What does it sound like?:
Rick Wakeman’s seminal 1974 live album gets a deluxe reissue with this box set of three cds plus a dvd.
Fans will already be familiar with this musical interpretation of Jules Verne’s classic tale, which has been remastered and is now supplemented by a previously unavailable extra track, a short throwaway piece titled ‘The Pearl and Dean Piano Concerto’.
The second cd contains a performance of the piece recorded in Boston also in 1974, while the third has a 1993 show from Buenos Aires.
The DVD contains both quad surround and hi-res mixes of the album.
What does it all *mean*?
It’s great to hear this old favourite in remastered form with improved sound quality. A minor gripe that the first half of that evening’s concert (excerpts from Six Wives) hasn’t been thrown in as an extra so that we have the full show.
Nevertheless, some things just get better with age!
Goes well with…
Prog of seventies vintage.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Wakeman, Yes, concept albums in general!
Rob C says
I’m in. I’ve been following Rick’s updates on this project on twitter. Excellent stuff.
Bargepole says
Coming in June his rerecording of King Arthur in elongated 85 minute form.
Rob C says
I know. Can’t wait. Love that album and have the excellent remaster, along with Six Wives. I wasn’t as keen on his Journey remake, so I’m hoping this is better. The Anderson Ponty Band are working on brand new material too. Happy Days!
Rob C says
I don’t know if you’re on TW/FB Bargedude, but Jamie Glaser’s on both, and as well as interesting links and updates, he’s a genuinely lovely fellow too.
Bargepole says
Thanks will check that out – and for anyone interested in King Arthur
http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/rickwakeman
Hopefully as you say it will fare better than the disappointing rerecording of Journey, which was something of a let down.
More APB sounds promising and there’s also the Anderson Wakeman Rabin project coming later this year too.
Rob C says
Indeed. The AWR project sounds very promising too. Quite a lot of inspiring activity on the Yes front, but I do not include the woeful parody of the once great band itself in that. They’ve outdone Spinal Tap in the very worst sense of the word. Howe, who sounds like a spiteful egotistical prick , now the sole captain of that sorry ship with his fence straddling bosun Alan White. Dire.
Bargepole says
This new project featuring Jon Anderson also sounds interesting
https://www.burningshed.com/store/progressive/product/494/7555/
Rob C says
It does indeed. Thank for the heads up. I’ve not heard of Flower Kings/Roine Stolt. I’ll do some research.
Neil Jung says
Roine Stolt is a very talented guy. He played bass on Steve Hackett’s recent tour but is a fine guitarist and prolific song writer. A bit like Steven Wilson but without the following.
Bargepole says
a very brief preview of Anderson Stolt
Bargepole says
http://www.arw-tour.com/
fitterstoke says
Count me in for King Arthur – I still play my old vinyl copy….hopefully the additional minutes will be up to snuff….
Mousey says
I was there and I thought it was the most simplistic load of pompous shit I’d ever heard.
And I was a 20 year old ELP fan at the time.
Rob C says
I like nothing more than pulling down the blinds, blasting this delicious work out whilst donning a shower curtain and opening the chest freezer for dry ice and light effects, and playing kitchen worktop moog in a frenzy of delight, and plus, I have the hair for it.
retropath2 says
Does it still have the fat blokes singing?
Neil Jung says
Wakeman has abysmal vocalists on his albums. Is he quite deaf?
My house mate at university owned both Journey and King Arthur. I think they are both rubbish. He isn’t much of a composer / writer, as his unreadable columns in Prog magazine show. And I say this as a long term Yes fan, at least until Jon left.
I won’t be investing.
Rob C says
Agree about his bizarre tendency to choose weak vocalists, but I think on those classic albums his composition skills are very good, as is the music. The vocals I tend to ignore/overlook. Passable.
In the end, Jon didn’t leave. He was kicked out when in hospital on his apparent deathbed. Literally. He’d flatlined at one point. Charming.
duco01 says
“Wakeman has abysmal vocalists on his albums. ”
Well, you’re right there, Mr J.
“Rick Wakeman’s Criminal Record” had Bill Oddie as vocalist on one track.
The bearded ornithologist and former Goodie did not cover himself in glory. No sir.
Beany says
Does this count. A bit of old tosh from Rick Wakeman & Ozzy Osbourne.
Rob C says
Great Goddess, that was horrible. Managed about 3 seconds.
Rob C says
FORTY QUID ?!
I also think including a quad whatever thingy dvd that I can’t bloody well play is a stitch up every time. Should also come in cd only format.
Junior Wells says
can someone tell me what point a quad format of anything serves?
I get 5.1 but quad, wasn’t that redundant years ago?
Rob C says
I honestly haven’t a clue what 5.1 or Quad means.
ernietothecentreoftheearth says
5.1 means you buy the same thing at least five times. Or something.
Rob C says
What’s Quad then, eh ?
Beany says
Never heard the Six Wives of Henry VIII on quad bikes? Marvellous.
Rob C says
There’s a thought, Beanyji. Rick would certainly be up for it.
Johnny Concheroo says
Compared to the Yes LPs of the same period, all those Wakeman solo LPs are virtually impossible to sell now. They hang around in the racks like a bad smell and invariably end up in the bargain bin. Strange considering they were such huge sellers “back in the day” (as I believe the hipsters say).
“Six Wives…” and “Journey…” appear to have sold as well as Rumours and Thriller here in Australia, judging by the amount of copies around.
Rob C says
Au contraire, Johnny. The recent excellent remasters did well, and deservedly so. Six Wives especially. Superb piece of work.
Johnny Concheroo says
I’m sure they are appreciated and treasured by the prog cognoscenti Rob. But those albums sold in massive quantities to the general public originally and unwanted copies now clutter the racks of every record store in the Western World.
Rob C says
Yes, of course, but that was because of the punk year zero effect re Prog. Thankfully a thing of the past now, hence the success of the remasters, gigs etc.
Rob C says
Hence the recent successful tours and concerts that accompanied them as well.