Vol. 6, No. 5 - May 1999 - Rick Wakeman

Wakeman Review in Entertainment Weekly

Wakeman's new CD "Return to the Center of the Earth" is reviewed this week in "Entertainment Weekly" a very popular U.S. magazine I subscribe too. It's one of those magazines you see in every doctors office. Should be on the stands this week with Hannibal Lecter on the cover (Silence of Lambs).

On the opening Music page section are the bold words "JUST SAY YES", and inserted is a huge picture of some band named "Ben Folds Five" and a smaller (but significant) picture of Rick Wakeman. Unfortunately, the columnist "David Browne" totally trashed Rick's new CD. It was is an odd feature with Browne going on about how boring prog rock is, with all it's soloing and "chirpy melodies." He trashed everyone from YES to Jethro Tull. Then he seemed to like the band "Ben Folds Five" (I've never heard of them) who he says have switched from a pop band to a prog band on their latest CD "The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner," but by the end, trashes them too, saying they did not have a strong story for the concept CD, and gave the CD a "B-" rating.

"Ben Folds Five" apparently have what Browne calls, "some prog-rock trademark narration" on the CD that he also didn't like. That lead into Browne saying, "no one knows that better than Rick Wakeman." Then Brown actually compares "Return" to the laughable sounds of Spinal Tap. He also makes a totally off-the-mark assumption that Patrick Stewart "must have been strained to keep a straight face" while reading the narration. (Little does he know Patrick wants to tour with Rick and do it live.) No specific songs were reviewed, and he only mentioned Ozzy and Katrina as guest singers. He did say there was a lot of keyboard soloing, so I guess that's good for us prog fans. Most interesting though, is Browne's comment that he too bought the original "Journey" and liked it, but wrote it off as he was "just a naive teenager at the time."

Browne concluded by giving Return a "D" rating. The lowest they give... On the bright side, it's exposure to be sure, be it a bad review. Both YES' Keys & Open Your Eyes CDs didn't get a feature spot like Rick did, only a small paragraph listing with no pictures. Risk got his photo and the CD cover printed in the magazine. And this magazines is read by millions, it's a big magazine here in the states. So people should see it's out there. ...but will they touch it?

What did Browne like this issue? Jennifer Lopez & Vonda Shepard both got "A" ratings.

"Return" Promo on e-bay

There's a copy of the RETURN promo CD for auction at e-bay. This is a 10-track promo disc with special edited versions of the songs for radio airplay. Rick referred to this item in the latest RWCC newsletter as something that "can't be bought at any price." I recently found a copy for myself... and it cost me more than the one at e-bay is currently fetching (heavy sigh), so this may prove to be a real bargain.

Check it out:http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=98338092

I have nothing to do with this item, but I saw it and thought I'd pass the word on. Just trying to help my fellow man... \=^) Good luck.

New Wakeman releases (already?)

The latest Artist Shop newsletter is out and you'll find it in its entirety at The Artist Shop. Here are some excerpts from the newsletter for Rick fans.

On our import pre-order page you'll find the following items.

WAKEMAN,RICK-ART IN MUSIC TRILOGY (3CD)
Three disc set of instrumentals evoking the magic of the creative process. All tracks are brand new recordings.

WAKEMAN,RICK-NATURAL WORLD TRILOGY (3CD)
Three disc set comprised of instrumentals evoking the wonders of the world. All tracks are brand new recordings.

WAKEMAN,RICK-OFFICIAL LIVE BOOTLEG (2CD)
Yes' former keyboard wiz recorded in concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina in August, 1993. Previously available for a very brief time, 'Official Live Bootleg' has been unavailable for quite some time.

WAKEMAN,RICK-WHITE ROCK 2
Sequel to the former Yes keyboardist's 1977 U.K. top 20 album that served as the soundtrack to the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. 'White Rock II' returns to this theme with further evocations of the grace and drama of winter sports.

Excuse me for asking a dumb question, but isn't Rick supposed to be taking it easy? Available now in our import section is the following:

YES-CLOSE TO THE EDGE
Documentary of the band's 30 year career via interviews withall of the band members both past and present. 280 page hardback book illustrated with black and white photos. 6" x 10".

I've already read this book from cover to cover. I think a lot of you are going to enjoy it. I did. I have say, though, that I didn't always agree with the author's editorial stance. After all, Tales and Relayer are two of my favorite Yes albums, but Chris Welch is pretty harsh with them.

Just released!!! Progression magazine issue No. 30 is now available -- another big issue, with 156 pages! Contents include the following:

* In-depth interview with keyboard legend Rick Wakeman

This is a lengthy interview which discusses much about the making of Return to the Center of the Earth. Rick also discusses his latest work with Yes and events that brought about his departure.

Dan Wooding Interview with Rick Wakeman

Just received this from Dan "World Tour" Wooding.....

"Strategic Times"

"THE DEVIL NO LONGER HAS ALL THE BEST TUNES," SINGS OZZY OSBOURNE ON NEW ALBUM FROM ROCK LEGEND, RICK WAKEMAN
Former YES Keyboardist Releases Long-Awaited "Return To The Center Of The Earth;" Also "Hopesongs," His Collection Of Original Hymns Of Praise

By Dan Wooding

In his latest feature, international journalist Dan Wooding talks with rock legend Rick Wakeman about the release of his long-awaited epic album, "Return to the Center of the Earth;" and also a book, CD and cassette called "Hopesongs," featuring original songs of praise, thanksgiving and worship, all for use in congregational worship. In this story, Wakeman talks frankly about his friendship with Ozzy Osbourne, his faith in Jesus Christ, and how prayer helped to save his life last year.

________________________________________________________________________

It might come as a shock to some, but Rick Wakeman, the keyboard legend who is a committed Christian, has persuaded the bad boy of heavy metal, Ozzy Osbourne, to sing the lyrics, "The devil no longer has all the best tunes," on a marvelous track called "Buried Alive" on Wakeman's much-awaited epic album, "Return To The Centre Of The Earth." Released by EMI Classics, the album is the sequel to "Journey to the Centre of the Earth," his number one hit recording of more than 25 years ago.

"I chose Ozzy because he has a great voice, is a great friend and was the right man for the song," said Wakeman, who now lives on the Isle of Man off the UK mainland. "I worked with Ozzy on his Ozzmosis album a few years ago in New York and really thought it was a tremendous recording. There is so much more to Ozzy than meets the eye, or the ear.

"The actual line you refer to that he sings is 'The devil no longer has all the best tunes', but there are a few other 'Christian' oriented lines in 'Buried Alive,' as indeed there are throughout the recording."

So, I wondered, has Rick talked to Ozzy about his faith? "Ozzy and I have discussed many things in the thirty years we've known each other and that has included God," he said. "I'm not going to say any more on this subject as the things we discussed were pretty personal. Whilst my faith is well-known and I am always happy to discuss it openly whenever asked. I don't think it's right to talk about where another person is on their personal spiritual path, for in many cases only God is aware of it!"

The new album is chock-full of great musicians and singers -- Bonnie Tyler, Trevor Rabin (formerly with YES,) Justin Hayward (the Moody Blues,) Tony Mitchell and Katrina Leskanich, as well as the narrator, Patrick Stewart from Star Trek, and the London Symphony Orchestra and The English Chamber Choir, both reprising the roles they played on the original recording.

Rick then explained how "Return" came about. "It all started about eight years ago during the period of the Union tour with YES, I was in Italy and had finished doing a series of interviews and the last guy I was speaking to hung around for a cup of coffee and general chat about my solo stuff.," said 49-year-old Rick. "He talked about the huge changes in the recording technology that was available today. (Return used 96 tracks of digital.)

"For the next few days I couldn't get the conversation we'd had out of my mind, and a new Idea was already brewing in the old gray matter; and, as with all musicians, you tend to think that every idea you come up with is a winner. I was convinced I had one!"

He then spoke with a friend called Tom, the VP of a major record company, and told him that he was thinking of putting a 20th anniversary concert of "Journey To The Centre Of The Earth." Rick told him that he would add about fifteen minutes worth of new music, bringing the piece up to about 50 minutes in length (ideal for a CD), use a load of new keyboards, of course, record the performance and then release it as an anniversary CD in 1994.

"I thought it was a great idea, but Tom didn't," said Rick. "I must admit that I was pretty devastated, but respected Tom's opinion very highly. He explained to me that 'Journey' was written with the knowledge of the time and back then 'Journey' had pushed the boundaries of what could be done. To redo the piece would not be breaking any new frontiers and would not have the same magic.

"I asked him what he recommended, as I really wanted to do another 'epic.' He said that there was little doubt in his mind that what I did best was the huge production concept... another epic with orchestra, choir, rock band, etc., and that really was what I should be aiming to do one day but not now, as 'timing' was one of the all-important key factors in the production of such a recording. He said there would be a right time to do another 'epic' but it wasn't now.

"In spite of what Tom (and many others had said), I was tempted and a series of meetings took place. During those meetings I did express my reservations about redoing 'Journey' and explained what had been said to me by people at various record labels. 'Come up with a new idea then", was the reply I got and so I returned home to find a new concept. I was back in YES again and the profile was pretty high, so maybe this was the "right time" that everybody was talking about. It wasn't. The production company went into receivership, and I never heard from them again. But the seed had been sown and I got an idea. Jules Verne has always been my favorite science fiction writer, and so I decided to investigate his other stories in more detail.

"Jules Verne was, in his time, almost a prophet. Nearly all the books he wrote have contained something that has come true. 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea,' for example, introduced the world to the first submarine. 'Rocket To The Moon' talked about all the problems of heat on re-entry to the Earth's atmosphere before anybody had even flown across the English Channel!

"I couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if Jules Verne had been alive and Steven Spielberg had asked him to go back to the centre of the earth and write another story. As Jules Verne was "unavailable", I decided to do it for him. I reread the original book five or six times. I still have six different translations of the original from the French and so the different "reads" proved very interesting. I made pages and pages of notes as I read each chapter looking for the ideal place to spin off into a brand new story.

"I then tried to imagine that I was actually Jules Verne and set about writing a sequel. In order to do this I needed solitude and inspiration and so I went to my favorite island, Tenerife, in the Canaries just off of the coast of Morocco. The island boasts the most beautiful volcano and was also the location for such films as 'Star Wars ' 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' and 'Planet of the Apes.' After two solid weeks I had the basis of a story that I was really happy with, and 'Return To The Centre Of The Earth' was born.

"I returned to the Isle of Man and started working out how much it would cost to do properly, and after telephoning around getting quotes from orchestras, choirs and managements, as regards prices for guest artists and studio costs. I soon realized that it was going to take a small fortune to produce. Amazingly enough, only one of the four record companies that had called me seemed concerned as to the cost, but what did become clear was that none of them really understood what I was trying to do, or how important the orchestra and choir were. I had this idea of how it would all be put together, but they just couldn't fathom out what I was about."

Rick says his wife Nina "has been convinced from day one that God has used many people to make "Return" happen. He added, "Certainly there were times when I almost gave up hope of ever producing the music, but something always happened and I was back in the driving seat again."

Rick then revealed that a close Christian friend, Nic Caciappo, entered the situation. "Nic knew how much the project meant to me and had talked about it to a friend of his, Dwight de Reiter, who works for EMI in Los Angeles in California," said Rick. "He liked the idea and passed it on to the right people within EMI there, who in turn passed it on to England as I was a European artist. Thanks Nic. To me this is a classic example of God using one Christian to aid another Christian."

Richard Lyttelton, President of EMI in the UK, then came into his life and became a great supporter of the project.

A few weeks later the contract was duly signed, but I 'had already started work. 1 had gone back to Tenerife and in the shadow of Mount Teide had completely rewritten the story in order to prepare the narratives for his chosen dream storyteller... Patrick Stewart.

"The album took nine solid months to record, with sometimes as many as four different studios working on the project at the same time," he said. "With the recording completed and available worldwide, I can now put my hand on my heart and say that it has turned out better than even I dreamed it could. That's very much due to all the wonderful people who took part in it. Every single person gave more than I asked. It was a true team effort and one that I am very proud of. I can honestly say that I never ever thought that I would ever get the opportunity to write and record something like this ever again and I was not going to let anybody down once given the chance."

NEARLY DIED
However, there was a strange parallel with this recording and the first one. After performing "Journey" at Crystal Palace, London, in 1974, he collapsed and was rushed into the cardiac arrest unit of a local hospital with a suspected heart attack. This time around, he collapsed again with chronic pneumonia and pleurisy. "Thinking about it makes me shudder," he said. "This time was even more serious and there is no doubt at all that I came to understand a lot more about life and death... and a considerable better understanding of prayer.

I have prayed continually for friends and other people throughout my new Christian life and I do know that people have prayed for me from time to time. However, in this situation I really felt the astonishing power of prayer at work and somehow knew that there were literally thousands of people praying for me to recover. I have to be very honest and say that two days after I was admitted to the hospital I thought I was going to die. I had tremendous difficulty in breathing because I had lost more than half of the functioning of my left lung, and the right one was useless. I also had numerous other complications, and in a semi conscious state, I had overheard somebody talking to Nina (Nina Carter Wakeman, Rick's wife) saying that the situation was very serious and if the antibiotics didn't kick in within 24 hours, then there was little or nothing they could do.

"I was also overweight and my body was exhausted with the three months of continual twenty-hour day work schedules. I was unable to speak to anybody and hadn't even the strength to acknowledge that I was semi conscious, I prayed what may be considered to contain some pretty bizarre requests. Well, you have to sometimes! My great friend and Christian artist, Rodney Mathews, goes into a field for his time with God and sometimes tells me he has a jolly good row about his frustrations. I asked him once what the results were and he simply says, 'Oh, God always sorts it out, and that's OK.

"I said to God that He must realize that I hadn't finished the album. He had given me the talent, He had given me the opportunity to produce this music, and surely He wasn't going to take it away from me now. Admittedly all the music was on tape in one form or another, but the orchestrations weren't complete and I remember thinking that if somebody else finished it, then there might be so much that wouldn't be right. Therefore, it was in all our best interests that I recover. I then don't remember very much for a couple of days.

"The antibiotics finally kicked in. I was literally beaten every day in order to try and clear the lungs of almost porridge-like grunge and I slowly recovered. The hospital said it could take up to a year before I returned to anything like full fitness, which was a serious body blow to someone like me who sleeps little and loves every day, and wants to fill it by doing as much as possible.

"I've lost a fair amount of weight. I went into the hospital weighing 234 lbs, and am now 188 lbs. I'm much fitter but have now found that I can no longer work the long hours I used to as I get tired very easily. I have been told that I will now be susceptible to infection in my lungs and chest as I have a weakness now in that area. In order to try and keep as healthy as possible I now walk at least twelve miles a week and also have a couple of hours playing badminton as well as a weekly round of golf.

"I now look at life very differently. I am also rethinking how I can plan my career in order to try and avoid the same thing happening again, I have been warned that I would not survive anything as severe as what I have gone through again. They also told me that had I still been a smoker, (I gave up in 1979), 1 wouldn't have stood a chance this time around.

"I received wonderful cards and letters from people from all over the world during this period. People were so kind. I must admit that on one occasion I did feel rather overwhelmed with it all and did shed the odd tear.

"I think you've probably gathered that September 1998 really frightened me and has had a major effect on me. I am always happy to accept whatever God's plan is for me, and would rather like to think that we have made a pact that I can stay here for quite a lot longer yet, and make some more music and glorify his majesty whenever and wherever I can. The family were involved in a big way. They hardly saw me for almost nine months, (except to visit me in the hospital, and I wasn't much company there either)! I also must have been hell to live with during 1998.

"Their support was tremendous. Oliver, my eldest boy, was constantly on the telephone inquiring how things were going as was Ben from Switzerland. Nina and the kids here tried to get me to slow down and pace myself (I know I should have listened), and just before the orchestra sessions when I realized that there were phrasing marks missing off of some of the orchestrations, Adam came over to help for a couple of days. To this day I have never felt pressure like it. All self-inflicted but painful just the same and very difficult to control or live with, and even more difficult for the family.

Gary Haire, who is one of the pastors at our church was also particularly understanding and visited me a lot, his being a fully qualified Christian counselor also helped considerably. Our "chats" over numerous cups of coffee were priceless. I think that this perfectly demonstrates how important the Church is. There are too many "Christians" in this world, myself included once, who think that church is not a necessary part of being a Christian. Over the last eight years I have learned just how wrong this is; I think the role of the church is put over very badly to both Christians and non-Christians. This is an area that should be seriously looked at.

"My Christian faith plays a very important part in everything I write, whether it is Christian music or not. My music is given from God, so it is very important that I never forget that and always perform at my best. After all, it is in His honor. There is a very significant mention of prayer in the narrative and it is meant to illustrate how fickle we as human beings are. It is strange that when even the most devout atheist finds himself in an impossible position, he prays! This to me illustrates that prayer is undoubtedly the most powerful medium known to man and on this earth. We should recognize this more than we do and not be frightened to even pray for what might be considered lost causes. After all, people prayed for me during my wilderness years!

"I'm desperate to perform 'Return' live but there are many problems. Just getting the "cast" together will be a major feat, although every single participant is desperate to take part. Most cities have got fabulous orchestras and choirs so there's no problem there. The major difficulty comes in funding. It's extremely expensive to put a concert like this on stage and we've worked out that it will need considerable sponsorship just to break even. Basically no sponsor is going to come forward unless the album is reasonably successful and so I just have to wait and see how it does around the world, which will dictate where it may be possible to put the concerts on.

"The signs, however, are already looking extremely good for Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Germany, with also a good possibility of a Spanish concert on Tenerife. I'll just have to wait and see though. I would be very disappointed if no performances were realized, but I'll just have to be patient -- (Not one of my strong traits)!

"There is certainly a lot of outside interest in putting on very high-tech concerts. Roger Dean has already designed a stage set based upon his wonderful artwork for the cover, and I have been speaking to illusionists and special effects people about what else can be done to enhance things.

HOPESONGS
Rick has also just released "Hopesongs," which is a new collection, and is a first for him -- original songs of praise, thanksgiving, worship and encouragement, all for use in congregational worship. Already, two of the songs have been used on the BBC's Songs of Praise. "Hopesongs" also includes compositions from another new songwriter, Howard Prior. All of the songs are in approachable arrangements with guitar chords. The music book also includes photocopiable acetate masters. (More information from Kevin Mayhew, Buxhall, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 3DJ, UK. Phone (44) 1449 737978.

"My hymnbook is another milestone in my Christian life, said Rick. "The hymns took over a year to put together and Howard's 15 are wonderful. I think he is a very exciting prospect for Christian praise and worship. My 15 are a mixture with everything from praise and worship music to a special pieces designed for such diversities as the Christmas season and also for funerals, in which I have tried to offer in a musical way an opportunity to celebrate the life of the person who has gone to be with our Lord, and to also help fill the space left here on earth.

"Now I know that that last bit might sound a bit strange, but I have long realized that it is so difficult sometimes for people to put into words their feelings and what is happening spiritually to both them and the departed one, at either memorial services or the actual funeral, that I wanted to do something about it. I've always found the music at most funerals pretty depressing and when you consider that pastors are trying to put over to those grieving that the funeral or memorial service Is there to commemorate and celebrate a person's life, however long or short, it is very difficult when the music is more akin to making the rest of the congregation think about joining the, departed as soon as possible.

I am also working on a special book of music to cover weddings (also hackneyed these days), and funerals. I hope to have this completed by the end of the year, and this also will be available through Kevin Mayhew."

As if he wasn't busy enough, Rick soon begins a UK church tour. "I am really looking forward to my church tour which, begins in the middle of May and finishes in the middle of June," he said. "We are doing 25 performances in 25 churches in 25 days! I am doing it with the operatic tenor Ramon Remedios, who sung on the New Gospels, and the evenings have now developed into something very special, especially for me. Although physically tiring, I feel very blessed to be doing this... and hope to spread some joy and peace with this work. The tour keeps my feet firmly on the ground and spiritually refreshed me."

For all information on Rick Wakeman, including details of his church tour, log onto his website at: .

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Dan Wooding is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife, Norma. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times). Dan wrote the first-ever press story about Rick Wakeman some 30 years ago and later wrote his biography, "The Caped Crusader" which contained a foreword from Elton John. (The book is now out of print.) Rick has done several benefit tours in the US for ASSIST and also some benefit albums. Details can be obtained from (714) 530 6598 or on the ASSIST website at: www.rwcc.com/assist/htm. This website also contains many of Dan Wooding's recent feature articles.

Note: JPEG photographs to illustrate this story can be obtained from Dan Wooding at <"mailto:assistcomm@cs.com">assistcom@cs.com.

ASSIST COMMUNICATIONS
PO Box 2126
Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126 USA
E-mail: assistcomm@cs.com

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