Classic Tracks (Rick Wakeman album)

Last updated

Classic Tracks
"Classic Tracks" (album by Rick Wakeman) CD cover.jpg
Studio album by
Released1993
RecordedBanjour Studio, Isle of Man,
Full Sail Platinum Post, Orlando, FL
Studio 4, Philadelphia, PA
Genre Progressive rock
Length47.57
Label Zazoo Records
Producer Michael Franklin

Classic Tracks is a progressive rock album of re-makes of classic Rick Wakeman songs. It features Wakeman and four American musicians.

Contents

Despite the good reviews by fans, Wakeman claims this album was finished and released without his authorization. He also claims that he was threatened with violence if he interfered with the release and was told he wouldn't receive any compensation for it. [1]

"I despise this album in every respect. The master tapes of the back tracks were taken to America and appalling vocals put on them without my approval. The final result was also then sold without my approval and without my receiving a penny. The master tapes were never even returned to me. The album is a disgrace."

Rick Wakeman, RWCC

Contray to the statement above, The Producer has a mountain of correspondence directly from Rick regarding his pleasure and approval of this recording. Shortly after its release, he had to disavow this album for some political reason at the time, but liked it enough to re-release the tracks many time with more than 3 other companies to date. Keyboard Player considered it the "Best Wakeman Album in Years".

In this album, lyrics were added to the 1975 instrumental song "Merlin the Magician" from The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table . Despite Rick's feelings about this album, this new version of "Merlin the Magician" was later played on tour and one of those performances can be seen on the "Live in Buenos Aires" DVD. [2]

Although Journey to the Centre of the Earth was a song from 1974, this was the first time it was recorded in the studio. This version however is very different from the original. It is a more up-to-date, heavier version and it has no narration. The number of instruments was also very small compared to the original version.

Track listing

  1. "Journey to the Centre of the Earth"
  2. "Catherine Howard"
  3. "Merlin The Magician" (with vocals)

Personnel

Production

Related Research Articles

Yes (band) English progressive rock band

Yes are an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968 by lead singer and frontman Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Peter Banks, keyboardist Tony Kaye and drummer Bill Bruford. The band has undergone numerous line-up changes throughout their history; 19 musicians have been full-time members. Since May 2022, the band has consisted of guitarist Steve Howe, keyboardist Geoff Downes, singer Jon Davison, and bassist Billy Sherwood. Yes have explored several musical styles over the years and are most notably regarded as progressive rock pioneers.

Trevor Rabin South African-born musician, singer-songwriter

Trevor Charles Rabin is a South African musician, singer-songwriter, producer, and film composer. Born into a musical family and raised in Johannesburg, Rabin took up the piano and guitar at an early age and became a session musician, playing and producing with a variety of artists. In 1972, he joined the rock band Rabbitt who enjoyed considerable success in South Africa, and released his first solo album, Beginnings. In 1978, Rabin moved to London to further his career, working as a solo artist and a producer for various artists including Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

<i>Union</i> (Yes album) 1991 studio album by Yes

Union is the thirteenth studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released on 30 April 1991 by Arista Records. Production began following the amalgamation of two bands that featured previous and then current members of Yes: Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (ABWH), consisting of vocalist Jon Anderson, drummer Bill Bruford, keyboardist Rick Wakeman and guitarist Steve Howe, and Yes, comprised at that time of bassist and vocalist Chris Squire, guitarist and vocalist Trevor Rabin, keyboardist Tony Kaye and drummer Alan White. The eight musicians signed with Arista and a combination of unfinished tracks by both groups were selected for Union. The album's sessions were problematic from the start, including disagreements between some of the musicians regarding the "merger" of the two bands, strained relations during the recording process, and decisions by the production team of Anderson and producer Jonathan Elias to bring in session musicians to re-record parts that Wakeman and Howe had originally completed.

Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe British rock band

Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe were an English progressive rock band active from 1988 to 1990 that comprised four past members of the English progressive rock band Yes. Singer Jon Anderson left Yes as he felt increasingly constrained by their commercial and pop-oriented direction in the 1980s. He began an album with other members from the band's 1970s era: guitarist Steve Howe, keyboardist Rick Wakeman, and drummer Bill Bruford, plus bassist Tony Levin.

<i>Going for the One</i> 1977 studio album by Yes

Going for the One is the eighth studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released on 15 July 1977 by Atlantic Records. After taking a break in activity in 1975 for each member to release a solo album, and their 1976 North American tour, the band relocated to Montreux, Switzerland to record their next studio album. During rehearsals, keyboardist Patrick Moraz left the group, which marked the return of Rick Wakeman who had left to pursue a solo career after differences surrounding Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973). In a departure from their previous albums, Going for the One, with the exception of the fifteen-minute "Awaken", features shorter and more direct songs without an overarching concept, and saw Yes record with new engineering personnel and cover artists.

<i>Madman Across the Water</i> 1971 album by Elton John

Madman Across the Water is the fourth studio album by English musician Elton John, released in 1971 through DJM and Uni Records. The album was his third album to be released in 1971, at which point John had been rising to prominence as a popular music artist. The album contains nine tracks, each composed and performed by John and with lyrics written by songwriting partner Bernie Taupin.

<i>The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table</i> 1975 studio album by Rick Wakeman

The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is the second studio album by English keyboardist Rick Wakeman, released on 27 March 1975 by A&M Records. It is a concept album based on the stories and people of the King Arthur legend. Wakeman started to write the music in 1974 while recovering from a heart attack and recorded it with his five-piece band the English Rock Ensemble, the New World Orchestra, and the English Chamber Choir.

<i>Tormato</i> 1978 studio album by Yes

Tormato is the ninth studio album by English progressive rock band Yes. It was released on 22 September 1978 on Atlantic Records, and is their last album with singer Jon Anderson and keyboardist Rick Wakeman before their departure from the group in 1980. After touring their previous album Going for the One (1977), the band entered rehearsals in London to record a follow-up. The album was affected by various problems, such as internal disputes over the direction of the music and artwork, and the departure of engineer Eddy Offord early into the sessions, resulting in the group producing the album themselves.

<i>The Six Wives of Henry VIII</i> (album) 1973 studio album by Rick Wakeman

The Six Wives of Henry VIII is the second studio album by English keyboardist Rick Wakeman, released in January 1973 on A&M Records. It is an instrumental progressive rock album with its concept based on his interpretations of the musical characteristics of the wives of Henry VIII. After signing with A&M as a solo artist, Wakeman decided on the album's concept during a tour of the United States with the progressive rock band Yes. As he read a book about the subject on his travels, melodies he had written the previous year came to him and were noted down. The album was recorded throughout 1972 with musicians from Yes and Strawbs, the group Wakeman was in prior to Yes, playing on the album.

<i>Classic Yes</i> 1981 compilation album by Yes

Classic Yes is the second compilation album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released in November 1981 by Atlantic Records. It was released after the group had disbanded in early 1981, following their 1980 tour in support of their tenth studio album, Drama (1980). The tracks were compiled by bassist Chris Squire and the cover was designed by Roger Dean.

<i>1984</i> (Rick Wakeman album) 1981 studio album by Rick Wakeman

1984 is a studio album by the English keyboardist Rick Wakeman, released in June 1981 on Charisma Records. After reforming his band The English Rock Ensemble in 1980 and completing a European tour, Wakeman entered a recording deal with Charisma and began preparing material for a studio album. He decided on a concept album based on the dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. The lyrics are by Tim Rice.

<i>Keystudio</i> 2001 compilation album by Yes

Keystudio is a compilation album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released in May 2001 by Castle Music in the United Kingdom and by Sanctuary Records in the United States. It is formed of the studio tracks previously released on live/studio albums Keys to Ascension (1996) and Keys to Ascension 2 (1997).

<i>Fragile</i> (Yes album) 1971 studio album by Yes

Fragile is the fourth studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released on 26 November 1971 by Atlantic Records. It was the band's first album to feature keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who replaced founding member Tony Kaye after the group had finished touring their breakthrough record, The Yes Album.

Roundabout (song) Track one from studio album "Fragile" and later Single by Yes

"Roundabout" is a song by the English progressive rock band Yes from their fourth studio album Fragile, released in November 1971. It was written by singer Jon Anderson and guitarist Steve Howe and produced by the band and Eddy Offord. The song originated when the band were on tour and travelled from Aberdeen to Glasgow, and went through many roundabouts on the way.

<i>Lisztomania</i> (album) 1975 soundtrack album by Rick Wakeman

Lisztomania is the first soundtrack album by English keyboardist Rick Wakeman. It was released in November 1975 by A&M Records as the soundtrack for the Ken Russell's musical biographical film Lisztomania about the Hungarian composer Franz Liszt. By 1975, Wakeman had established himself as the former Yes keyboardist and a successful solo artist. After completing a world tour in early 1975, Wakeman was invited to compose the score to Lisztomania. Some tracks feature The Who's Roger Daltrey singing lead vocals.

<i>Cost of Living</i> (Rick Wakeman album) 1983 studio album by Rick Wakeman

Cost of Living is a progressive rock album released in 1983 by British keyboard player Rick Wakeman. Actor Robert Powell provided narration on the last track of the album.

<i>Time Machine</i> (Rick Wakeman album) 1988 studio album by Rick Wakeman

Time Machine is a progressive rock album released in 1988 by Rick Wakeman. The album features guest vocals from Roy Wood.The timings are for the CD release on which 5 tracks were extended versions from the LP edition. LP timings for the extended tracks are: "Angel of Time" (4.38), "Slaveman" (5.05), "Open Up Your Eyes" (5.48), "Make Me a Woman" (4.57) and "Rock Age" (7.48).

<i>The Living Tree</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Jon Anderson & Rick Wakeman

The Living Tree is an album by Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman, both previously members of progressive rock band Yes. The album was initially sold only as a souvenir during their UK tour in Autumn 2010, titled "The Anderson Wakeman Project 360" and from the Gonzo Multimedia online store. It was made available to the public on 29 November 2010.

<i>Rick Wakemans Greatest Hits</i> 1994 studio album by Rick Wakeman

Rick Wakeman's Greatest Hits is an album by Rick Wakeman.

<i>Live at Hammersmith</i> (Rick Wakeman album) 1985 live album by Rick Wakeman

Live at Hammersmith is the second live album by Rick Wakeman. Despite being a 1985 concert, the music performed is from the first three albums (1973–1975). During this show there was a power failure, and Wakeman walked to the front and told jokes for 45 minutes, although had to subsequently pay for running over time as the power had been restored after 3 minutes.

References

  1. "RWCC - Classic Tracks". Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  2. RWCC - Live in Buenos Aires DVD [ permanent dead link ]