RICK WAKEMAN'S GREATEST HITS

Unoriginal

Don't be mislead by the title here, this double CD may include some of Wakeman's (and Yes') best know works, but these are not the original versions. It is in fact a "home made" re-recording by Wakeman alone (OK, with a drummer and a bass player), of a mixture of his solo works and those of Yes.

Disc two is all Wakeman compositions, and is dominated by "Journey to the centre of the earth" in full. No vocals or orchestra, just synthesisers. While entertaining, it does become somewhat tedious and lacking in variety the longer it goes on. By the end of disc one, your left gasping for something which sounds even slightly different.

Disc one is the same, but with Yes numbers rather than Wakeman. The best way to hear these is to listen to one track at a time, not he whole disc in one go. By doing so, numbers such as the extended "Starship trooper" spring into life as a highly enjoyable interpretation. This version is based more on the "Keys to ascension" version than the "Yes album" original, ending as it does with a quickening pace, and screaming synthesisers in the final "Wurm" section.

This release smacks a bit of being little more than a money making project, especially in view of the "economical with the truth" title. The tracks are best taken in small doses, not heard as a complete piece, but in that context, they do at times have considerable merit, especially the Yes pieces.

This compilation is terrible. The problem is not that the song selection is poor. The problem is that Wakeman has destroyed all these classics into dull synthesizer-drenched covers. The music sounds like midi files because everything is electronic, and cheap-sounding.

The First Disc are all covers of Yessongs. Roundabout is the most enjoyable of them all with an extended keyboard solo, but if you want yes covers, buy 'two sides of yes' or hear the Starship Trooper cover in 'Fields of Green'. Those are done better and with better keyboards.

The second disc is a compilation of some of his best songs including Journey To The Center of The Earth, but they sound badly here. As I stated before, it feels like listening to midi files. If you want a compilation, buy any other compilation besides this one.

My Grade : F

I think this double CD was a really big disappointment, closing the measurements of a product hoax to be frank. The tempting Roger Dean covers made me to buy it, and I found for my disappointment that none of the recordings are original: Both Yes compositions and his own classic tracks were hastily re-recorded in a home studio with a lame rhythm section, and the results are as boring and flat as normal elevator music. Luckily I got this sold away, and I recommend you to keep a distance for it. It is difficult to realize how anybody would launch this kind of products to the markets.