's work, representing solo and group repertory from across his career. It isn't quite what it would lead one to think it was -- a compilation of his work from established recordings in his output; rather, it is apparently assembled from live performances, although there's no audience sound or talk between the songs (you can usually tell by the timbre of the drums, if nothing else); and the songs are not always listed in correct order, in addition to the fact that some are not listed at all; so in that regard, it reminds one of any number of early-'70s bootleg live albums, on which the producers couldn't be bothered to check the real titles of the songs performed, or break a medley down into its component songs. That said, it should also be stated that this is not a bootleg, though it is sort of "gray market." On the plus side, the selection of material includes music from virtually every corner of Wakeman's post-1970 career, even "Starship Trooper," which he really inherited from Tony Kaye on joining Yes; and speaking of Yes, one major surprise here is "Revealing Science of God" from what was reportedly Wakeman's least favorite classic Yes album, Tales from Topographic Oceans. And if you like Wakeman's playing, there's a lot to love in this set. We get fresh interpretations of early works such as "Catherine Howard" and "Catherine of Aragon" from The Six Wives of Henry VIII, plus bracing renditions of "The Myths and Legends of King Arthur & the Knights of the Round Table" and "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (sans orchestra) -- except on this last, the other musicians (all uncredited) are mostly not quite up to Wakeman's standard, but he is so much of the show that it hardly makes a difference, and even the absence of Jon Anderson on the Yes repertory vocals can be forgiven -- it's not like they've done "Revealing Science of God" in too many shows since the mid-'70s. And then there are the covers of repertory well outside of Wakeman's own orbit, including a synthesizer-driven "Paint It Black," which are as unexpected as anything else here -- the latter may not add much to the original, but it is great fun, and perhaps that's the real beauty of this collection, that it harkens back to a time when prog rock was as much fun as it was serious. Oh, and the notes are very thorough, even though they tell us nothing of the origins of these recordings. ~ Bruce Eder

Keyboardist Rick Wakeman (who also played with the Strawbs and several other acts as a session player in the 1960s) began releasing solo albums while still a member of Yes, and let no grass grow under his feet after leaving that band for good in 1979. The ever-inventive composer and player has released over 100 albums since the '70s (nine in 1991 alone) and played on many more. With elaborate stage-shows (including a King Arthur on Ice in 1975 at Wembley Pool) and a musical style that balances prog rock with new age and just about every other keyboard-based pop style in between, he's carved a unique niche for himself. Between releasing albums, he also scores films, has hosted a weekly radio program, and is a familiar face on British chat shows.

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