White Rock (album)

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White Rock
Rick Wakeman album - White Rock - cover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 1977
RecordedJanuary–September 1976
Studio Advision Studios, Fitzrovia and The Music Centre, Wembley
Genre Progressive rock
Length34:52
Label A&M [1]
Producer Rick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman chronology
No Earthly Connection
(1976)
White Rock
(1977)
Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record
(1977)
Singles from Lisztomania
  1. "White Rock"
    Released: June 1977 (US) [2]

White Rock is the second soundtrack album by English keyboardist Rick Wakeman, released in January 1977 by A&M Records. [3] It was produced as the soundtrack to White Rock , a 1977 documentary film about the 1976 Winter Olympics held in Innsbruck, Austria. [4] [5]

Contents

In 1999, Wakeman released a sequel soundtrack, White Rock II.

Recording

Wakeman had forgotten about a track he had been asked to compose, titled "After the Ball". Instead of confessing to the producers that he forgot to write something, he said he had a composition ready and proceeded to play a completely improvised track. The first take was a success, without the need to record a second take. "After the Ball" has become part of Wakeman's repertoire, featured on several future albums and videos.

"Ice Run" uses parts of "Anne of Cleves", a track from Wakeman's first album, The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1973). The comparison can be made by listening to "Anne of Cleves" at 00:48 and "Ice Run" at 3:29.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
The New Rolling Stone Record Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]

The Pittsburgh Press wrote that the album "is electronic, popular and interesting... Wakeman plays more keyboards than most people know exist." [8]

Track listing

Side one

  1. "White Rock" – 3:10
  2. "Searching for Gold" – 4:20
  3. "The Loser" – 5:30
  4. "The Shoot" – 3:59

Side two

  1. "Lax'x" – 4:53
  2. "After the Ball" – 3:03
  3. "Montezuma's Revenge" (traditional) – 3:56
  4. "Ice Run" – 6:11

Personnel

Music

Production

Charts

Chart (1977)Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [9] 38
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [10] 69
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [11] 12
UK Albums (OCC) [12] 14
US Billboard 200 [13] 126

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [14] Silver60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

  1. The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll: The Definitive History. Random House. 1992. p. 499.
  2. Strong, Martin Charles (18 August 1995). The Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. p. 878. ISBN   9780862415419.
  3. Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. p. 878. ISBN   9780862415419.
  4. 1 2 "White Rock [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] - Rick Wakeman | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  5. Romano, Will (2014). Prog Rock FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Rock's Most Progressive Music. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN   9781617136207.
  6. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 474.
  7. The New Rolling Stone Record Guide. Random House. 1983. p. 533.
  8. Allan, William (20 February 1977). "World of Records". The Pittsburgh Press. p. F8.
  9. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  10. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5278b". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  11. "Norwegiancharts.com – Rick Wakeman – White Rock". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  12. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  13. "Rick Wakeman Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  14. "British album certifications – Rick Wakeman – White Rock". British Phonographic Industry.