YESSOLOS 1975/6 - rank

[Gilly Goodness]

Bought Rhapsodies. Gatefold sleeve and all. After the car accident he had. Hanging over the precipice. Too ashamed to tell my cooler mates who were into The Smiths, Style Council, The Banshees.

All I could do was listen to a disco version of Rhapsody in Blue, alone in my room with the blinds down. Was a long time before I bought another Wakey album.

[Ash Armstrong]

Bought Rhapsodies. Gatefold sleeve and all. After the car accident he had. Hanging over the precipice. Too ashamed to tell my cooler mates who were into The Smiths, Style Council, The Banshees.

All I could do was listen to a disco version of Rhapsody in Blue, alone in my room with the blinds down. Was a long time before I bought another Wakey album.

Other than the deluxe edition of Six Wives a few years ago, I think Rhapsodies was probably the last of his that I bought. It's a pretty weak offering.

[Gilly Goodness]

The Blighter pulled me back in with a Roger Dean cover, Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Justin Hayward and Bonnie Tyler. Return to the Centre of the Earth.

You can checkout but you can never leave, him....

[Soundwaveseeker]

Yeah, Rick surely can pump out albums. But to be honest, most of his best stuff came out just before, during, and just after the 5 Yessolos. There are cds of his I've never got a second or third complete listen to, like African Bach or some of those 'official bootlegs' or much of those noodly piano albums. Really decent stuff is far between, from the 80's on. Time Machine is pretty solid, actually. And don't laugh, but I dig Rock N Roll Prophet, despite how cheezy I know it really is. It may be the most uncoolest thing created, but I like its schlock because I know it's ridiculous. Haven't heard the two Retro albums, but making a new album using retro instruments and making one using retro composition, ideas & songwriting is another. I still have half an eye on him, though.

[Kevin W]

1. Fish Out of Water - Bruford's presence makes this one a cut above all the rest. Get the Jakko remix version - it's excellent
2. Story of I - Prog from Brazil - haven't got anything else quite like it in my collection. Esoteric's remaster is excellent and well worth the money.
3. Olias - very much of its time but still a good album.
4. Beginnings - took a long time to get used to Steve's vocals on this but once I did there is some good music and arrangements to enjoy
5. Ramshackled - when it's good it's very good but is a bit patchy. Good variety though.

[Yorkshire Square]

Yeah, Rick surely can pump out albums. But to be honest, most of his best stuff came out just before, during, and just after the 5 Yessolos. There are cds of his I've never got a second or third complete listen to, like African Bach or some of those 'official bootlegs' or much of those noodly piano albums. Really decent stuff is far between, from the 80's on. Time Machine is pretty solid, actually. And don't laugh, but I dig Rock N Roll Prophet, despite how cheezy I know it really is. It may be the most uncoolest thing created, but I like its schlock because I know it's ridiculous. Haven't heard the two Retro albums, but making a new album using retro instruments and making one using retro composition, ideas & songwriting is another. I still have half an eye on him, though.

Both Retro albums are pretty good, even the vocals. I very much enjoy Return to the Centre of the Earth including the Rabin feature. Other highlights for me are 1984, The Burning and the original Country Airs. I had the original Gospels on tape and I recall rather enjoying that. Black Knights at the Court of Ferdinando IV is also worth a go.

Rhapsodies is a bit of a stinker.

[Soundwaveseeker]

1984 is good, but I like Anthony Phillips 1984 a little better. Cost Of Living and Silent Nights are also pretty decent in spots. I suppose some of Rick's 80's is pretty good. I need to listen to Red Planet again soon to get more of an ear for it. Out There was fine. Haven't heard Black Knights.

Return To Centre Of The Earth - good, and I'm glad we got Rabin on there. Those two should/could have done further work together. Even if ARW failed to provide a creative place for a collaboration, a duo album or featuring on each others solo album could be a way to go.

[Gtkgasman]

Both Retro albums are pretty good, even the vocals. I very much enjoy Return to the Centre of the Earth including the Rabin feature. Other highlights for me are 1984, The Burning and the original Country Airs. I had the original Gospels on tape and I recall rather enjoying that. Black Knights at the Court of Ferdinando IV is also worth a go.

Rhapsodies is a bit of a stinker.

i have a soft spot for the original country airs as it was the first wakey cd I ever bought. All Prior being vinyl

I agree the whole of rhapsodies is a tough listen. And I only do on a side basis occasionally.

Other than the obvious 70’s releases, criminal record and prior, and live releases, the studio album I put on the most often is Out There. I love to put it on in the car and crank it up. I hadn’t heard Damian Wilson prior and thought he was a good fit. I need to find more of his stuff.

All others get a play only every now and then. There are soooooo many!!!!! That’s why. Lol. They take up a lot of room!!

I do like Ashley holt. So that lends me to ERE releases. I know many are not fond of him. Some other vocalist miss themark

Waleman w/ Wakeman shows are fabulous. Pretty sure I have an official release. I have some audience boot audio and video, unfortunately I wore one dvdr out 😥

[Homemade Parachute]

Both Retro albums are pretty good, even the vocals. I very much enjoy Return to the Centre of the Earth including the Rabin feature. Other highlights for me are 1984, The Burning and the original Country Airs. I had the original Gospels on tape and I recall rather enjoying that. Black Knights at the Court of Ferdinando IV is also worth a go.

Rhapsodies is a bit of a stinker.

A real fun game when snowed in with the family is to just make up Rick Wakeman album titles, and see who falls for it. Bonus points for a convincing background story and/or initial performance details, esp. the part where it all goes wrong…

“Climbing the Pyramids of Geezabun”, Rick’s duet with ex-Marillion singer Fish, is best known for the abortive initial outdoor performance, when the rapidly rising floodwaters of the Nile washed away both Rick’s mellotron and bass player, only the former of which would be eventually retrieved.

[Gilly Goodness]

King Richard III in Space

Wakeman delivers a stunning double album portraying the life and loves of the evil hunchback astronaut.
"I was stuck in a Mexican hospital having my 5th triple bypass or the big15 as it is known south of the border when I picked up a paperback about the life of Richard III and his adventures in space, discovering that the moon is made of cheese and declaring it part of the British Empire. By the way, you do know I have a CBE?!"

Vocals by Ashley Holt.

[Homemade Parachute]

Rick Wakeman’s “Voyageurs of the Northwest Passage” was particularly ambitious in scope, with the first and to this day last performance taking place entirely in canoes on Hudson Bay, Manitoba; sadly, 2/3 or approximately 8 of the audience were trampled to death by a rogue moose herd before the first movement was complete. Wakeman, having bet on massive merchandizing sales to pay back the advance on album sales, was financially if not emotionally devastated, although he was eventually able to offload the many tour T-shirts printed up in a series of alimony payments to a number of ex-wives.

[RelayerI]

1) Olias of Sunhillow
2) Story of I
3) Beginnings
4) Fish out of Water
5) Ramschackled

Not much space between the top three. There seems to be some sort of consensus regarding Ramshackled being amongst the weakest, and last time I gave Fish a spin (after many years) I really struggled to like it.

In other news -

and avoids the excess of Anderson at his mystical worst [eg Awaken]

Really ? !!!

[Ceasar’s Palace]

What do we think of Alan’s song Marching Into A Bottle? It’s one of those love it or hate it, I’m a lover. Is it a parody or a tribute? Who cares. It’s sweet.
I put it at the very end of my Yes solos collection, like Her Majesty on the Beatles Abbey Road.

[Soundwaveseeker]

Marching into a Bottle - I like it, it's melodic, but doesn't really have any drums on it does it? It's an Alan White-less track on an Alan White album and not written by Alan White. Ramshackled is an odd album. Marching Into A Bottle I suppose is sweet, I like the flutes. It almost sounds like it's an interlude that should be on Chris' Fish Out Of Water. In fact, Chris, Steve and Alan's Yessolos albums seem to be linked by a similar, chamber orchestral element that Jon & Patrick's don't have.

[Ash Armstrong]

What do we think of Alan’s song Marching Into A Bottle? It’s one of those love it or hate it, I’m a lover. Is it a parody or a tribute? Who cares. It’s sweet.
I put it at the very end of my Yes solos collection, like Her Majesty on the Beatles Abbey Road.

If I remember correctly from the sleeve notes, that was not the original title for that track..