Criminal Record: Wakeman
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Recommendations/Featured albums
Forum Description: Make or seek recommendations and discuss specific prog albums
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=31093
Printed Date: August 05 2025 at 04:18
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Topic: Criminal Record: Wakeman
Posted By: scaudill
Subject: Criminal Record: Wakeman
Date Posted: November 14 2006 at 16:39
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Just received Criminal Record on CD from http://www.hip-oselect.com - sounds great. All you guys probably know about the limited edition of this disc, but just in case I thought I'd put it out there. This, along with No Earthly Connection and 6 Wives are at the top of my all-time favorite Wakeman offerings. FYI, I got a 'remastered' version of NEC as a birthday gift a couple of years ago which was purchased off of Ebay. Was it on a CD? Yes. (no pun intended) Was it re-mastered? Well, if there is such a thing off of an LP recording, then maybe. So, just be wary of Ebay 're-masters.' (Although, I am glad to have it on CD) Got to get back to the Chamber of Horrors! |
Replies:
Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: November 14 2006 at 21:56
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Excellent!
Criminal Record is simply amazing! ------------- Follow me on twitter @memowakeman |
Posted By: progrocklover
Date Posted: November 14 2006 at 22:11
| Rick Wakemans stuff from the 70's is first class progressive rock and I think Criminal records is his best effort ever. |
Posted By: Gatot
Date Posted: November 14 2006 at 22:25
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I love NEC very much. I also love Criminal Records ... Cheers, |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 02:20
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Two of my favorite albums by Rick, I even paid a very high price for a Japanese release when none of both was availlable anywhere else.
Judas Iscariot has to be one of the Prog Seven Wonders.
Iván ------------- 
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Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 02:21
Great album indeed, you just don't get better and more vital Wakeman than this one, along with the three previous master-efforts. 
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Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 02:35
NEC is beautiful smack in your face prog!!! Not had a chance to test CR yet ------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: The Whistler
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 02:37
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So, that rat Wakeman's got a criminal record, eh? My heroes never did anything obscene in public...  ------------- "There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson |
Posted By: martinprog77
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 02:54
great album  ------------- Nothing can last there are no second chances. Never give a day away. Always live for today. |
Posted By: The Whistler
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 03:01
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Yes, I really think that the Ian With a Flute on his Crotch album truly captured the band at his best. ------------- "There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson |
Posted By: KoS
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 03:08
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The Whistler wrote:Posted By: The Whistler
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 03:15
Yeah, but it's kinda difficult to get into. Some people find it, uh, a little hard on the ears, if you know what I mean... ------------- "There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson |
Posted By: smithers
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 03:40
| how did you find No earthly connestion on cd? i thought it was never issued on cd. 6 wives and NE are my faves, but I still haven't heard Criminal record |
Posted By: prog4evr
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 03:41
Definitely! Recorded at the same time (with the same church choir in Switzerland) that Yes recorded 'Going for the One,' that song and the whole album delivers so well from Wakeman. Alan White's drumming is as inspired here as it is on Awaken from 'Going....' Chris Squire as always is in good form on bass. No other member from Yes at that time was used on the album - didn't need 'em! Wakeman has always been able to fill in all the high and middle ends by himself on the battery on keyboards at his disposal.
Thanks for the heads up of getting the CD on-line. Haven't had the album for years now....
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Posted By: Certif1ed
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 03:46
I agree - Wakeman should never have done anything so obscene in public - especially with the horses on ice... 
I was wondering exactly which record was most criminal - but I suppose a career of music that cheesey constitutes a criminal record in itself... ------------- The important thing is not to stop questioning. |
Posted By: The Whistler
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 03:55
Honestly, I got nothin' against ole Richard there. Well, expect for the capes maybe...
 ------------- "There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson |
Posted By: mystic fred
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 04:17
Rick Wakeman's influence and contribution to Prog and rock music in general round the world is incalculable. He was born less than a mile from my house (Perivale, Middlesex), it's not a bad neighbourhood but ironically if he appeared on my street few would recognise him as an international Rock Star (apart from "that bloke on Grumpy Old Men") but he probably would be mobbed on the streets of LA or RIO. My local used record store has a bargain bin full of his LP's for 95 pence (one of which, "King Arthur", i hadn't heard for years and couldn't resist picking up). I might pop back there one day to check if they've got "Criminal Record", can't go wrong for 95p - so hooray for irony! 
-------------  Prog Archives Tour Van 
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Posted By: salmacis
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 06:35
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'Criminal Record' is not too bad, really. It's his last listenable one until 'Return To The Centre Of The Earth'. Some of it is great, like 'Statue Of Justice', 'Judas Iscariot' and best of all, the lovely 'Birdman Of Alcatraz'. Other songs are let down by Wakeman's corny bits, like 'Crime Of Passion's cheesy synths and 'Chamber Of Horrors', a fine track let down by a nauseating cod reggae part and a stupid, hammy scream. Let's forget about 'The Breathalyzer'.
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Posted By: Moribund
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 09:51
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Yes, his best other than 6 Wives. Helped by being mostly instrumental and tougher in sound (thanks to the rhythm section!) though marred by those polysynths and birotrons which were thinning out the once great vintage sound Wakeman used to deliver (viz Topographic Oceans). A couple of tracks DEFINITELY sound like he stayed late behind at some of the Going for the One sessions and left the tape running while he improvised, returning later to add some overdubs. Not that I'm complaining. And yes there are the cheesy bits - but is there a Wakeman solo that doesn't have a 'Silly Old Rick" bit on it somewhere? My biggest reason for claiming that Wakeman's best work was his contribution to Yes (and I'm gonna controversially focus that on Tales from Topographic Oceans - I know, I know...) was the obvious quality control his colleagues must have exercised over his contribution. Great album! ------------- New Progressive Rock Live show now touring UK theatres! www.masterpiecestheconcert.co.uk |
Posted By: greenback
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 12:41
it is criminal to not own the criminal record!
guilty people will be sent to jail and be forced to listen to britney all day! ------------- [HEADPINS - LINE OF FIRE: THE RECORD HAVING THE MOST POWERFUL GUITAR SOUND IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF MUSIC!> |
Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 13:36
or to..."other" Wakeman albums.  -------------
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Posted By: piltdown man
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 13:54
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Interesting to read all the posts in this subject. I have Criminal Record on LP and haven´t listened to it for a long while - the recordplayer doesn´t work. I have some of the tracks on compilation albums but I tried to recollect my feelings for the whole album reading your posts.
First I thought - yeah that is a really great album with some fantastic songs, as mentioned 'Statue Of Justice', 'Judas Iscariot' 'Birdman Of Alcatraz'.
Then Salmacis pointed ot "the cheesy bits" and I remembered how those bits sometimes almost ruined the the songs for me.
And then Moribund that one rarely find a Wakeman album without "the cheesy bits" and I guess I have to admit that it is probably a part of the Wakeman-sound. If you like Wakeman you have to take the good with the bad...
Thanks to all different YES memebers for keeping most of "the cheesy bits" out of their albums.
Still I think Criminal Record is a great album!
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Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 14:23
Seems you haven't heard Jon's solo stuff or Jon & Vangelis tracks as Friend of Mr Cairo or The Bird Song........Cheesy gets short with that.
Iván -------------
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Posted By: piltdown man
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 14:53
Seems you haven't heard Jon's solo stuff or Jon & Vangelis tracks as Friend of Mr Cairo or The Bird Song........Cheesy gets short with that.
Iván
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Sorry, I didn´t express myself clearly - what I really meant was keeping most of "the cheesy bits" out of the YES albums. And still there are som of those bits, I know, but not that cheesy.
I have heard Jons solo stuff and some of the work with Vangelis and Oldfield so I know what you mean!
It must have been hard for Squire and the other YES-members fighting down the "bad" sides of both Wakeman and Jon!
And I guess it shows the importance of doing things together and take the better parts from each other.
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Posted By: salmacis
Date Posted: November 15 2006 at 16:09
| Ivan has a point, actually. I find Anderson's loopy 'Olias Of Sunhillow' to be cornier than Wakeman's 70s output by some way. |
Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: November 16 2006 at 06:33
I got a an excellent paper sleeve copy through Amazon.co.jp, and I must admit I really like this album, although I am not sure what I would make of it if Wakeman released it NOW. (i.e. My enjoyment of it could be sheer nostalgia.) As for CRIMINAL RECORD, I agree that 'Statue of Justice' is one of Rick's strongest compositions ever, but most of the rest of the album is fluff. How I wish Rick would stay away from church organs and heavenly choirs - he makes them sound SO tacky! |
Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: November 16 2006 at 06:40
I dunno - have you heard Chris Squire's FISH OUT OF WATER? And did you ever see the promotional video for the opening track, 'Hold out your Hand', with Chris wearing a Japanese woman's kimono? (It's included in the Yes Years collection.) Apparently pearl necklaces, spandex and high-heeled furry boots were not cheesy enough for our friend the Fish!
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Posted By: Phil
Date Posted: November 16 2006 at 08:58
I got the japanese CD release of NEC from Amazon I think after having had an awful (but better than nothing) Russian release/bootleg. Apparently the original masters of the album have been lost so the japanese did a great job in copying it onto CD - sounds like a proper re-master job to me!
Yes it is difficult to get it now - ditto White Rock (I), and Criminal record - if you ever see the Jap releases come up do go for them! I'm (fingers x'd) going for Criminal record but as I'm bidding on e-bay for it at the mo I shouldn't be saying that should I....
) |
Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: November 16 2006 at 09:13
Long live WHITE ROCK (1)! It's an inspired album which shows Rick was not completely lost at this time. |
Posted By: cuncuna
Date Posted: November 16 2006 at 10:01
??????? ------------- ¡Beware of the Bee! |
Posted By: The Owl
Date Posted: November 16 2006 at 11:56
(donning flame suit) To me, with the SOLE exception of "Six Wives of Henry The 8th" ALL of Wakeman's records were criminal! I think he functoned well in the context of Yes, but his composing leaves much to be desired for me, not to mention the fact that his albums are just PURE cheez-whiz (the "King Arthur-" album being one of THE worst offenders to me, it made abad Broadway musical sound like Shakespeare by comparasion)-ARRRRRRRGH!.   ------------- People are puzzled why I don't dig the Stones, well, I listened to the Stones, I tried, and I tried, and I tried, and--I Can't Get No Satisfaction! www.myspace.com/theowlsmusic |
Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: November 16 2006 at 12:59
What's with the question marks, Q.? Can you be a little more explicit? |
Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: November 16 2006 at 13:02
Have you actually heard WHITE ROCK? |
Posted By: progadicto
Date Posted: November 16 2006 at 14:09
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Criminal Record is one of the best Wakeman albums that I've heard... simply amazing, totally prog, full of classic inffluences... Judas Iscariot is my favourite track... simply awsome...
------------- ... E N E L B U N K E R... |
Posted By: The Owl
Date Posted: November 16 2006 at 14:29
I did, can;t say it left a good impression on me though, just more cheez-whiz. ------------- People are puzzled why I don't dig the Stones, well, I listened to the Stones, I tried, and I tried, and I tried, and--I Can't Get No Satisfaction! www.myspace.com/theowlsmusic |
Posted By: salmacis
Date Posted: November 16 2006 at 15:06
| I'm afraid not- 'cheez whiz' it isn't, with the exception of 'Montezuma's Revenge' which is daft. 'White Rock' is one of Wakeman's best for keyboard work of all time, other than that. Two gorgeous, elegant piano/mellotron led instrumentals in 'After The Ball' and 'The Loser' which are completely shorn of cheese and without the blandness that his 80s New Age albums are full of. Lots of synth workouts elsewhere. |
Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: November 16 2006 at 15:28
Now here speaks the Voice of Reason! I particularly like the album because of 'Lax'x', probably the most experimental keyboard piece Wakeman ever conceived. One of the reviewers on this site (can't remember who!) seems to dislike the tune because of its weird and ominous mellotron sounds, but it's precisely these sounds, together with the strange and quirky structure of the piece, its sudden pipe-organ eruptions and unsettling percussion effects, that I find endearing. You can say lots of bad things about Wakeman, and I'll be the first to admit that he recorded loads of tripe, but if, for once, he does something truly original, you've got to give him his due. |
Posted By: salmacis
Date Posted: November 16 2006 at 15:33
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The thing I like about Wakeman is how approachable he seems, too. Classic Rock once said he was 'as bluff as is music is overblown'. He has a self effacing nature which you wouldn't expect. What's more, his website is great- he pretty much admits a lot of those 80s albums were duff!
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Posted By: scaudill
Date Posted: November 18 2006 at 02:14
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Well, I'm glad to have sparked such a lively debate! I'll second the cheers for White Rock. I found that on vinyl what, 20 years ago in a bin of discs doomed for dumpster-dom. Hadn't heard of it, but loved every bloody second of it. By the way... just in case anyone wants something else to 'discuss' - I love Crimes of Passion and A Suite of Gods. Have at it! Just recently rediscovered Ozric Tentacles. Hadn't listened to them in many years. Good stuff! -s |
Posted By: salmacis
Date Posted: November 18 2006 at 07:30
| I never heard those 80s albums. To be honest, I've steered clear of it after what I did hear- bland new age or AOR with dated keyboards. |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: November 18 2006 at 11:44
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The problem with Rick was caused by the label A&M, he made a terrible contract being young.
I believe all his albums until Criminal Record are outstanding but A&M owned all the rights so when he got rid of the label he had to record albums to survive but they were already in the 80's and Symphonic overblown Prog was not fashion, so he went for New Age that was profitable.
I read he asked A&M to release Criminal Record and No Earthly Connection on CD but they were not interested (They sold the rights to a Japanese company that released a very short number of copies at an incredibly high price) so he asked to buy the rights again and A&M said no way.
He had to wait 25 years (That's the lapse international laws grant to the publishers) torelease those albums again by himself.
So llets not judge an artist without knowing his circumstances, he had two alternatives, live poorly witrh the little royalties A&M paid him or make a lot of New Age albums during an era when Prog was not popular, s theguy had to survive
Don't mix the excellent Myths and Legends with the ridiculous Hollyday oon Ice version based in his music, which BTW is not his fault, his concerts were planned but during the same time (I believe it was the Wembley Arena) an Ice Show was taking place diring the day, so it was to expensive to melt the ice in the night and freeze it again i the morning so his producers accepted to do that aberration.
Yep, I found it in the net:
So don't blame Rick for everything, his managers plus A&M are to be blamed for a lot of the cheesy stuff.
Iván -------------
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Posted By: salmacis
Date Posted: November 18 2006 at 11:50
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No, I love his 70s albums (bar Rhapsodies)- I'm one of few here that does!! Like I said, I admire his candour in the way he looked back on the New Age era. I just personally don't like that stuff.
But the fact No Earthly Connection is unavailable in the majority of the world, in particular, is rather startling. For me, it's his best work. I think if you divorce the music from the silly stage shows, there's a heck of a lot to enjoy- and for me, the ending piano flourish on 'Catherine Of Aragon' is one of the definitive prog endings to a song. He seems to be back on track now, though, in terms of good quality output. I think because prog rock is back to an extent, musicians like Wakeman can make a much better living. Wakeman is a great ambassador for the genre too- he's always said he loved playing it, and is fully comfortable with the genre, unlike some musicians who deny they are part of it completely! (*cough* Phil Collins) |