Review of Return To The Centre Of The Earth submitted on 12th November 2002

For almost 30 years, Rick Wakeman has been slogging it out as one of the preeminent keyboardists in rock -- notably as an off and on member of Yes. Along with ELP's Keith Emerson and Deep Purple's Jon Lord, Wakeman brought the keyboards to the frontline of the band -- often outsoloing guitarist Steve Howe while throwing in dashes of classical and jazz just to show how well schooled he was. As Emerson and Lord barely stray away from the confines of their respective group situations, Wakeman has continually forged ahead -- composing full conceptual pieces in which his keyboard navigates makeshift ensembles of rock players around full-blown orchestras and choirs. During the early 70s, Wakeman lodged these musical experimentations with classic allegory. With historical accuracy, he boldly released The Six Wives of Henry VIII and The Myths & Legends Of King Arthur and The Knights Of The Round Table. His most well-received album, however, was based and titled after the classic Jules Verne tale -- Journey To The Centre Of The Earth. In and around 1974, pretentious, theme-oriented albums were becoming the norm. Jethro Tull ( Passion Play, Thick As A Brick), The Who (Tommy, Quadrophenia), Pink Floyd (Dark Side Of The Moon), Genesis (The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway), even Wakeman's present band, Yes (Tales From Topographic Oceans) -- had all been stirring up the conceptual fire with a measurable amount of success. Rick Wakeman -- brandishing his infamous sparkle-covered cape -- decided to up the ante with Journey. To begin, he brought in The London Symphony Orchestra and The English Chamber Choir. Then he patched together a group of session players and singers. To give Journey a more cerebral slant he threw in a narrator by the name of David Hemmings to read passages in a manner in which the listener became part of the journey. To make it even more ambitious, he performed and recorded the album "live" before an audience. It was pretty much downhill from there. Progressive, classically-charged rock outraged the critics, and gave way to a roots revolution in the form of punk, heavy metal and an R&B strain called disco. Wakeman and his ilk had to either conform or retire. With occasional resurfacings, he would never eclipse the artistic satisfaction or commercial success of Journey. These days many of the great conceptual works of the 70s have re-emerged. Tommy, Quadrophenia, Dark Side Of The Moon and The Wall have all been submitted to various treatments. Technical advances in video, audio and instrumentation have made the idea of recreating such monstrosities far easier. This, along with a desire to possibly regain his momentum, is what has apparently driven Rick Wakeman to Return To The Centre Of The Earth. For almost 77 minutes, Wakeman pulls out every trick in the book. Once again, he procures the services of The London Symphony Orchestra and The English Chamber Choir. He employs a backing band of virtual unknowns. This time, however, Wakeman peppers his piece with a few big names. Guest vocalists include Trevor Rabin (Yes), Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), Bonnie Tyler, Katrina Leskanich (Katrina and The Waves) and Ozzy Osbourne. Reading the passages this time -- with infectious precision -- is Patrick Stewert, best known as Captain Jean-Luc Picard of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Contained within the elaborate gatefold packaging by longtime Yes artist Roger Dean, Return opens up with a pattern of lush orchestrations, slyly garnishing Stewert's poignant articulations throughout. Utilizing a number of computerized gadgets and tools, the keyboards are seemingly shrouded -- certainly not as distinctive as Wakeman's sound can be. It isn't until the fourth track --Buried Alive -- that Return sonically surges forward. Ozzy Osbourne's vocals swim effortlessly through The London Symphony's framework. Wakeman unleashes one of his trademark solos during the song's mounting crescendo. From here, the Return takes on a rather ethereal tone. With no real central theme to convey -- aside from the journey itself -- there are, nonetheless, some stellar performances. Bonnie Tyler's nicotine-stained reading on Is Anybody There? is lifted to a glossy finish as the English Chamber Choir sails through each emotive verse. Tony Mitchell's generic turn on Mr. Slow is also largely carried by the orchestral/choir accompaniment. Trevor Rabin's vocals and guitar on Never Is A Long, Long Time take a backseat to the additional instrumentation. This is one song that could do without the spiraling strings and chamber voices. On the other hand, Justin Hayward is able to make Still Waters Run Deep sound like something he'd do with the Moody Blues. The CD's most lilting track may be the Katrina Leskanich vehicle, Ride Of Your Life. Without her "Waves" and without Wakeman's somewhat excessive arrangements, Leskanich executes her range to its full potential. It would be interesting to see a song like this launch her comeback. With talk of comebacks, one must wonder how Return To The Centre Of The Earth fits within the contemporary music scene of the 90s. In truth, it doesn't. It isn't much more than a self-fulfilling aspiration for Rick Wakeman. A chance to relive the days of glory, with an assembled "Dream Team" along for the ride. Perhaps Wakeman should think about a visual counterpart --a multimedia concert or film. Today's audiences -- many orbiting in a nihilistic trance -- simply don't have the patience or desire to sit through something like this. Thought-provoking, literary exercises of this sort have never registered high on the richter scale of mass taste and popularity. Originally published October 1999 -- www.vintagerock.com

Review of Rick Wakeman Live Video submitted on 26th August 2003

Out of all the classic rockers who have harnessed the power of the digital versatile disc (DVD), none have been quite as prolific as virtuoso keyboardist Rick Wakeman. With a recorded legacy already bursting at the seams, Wakeman's extraordinary career has been faithfully documented over three recently re-released DVDs from Classic Pictures: Journey To The Centre Of The Earth, The Legend, and Live From Buenos Aires. Each disc takes full advantage of the format, enlisting comprehensive and flashy menus for track selections and a variety of ample sundries. Now that Wakeman is back on the frontlines with Yes, there has never been a better time to get acquainted with one of rock's most musically accomplished and charismatic characters.

Despite its somewhat primitive cinematography (even the director's assistant puts in a cameo), Journey To The Centre Of The Earth is a show to behold -- for historical reasons as well for an element of pure aplomb. Filmed on February 4, 1975 at the Sydney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, Australia, in front of 30,000 people, Wakeman, donning a cape no less, was on a mission to move mountains, adapting classic stories like the Jules Verne novel and wrapping them around progressive pretentiousness of the first order. The centerpiece -- which includes an early edition of the English Rock Ensemble along with the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Verdon Williams), the Melbourne Chamber Choir and a hip-looking narrator (!) -- is sandwiched in between selections from Wakeman's other two opuses: The Six Wives Of Henry VIII and The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table. . Together, they capture the pinnacle of the excessive passion and artistic ambition that Wakeman unabashedly gushed forth. Packaged with a CD from the very same performance (just in case the television is on the frits) Journey To The Centre Of The Earth is an intriguing spread for the curious and fans of old. Younger people might think the whole thing is a complete farce ala Spinal Tap. But hey --it was entertainment back then.

Fast-forward 25 years and The Legend finds the master in a completely different setting. Filmed within the intimate confines of Marlborough College in Marlborough, England, Wakeman goes it alone, playing favourites, Yes and Beatles covers and classical pieces tempered with witty banter to boot. While it occasionally meanders into a sort of new age haze, watching Wakeman work the crowd as a performer, showman and player is an amazing and invigorating spectacle (he puts a whole new spin on nursery rhymes). Six additional audio-only songs fill out the DVD. Among these is an instrumental version of "Morning Has Broken," the Cat Stevens hit that Wakeman originally embellished as a hired hand. The DVD also includes an all-inclusive biography and a delightful pictorial chronicling the musician's multi-layered occupation. The bonus CD replicates the concert and includes an extra track, "Merlin the Magician."

Live From Buenos Aires finds Wakeman accompanied by the newest edition of the English Rock Ensemble for a lively 2001 concert at the Gran Rex Theatre in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Offering the best of the three, in terms of quality audio and video, the concert covers the gamut, along with a strapping crack at "Starship Trooper." Even as some of the band members seem mildly out of place, Wakeman's son Adam is a chip off the old block when it comes to holding his own as a keyboardist Aside from the random sampling of songs, the DVD's other redeeming quality may be the reaction the band gets from its South American audience. Elsewhere, Wakeman's own "Behind The Music" piggybacks the extras section while the package is bundled with the obligatory CD. The Official Bootleg, as it's called, is a crude sounding recording from July 1997 that mischievously makes the whole experience worthwhile. Clearly, these reissues have left no stone unturned.