Thanks to Brett Rains for the 'heads-up' on this interview from Prog-Net. Keith Emerson fans can scroll down near the bottom for another reference to Emo/Wakey news. http://www.prog.net/interview3.html.
The Summer 1999 issue of Korg's "Proview" free magazine has a two page interview with Rick and a nice side bar with picture of his son Adam. The article does not discuss Yes. It focuses on RTTCOTE, Rick's use of Korg
keyboards and the new "Triton" model. Adam notes he uses it on his new album due out in December 1999.
I have just added my photos from the Bury St Edmunds Concert to http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/praying-mantis/wakey/wakey2.htm,
Last week I got a copy of the Roland Users Group magazine for Summer, 1999. ( I have no idea why I get this, but it shows up from time to time.) There is a one page article on Rick Wakeman. It deals primarily with Return to the Center of the Earth. There are a couple photos of Rick and one of Patrick Stewart. If anyone wants the magazine, please E-mail me privately and I'll send it along to you.
At last I got round to it.
Stella Bianco
Stella Bianco (White Star) - This has a medieval beat to it. Rick solos on Moog type sounds a couple of times. These is as a sound I don't know how to described perhaps bells or guitar done on keyboard
A quatte mane (At Four Hands) - My favourite track for some reason. It uses the Wakeman with Wakeman sound. Has a speaking part from Rick. Ah yes it's because the solo breaks are very long and the verses jolly.
'O Core (The Heart) - The is guitar in this one. I can't see who by. Again extensive Rick solos. Again 90's in style. Adam did the arrangements (Rick was ill) for the album. I wonder what his contribution is on the end
result.
Ariel - Sometimes Mario sounds like a drum machine but surely he isn't. There is a slowing down at the end so I don't know.
Aria di te (Air of you) - This is a piano acoustic guitar piece and very soft. Doesn't do a great amount but is pleasant enough
Romance Napoli - This is very much in the mode of Children of Chernobyl from No Expense spared. A very nice instrumental it still has the Black Knight feel to it with the keyboard sound I can't put a finger on.
Sologoccia (Only Drop) - Start reminds me of something from Softsword. Back into extended Rick solo. it has to be said I can't relate to the English version of the lyrics
Carcere 'e San Francisco (San Francisco's Prison) - This is really Ocean City from Time Machine. It has new Neapolitan verses and a lady (Aza) singing the Ocean city chorus in English. I thought the backing track was
probably the same but perhaps "Black knight"ed a little. I just compared them though and I think the backing is the same or slightly remixed or the keyboard voices slightly changed. I can't figure out Marios role on this. I
always thought Ocean city was my favourite on time machine and very in keeping with Black Knight. I think I might prefer having two vocalists though. Actually Custards last stand is my favourite on Time Machine. After
all it has two of my heroes on it and Roy Wood's voice fits.
Black Knights At The Court Of Ferdinand IV
E Vuje' (And You) - This is almost Ocean City's Rhythm. Rick is using his 80's moog substitute and a fair bit in this track. The backing in quiet parts is like "The meeting" from AWBH I think. Again the sound I can't name
but used only on these albums and therefore I feel Italian sounding
Favola (Fable) - Guitar and keys on this. Usually for Rick it is regular Hard Rock Guitar. It is quiet a mellow track at times with Rick using Breath sounds. Percussion and bass sound programmed to me. So nice little breaks in this. Might be my favourite. I don't think there was any Base on Stella.
Umberto II - That sound is bugging be what is it? It's very staccato on long notes. An instrumental I like it a lot today. I think I was less keen on it reviewed in Isolation
Umbe' (Humbert?) - Ah no this was Track of the Week and I wished it was the other track as this is just plain and less interesting
Tommaso Aniello (A revolution leader in Naples) - Again a very nice track. Drums sound programmed but I don't care. Lots of atmosphere in the backing instruments and original hence my mental link to Robinson Crusoue being stuck on a foreign island (The book I was reading when this disk was new)
Fradiavolo (Fra'diavolo was a bandit) - This has a very lively start and again is a great track.
Farfarie - A speedy Instrumental. Lots of Bass. Excellent
'O Bilanco (The Balance) - This is a quiet track with lots of atmospherics from Rick.
When Rick first talked about more work with Mario it was for bonus tracks on a reissue on Black Knight. Both disks are short by today's standards and would fit a disk. They are very similar in many ways but the
instrumentation shows their era well.
After I had digested Stella I went back to Knight and was disappointed. Today I am edging the other way because Knight was a band product. I am only edging though because Stella is an excellent Rick Showcase. I think that is why I was disappointed by Black Knight it doesn't give me such a buzz. Stella is probably my favourite release by him since No Expense spared I loved it from the first play of the first song. I like his recent
stuff but not as much as the late 80's/early 90's releases. I think this is perhaps more Melodic whereas some of the rock instrumentals lately seem disjointed or colder emotionally. They are interesting and fast and
whatever but I can't quite get into them.
Last night I recieved my copy of YES Magazine and to my surprise nearly the whole thing is dedicated to Rick Wakeman! On the cover is Dean's Return painting, and within is a full spread color advertisment for Return, pictures of Rick with Patrick Stewart and a huge 12 page interview with the man himself! This was a great surprise as I wasn't even expecting a new issue of YES Magazine!
Saddly, this appears to be the last issue The Gottlieb Brothers will put out. They wrote a farewell at the end. But, they sure ended with a good one, that's for sure!
Check it out!
| M.P. RECORDS s.a.s. Via Municipio, 5 35019 TOMBOLO - Padova
| Tel. 049/947.07.49 Fax 049/947.07.48 P.I./VAT. 02512690286 |
AVAILABLE NOW!!!!!!
RICK WAKEMAN e MARIO FASCIANO
"A QUATTE MANI - Remix'"
Tracklist:
1 - A quatte mani - ATOMIC GILDA REMIX
2 - A quatte mani - ALBUM VERSION
3 - Farfarie' - ALTERNATE VERSION
Even Rick Wakeman at the disco: a great remix of one of the best songs taken from the album Rick Wakeman & Mario Fasciano "Stella Bianca alla Corte di re Ferdinando".
Moreover it is a 12" on COLOURED VINYL (Blue) LTD EDITION of 500 NUMBERED COPIES!!!!!
Produced and distributed by M.P. Records
RICK WAKEMAN e MARIO FASCIANO
"A quatte mani - Remix"
12" Lim. Ed. - Code MPRMIX032
AVAILABLE ALSO ON CD SINGLE:
Code MPRCD031
And remember:
RICK WAKEMAN & MARIO FASCIANO
"Stella Bianca alla Corte di re Ferdinando"
CD - Code MPRCD027
Yes, it was a big gathering of guitarists, and Rick played keyboards for at least some of it! I have a highlights tape that was broadcast on the radio somewhere.
http://www.miriam.co.uk/archive/msarch35.jpg
