Rick Wakeman - (1999) Return To The Centre of The Earth

Studio Album, released in 1999

Track Listings

1. A Vision (2:34)
2. The Return Overture (2:39)
3. Mother Earth (3:48)
a) The Shadow of June
b) The Gallery
c) The Avenue of Prismed Light
d) The Earthquake
4. Buried Alive (6:01)
5. The Enigma (1:18)
6. Is Anybody There? (6:35)
7. The Ravine (0:49)
8. The Dance of a Thousand Lights (5:41)
9. The Shepherd (2:01)
10. Mr. Slow (3:47)
11. Bridge of Time (1:12)
12. Never is a Long, Long Time (5:19)
13. Tales from the Lidenbrook Sea (2:57)
a) River of Hope
b) Hunter and Hunted
c) Fight for Life
14. The Kill (5:23)
15. Timeless History (1:10)
16. Still Waters Run Deep (5:21)
17. Time Within Time (2:39)
a) The Ebbing Tide
b) The Electric Storm
18. Ride of Your Life (6:01)
19. Floating (1:59)
a) Globes of Fire
b) Cascades of Fear
20. Floodflames (2:00)
21. The Volcano (2:10)
a) Tongues of Fire
b) The Blue Mountains
22. The End of the Return (5:23)

Total Time: 76:51
Line-up/Musicians

- Rick Wakeman / keyboards
- Fraser Thorneycroft-Smith / guitar
- Phil Williams / bass guitar
- Simon Hanson / drums
- Justin Hayward / vocals
- Trevor Rabin / vocals, guitar
- Ozzy Osbourne / vocals
- Bonnie Tyler / vocals
- Katrina Leskanich / vocals
- Tony Mitchell / vocals
- London Symphony Orchestra & English Chamber Choir

Rick Wakeman - (1995) The Private Collection

"This is a great collection of long lost and/or unreleased recordings like the only studio performance of "Battle" from "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" with original line-up and orchestra. Next rarity is a track from the "Journey" concert at the Royal Festival Hall ("The Pearl an Dean Piano Concerto"). Also four very nice previously unreleased solo-piano pieces to be found on this CD. Last but not least we have here two convincing rocking group tracks recorded during the early 80's.
review by Siggi Zielinski on 20/09/1999"

Track List:
1 The Battle 4' 35"
2 Penny's Piece 7' 43"
3 Pearl and Dean Piano Concerto 4' 35"
4 Piece For Granny 3' 58"
5 Steamhole Dance (Parts 1 & 2) 3' 37"
6 The Mountain 8' 18"
7 Warmongers 4' 14"
8 Aberlady 11' 18"
9 Now A Word From Our Sponsor 3' 14"

Artist List:
Rick Wakeman-Keyboards
Ashley Holt-Vocals
Barney James-Percussion
David Hemmings-Narration
David Measham-Conductor
English Chamber Choir-Choir
Gary Pickford Hopkins-Vocals
Geoff Crampton-Guitar
Jackie McAuley-Guitar
John Gustafson-Bass
London Symphony Orch-Orchestra
New York Symphony Orch-Orchestra
Roger Newell-Bass
Tony Fernandez-Drums

Rick Wakeman - (1974) Journey to The Centre of The Earth

RICK WAKEMAN
JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH (1974)


In the mid '70s, great excess translated into great success, thus the hearty reception that met RICK WAKEMAN's "Journey to the Centre of the Earth". Today, the mix of orchestra, narration and dated songs will be met with a few raised eyebrows. The idea of transforming JULES VERNE's classic into a musical work is unquestionably admirable, but the album itself is an ichthyosaurus, with the head of a GILBERT & SULLIVAN overture and the body of a boring English class. Listeners will need to sit down and absorb this over several sittings before becoming acclimated to the unusual mix of sounds; unlike "Six Wives of Henry VIII", which moved with genuine purpose, this recording changes course with the celerity of a confused hummingbird. Each of the four sections features a song encased in the middle, although the vocals of ASHLEY HOLT and GARRY PICKFORD-HOPKINS give the material a very antideluvian feel. "The Battle" is arguably the most ennervating of the four pieces, yet each has its moments.

Many fans regard this record as Wakeman's magnum opus. It's easily the most ambitious work he ever undertook, performing the work live for this recording, and producing subsequent concerts on ice (thus making escape impossible). It's ironic that he left Yes after the inscrutable "Tales from Topographic Oceans" to create something even more indulgent, but again one needs to remember the times to understand the temptation. As much as I like RICK WAKEMAN, and appreciate his trying to expand the lexicon of modern music with this narrative, "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" is ultimately a quixotic venture.
Report this review (#25619) | Posted 7:10:58 AM EST,

Live, released in 1974

Track Listings

1. The Journey / Recollection (21:11)
2. The Battle / The Forest (18:57)

Total Time: 40:08

Line-up/Musicians
- Rick Wakeman / keyboards, synths, Mellotrons
+ Mike Egan / guitar
- Ashley Holt / lead vocals
- Barney James / drums
- Roger Newell / bass
- Garry Pickford-Hopkins / lead vocals
- David Hemmings / narration

The London Symphony Orchestra
The English Chamber Choir