Rick Wakeman
"Live At The BBC"
© Hux
May 05 - 11, 2024
Year of Release: 207
Rating:
Disc One:
Music Reincarnate -
Part III The Spaceman
Catherine Howard
Sir Lancelot And
The Black Knight
Arthur
Music Reincarnate -
Part IV The Realisation
The Forest
Catherine Parr
The Prisoner
Merlin The Magician
Disc Two:
Recollection
Music Reincarnate -
Part IV
The Realisation
Sir Lancelot And
The Black Knight
Music Reincarnate -
Part III The Spaceman
Catherine Parr
The Prisoner
Merlin The Magician
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Rick Wakeman returns this week, with a live 2-disc set - Live At The BBC, released in 2007. Disc 1 was a BBC
Radio "In Concert," recorded at Hammersmith Odcon, London, June 17, 1976. Disc 2 was a BBC TV "Old Grey Whistle Test,"
recorded at The Maltings, Farnham, Surrey, April 27, 1976. The song selections were from his latest albums at the time -
The Six Wives Of Henry VIII (1973), Journey To The Centre Of The Earth (1974), The Myths And Legends Of
King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table (1975), and No Earthly Connection (1976). (Most of his future
live recordings would include selections from The Six Wives Of Henry VIII.)
Disc One: Eight selections on Disc 1 were from his BBC Radio 1 "In Concert" from 1976. From the recent albums listed
above, they were from No Earthly Connection (3), The Six Wives Of Henry VIII (2), Journey To The Centre
Of The Earth (1), The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table (2). (Three of the
selections from Disc 1 were also performed on the Disc 2 BBC TV "Old Grey Whistle Test.")
"Music Reincarnate - Part III The Spaceman" (from No Earthly Connection) definitely as a Progressive
Rock sound, most compared to Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Ashley Holt (singer for the English band Warhorse) is the vocalist.
"Catherine Howard" (from The Six Kings Of Henry VIII" is a great instrumental, and if this song kind of sounds
familiar, it has the opening intro of a future hit by Cat Stevens (in which Wakeman was the keyboardist) on "Morning Has
Broken." The acoustic guitar (John Dunsterille) on this selection is also a standout. (Was that Led Zeppelin's opening
to "Whole Lotta Love" in that acoustic guitar standout?) And the Progressive Rock sections has the sound of
Wakeman's band he was in, Yes. An exceptional Rock song, and more exceptional that it was performed live. "Sir
Lancelot And The Black Knight" (from The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table")
provides Progressive Rock (as in Yes), with Ashley Holt on vocals. "Arthur" (also from the King Arthur album)
continues the Progressive Rock style. Likewise (in a more moody atmosphere), "The Music Reincarnate - Part IV The
Realisation" (from No Earthly Connection). (from Journey To The Centre Of The Earth") is a Rock
masterpiece. And another masterpiece follows: "Catherine Parr" (from The Six Wives Of Henry VIII. This
selection has a more Emerson, Lake & Palmer feel, as in "Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends. We're so glad
you could attend. Come inside, come inside." ("Karn Evil 9"). The Progressive Rock style never ceases, "The
Prisoner" (from "No Earthly Connection.") Ending the BBC Radio 1 "In Concert" - "Merlin The Magician"
(from "The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table - a selection that has more of a
theatrical style. The entire concert showcases on a Rock Opera atmosphere. What makes it even better - that this was a
live performance, and hearing how each song sounds (excellent, that is), I'm sure it was even more exceptional watching it
live, as it happened. Wakeman's keyboards, Ashley Holt's vocals, exceptional. And it's great to hear the audience's
reaction after the last selection of this 8-song set.
Disc Two: Seven selections from this concert, from BBC TV "Old Grey Whistle Test." Six of the seven were also from
Disc One's BBC Radio 1 "In Concert." "Recollection" (from Journey To The Centre Of The Earth") is more
laid back, and has Wakeman's keyboards playing beautifully, with Ashley Holt's vocals. Yet, this selection kicks into
high gear Progresive Rock style towards the end, and returns back to the nice, laid back style. Also to mention, is the
horn section in both Discs One and Two concerts - Reg Brooks (trombone) and Martin Shields (trumpet). The remaining
selections were also heard on the BBC Radio 1 "In Concert." "Music Reincarnate - Part IV: The Realisation," "Sir
Lancelot And The Black Knight," "Music Reincarnate - Part III The Spaceman," "Catherine Parr," "The Prisoner," "Merlin
The Magician" all shine, in their theatrical forms. Again, a stunning performance listening to it, live. Simply
Exceptional.
Rick Wakeman's Live At The BBC captures a great live performance, as both concerts were recorded in 1976.
You often wonder if these concerts were filmed. Listening to these concerts is once thing, but actually watching it would
make it even more exceptional. Rick Wakeman with The English Rock Ensemble: Ashley Holt (vocals), Roger Newell (bass),
John Dunsterville (guitar), Tony Fernandez (drums), Reg Brooks (trombone), Martin Shields (trumpet). An excptional band,
with the keyboard legend, Rick Wakeman. These performances showcases Pogressive Rock, Theatrical. The band compares to
that of Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Wakeman has always been a sensation. Listening to him perform live is even more
outstanding. His birthday is coming up, on May 18 (1949). He will be 75 years old. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RICK!
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