ERSTWHILE Yes keyboardist and sparkly cloak-wearer extraordinaire Rick Wakeman comes from an era where virtuoso was yet to become a dirty word.
‘Tomorrow’s superstar’ Melody Maker rightly predicted in 1970, but six years later, in the aftermath of punk, Wakeman was seen as a dinosaur. That was a shame and it has taken too long to again appreciate the finer points of progressive rock.
These Abbey Road-remastered deluxe editions show the genre at its finest; classically inspired, yet pushing boundaries with electronic keyboards. They, in particular Henry VIII, confirm Wakeman’s position as a musical genius – his church organ playing on Jane Seymour is spine-tingling. Wakeman may now be known for his affable cantankerousness on Grumpy Old Men, but there’s nothing to complain about here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here