Rick Wakeman appreciation thread

Hi Dellinger,

I think Rick is a dashingly handsome lad, though getting a bit long in the tooth compared to a kid like Justin Bieber...

As far as his music:

Journey & King Arthur are two of the best albums ever recorded, let alone being keyboard driven albums, I mean as  albums in general.  Wakeman is among the great three keyboardists that I can think of, in no particular order:

Rick Wakeman
Keith Emerson
Tony Banks

YES hit the lottery when they added him on Fragile.

Can't say enough great things about his work.

Rick keep saying that his classic A&M recordings - Henry VIII to White Rock will be remastered from the original masters (first time ever, as all prior CDs of No Earthly Connection & White Rock have come from very clean records).  I continue to wait until that day comes.  That will be a great day indeed!

In case if you haven't heard his "Six Wives of Henry VIII", I highly recommend the following track, which is so prog. My personal favorite that seems to have a lot of soul put into it:

Edited by Dayvenkirq - March 15 2012 at 22:24

Originally posted by brainstormer I had "6 Wives" and "Criminal Record" as a teen and loved them...it took me a while to warm to his other stuff, but I like it now.   I guess when you develop a more classical direction than rock, like I have over the years, you sometimes appreciate the cleaner more classically-based prog, and his stuff is right there for that kind of music.   The lyrics and singing are also usually very good.

Originally posted by richardh I think I appreciate him more as a personality than a musician. He went through a distinctly weird phase around about 1980 when his personal problems (booze) seemed to overtake him. I remember him saying he was bankrupt but couldn't understand why ( I guess the 7 Rollers he purchased might have had something to do with it). What I really like about Rick is that he's a proper bloke. Enjoys his currys and the ermm aforementioned booze. Likes to moan about the government and stuff. He is also a commited Christian which even makes him a bit enigmatic.   Over the years I've collected various CD's and DVD's (you virtually can't avoid bumping into them there are so many) and seen him live (solo, with Yes and also the stand up routine). Great fun really.   The albums I like the most are 6 Wives , Criminal Record and King Arthur. All of those rank alongside the best keyboard based prog albums ever made. I have also given positive reviews to the Retro albums whihc have been unfairly overlooked/dismissed by many fans. OK they have Mr Holt 'singing' on them but there is much to enjoy depsite that. I also love the recent Six Wives DVD.   Overall I feel that Rick could have achieved a lot more than he has. Too many medicore releases would be a kind way of putting it. Those few gems make it for it though.

Originally posted by MattGuitat I, ve never listened to his solo music, but Roundabout was the first time I ever appreciated the keyboard in music and Close to the Edge is the greatest key solo of all time. OF ALL TIME.

Hey MG,

Yaaaehhh Rick Wakeman!!!

Thanks to him I was into prog before I got really into prog.  The culprits:



I got the LPs through Columbia Record House club.  Gatefold covers and LP size booklets!!!


Edited by Slartibartfast - March 16 2012 at 09:00

That's something I'd really like to get my hands on.  I've never heard it. 

I've have White Rock and Rhapsodies on LP.  I go Criminal Record on CD (had LP) as soon as I could.

Regarding the avatar, it is taken from our wedding cake topper that I concocted:





Edited by Slartibartfast - March 16 2012 at 10:02

I've never been a Yes-Fan, but this is surely not due to Rick Wakeman - it's got more to do with Jon Anderson !!!
Having said this, I'm highly treasuring Rick a very fine musician because of his contributions to other projects:
"Morning has broken" f.e., where he and Cat Stevens made the perfect duo on piano,
or the ( rather unexpected cause very simplistic ) performances Rick added to "Electric Warrior" ( T. Rex ).
This may be strange for a lover of his Yes-output, but I had to say it: Rick is fabulous !
I'd like to have him play on my songs, too !

Criminal Record remains to this day one of my favourite albums.

Originally posted by lazland Criminal Record remains to this day one of my favourite albums. When he is good, he is excellent, although, by his own admission, some of his stuff was to pay off the bank and ex-wives and total dross.

1984?