-------------------------------------------------------
MAY 1974
-------------------------------------------------------
Source: Progrography
http://www.connollyco.com/discography/rick_wakeman/journey.html
Review: Journey to the Centre of the Earth
By Dave Connolly
Produced by Rick Wakeman
Initially released on May 1974.
In the mid ‘70s, great excess translated into great success, thus the hearty reception that met Rick Wakeman’s Journey to the Centre of the
Earth. Today, the mix of orchestra, narration and dated songs will be met with a few raised eyebrows. The idea of transforming Jules Verne’s classic
into a musical work is unquestionably admirable, but the album itself is an ichthyosaurus, with the head of a Gilbert & Sullivan overture and the body
of a boring English class. Listeners will need to sit down and absorb this over several sittings before becoming acclimated to the unusual mix of
sounds; unlike Six Wives of Henry VIII, which moved with genuine purpose, this recording changes course with the celerity of a confused hummingbird.
Each of the four sections features a song encased in the middle, although the vocals of Ashley Holt and Garry Pickford-Hopkins give the material a
very antideluvian feel. “The Battle” is arguably the most ennervating of the four pieces, yet each has its moments. Many fans regard this record as
Wakeman’s magnum opus. It’s easily the most ambitious work he ever undertook, performing the work live for this recording, and producing
subsequent concerts on ice (thus making escape impossible). It’s ironic that he left Yes after the inscrutable Tales from Topographic Oceans to
create something even more indulgent, but again one needs to remember the times to understand the temptation. As much as I like Rick Wakeman, and
appreciate his trying to expand the lexicon of modern music with this narrative, Journey to the Centre of the Earth is ultimately a quixotic
venture.
TRACK LISTING
1. THE JOURNEY (Rick Wakeman)
2. RECOLLECTION (Rick Wakeman)
3. THE BATTLE (Rick Wakeman)
4. THE FOREST (Rick Wakeman)
CREDITS
RICK WAKEMAN -- keyboards
MIKE EGAN -- guitar
ENGLISH CHAMBER CHOIR -- choir
ASHLEY HOLT -- vocals
BARNEY JAMES -- drums
LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA -- orchestra
ROGER NEWELL -- bass
GARRY PICKFORD-HOPKINS -- vocals
Danny Beckerman -- arrangements
Wil Malone -- arrangements
Pete Flanagan -- engineer
Keith Grant -- production engineer
Lou Reizner -- production co-ordination
Paul Tregurtha -- engineer
Close Window
YesInThePress.com
For site comments, inquiries, corrections, or additions, contact yitp@yesservices.com
|
|