| | Rick Wakeman Journey To The Center Of The Earth CD Rick Wakeman Discography of CDs
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Journey to the Centre of the Earth is one of progressive rock's crowning achievements. With the help of the London Symphony Orchestra and the English Chamber Choir, Rick Wakeman turns this classic Jules Verne tale into an exciting and suspenseful instrumental narrative. The story is told by David Hemmings in between the use of Wakeman's keyboards, especially the powerful Hammond organ and the innovative Moog synthesizer, and when coupled with the prestigious sound of the orchestra, creates the album's fairy tale-like climate. Recorded at London's Royal Festival Hall, the tale of a group of explorers who wander into the fantastic living world that exists in the Earth's core is told musically through Wakeman's synthesized theatrics and enriched by the haunting vocals of a chamber choir. Broken into four parts, the album's most riveting segment, entitled "The Battle," involves Wakeman's most furious synthesized attack, churning and swirling the keyboards into a mass instrumental hysteria. With both "The Journey" and "The Forest," it's the effective use of the strings and percussion section of the London Symphony Orchestra that causes the elements of fantasy and myth to emerge from the album's depths. The gorgeous voice of Ashley Holt is effectively prominent, and some interesting guitar work via Mike Egan arises occasionally but meritoriously amidst the keyboard fervor. The whole of Journey to the Centre of the Earth still stands as one of the most interesting conglomerations of orchestral and synthesized music, and it is truly one of Wakeman's most flamboyant projects. ~ Mike DeGagne
Recorded at the Royal Festival Hall, London, England on January 18, 1974.
Recorded at the Royal Festival Hall, London, England in 1974.
Personnel: Rick Wakeman (synthesizer); David Measham (conductor); Garry Pickford-Hopkins, Ashley Holt (vocals); David Hemmings (spoken vocals); Mike Egan (guitar); Roger Newell (bass); Barney James (drums); The London Symphony Orchestra, The English Chamber Choir.
Personnel: Rick Wakeman (synthesizer); David Measham (conductor); Garry Pickford-Hopkins, Ashley Holt (vocals); David Hemmings (spoken vocals); Mike Egan (guitar); Roger Newell (bass); Barney James (drums); The London Symphony Orchestra, The English Chamber Choir.
Journey To The Center Of The Earth Music Rick Wakeman Journey To The Center Of The Earth Songs Journey To The Center Of The Earth Music Journey To The Center Of The Earth Music Review Average Rating: (4.5 out of 5 stars)   List All Reviews Nice music
I had this record on vinyl and had to have it also on CD. I think this says it all. Buy it.
Submitted by jorge.machado (Portugal) 
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Weird and wonderful
This is by far the best solo effort from the sometime keyboardist for Yes. Wakeman fronts a keybard/synthesizer-driven rock band supported by 2 singers, a choir, a full orchestra and a narrator at a live performance. Some of the songs are hokey, but Wakeman captures the weirdness the marvels and the majesty of Verne's book. The music is that 70s album rock style that sometimes verges on pretentious but still manages to be enjoyable.
Submitted by dwbeard (Morgantown, WV)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  Excellent Service
I am delighted with the service you give your customers. My order was accepted immediately,with an e-mail to confirm the fact. Then two days later when the order was shipped to me,another e-mail was sent to me,to let me know the CD had been sent.The speed and efficiency that you offfer customers is excellent. If you want a rating, I give you 5 stars-the best!!
Submitted by n_raff_2000 (Henderson,NV)
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moog heavy prog-rock shenanigans!
Rick Wakemen pulled out all the stops on this baby,an' then some!If you are going to go over the top musically do it in style,and on this particular cd,boy does he ever!Some great Moog playing from the flamboyant keyboard king,ably assisted by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and narrated in a mightily noble manner by the late,great David Hemmings.If you appreciate grandiose Sci-Fi themes withy funky Clavinet interludes,then this epic is for you,Bunky!
Submitted by tman4378 (Didcot,Oxon,England.)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Great music, ordinary production
Rick Wakeman is quite possibly one of the most adventurous musicians on the planet, so this rock opera epitomises all that he is and much of what's great about progressive rock - grand themes, exceptional musicianship and so on, but...
...just as with every Yes recording I have ever heard, it's let down by the production quality. It just doesn't jump out at you like it should. Instead of feeling like you're sitting there surrounded by your own soundtrack to an amazing journey, it sounds like they've hidden themselves behind a bunch of gigantic mushrooms.
Five star music, two star production.
Submitted by Andrew (Auckland, NZ)
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