Rick Wakeman - Ultimate Rick Wakeman Experience (26 tracks) +Album Reviews

All new arrangements and hidden gems

Loping Buzzard | Earth | 07/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I bought this triple Wakeman CD, "The Ultimate Rick Wakeman Experience," I thought it would be a "best of" but it's all new recordings of some of his best compositions. Over three hours of new arrangements and interpretations. He does most of King Arthur, several Wives, all of Journey to the Center of the Earth, some choice selections from No Earthly Connection, his biggest Yes contirbutions, throws in some Stones and Beatles, and some newer stuff with an Italian percussionist/vocalist.

It's amazing stuff, but the packaging is odd. It lists the tracks, but they aren't correct. Some song are on the CD in a different order and some songs aren't even listed that are actually on the CD. For instance, an incredible interpretation of "Elenor Rigby" isn't listed. And nowhere does it list the musicians.

It's almost like a live album without the cheering crowds. He's playing with a really tight band that includes great drummers, guitarists and quite a few different vocalists. You'll be happy to know that the vocals are SO much better than the original line-up on Journey and Arthur. And this instrumental version of "Paint It Black" is unbelievable. It would be hard, actually, to accurately list the songs because it really is like a live performance. He does medleys and may start one track with Six Wives but then it transforms into an Arthur composition and back again, then on the next disc he goes back to the Wives theme in the middle of Starship Trooper or something. And everything is new arrangements.

I can't stop listening to it! I like it better every time I hear it. Thank you, Rick!

Back in the Seventies, my first concert was Rick Wakeman and the English Rock Ensemble. The sound, lights, and musicianship spoiled me, because for the next 10 years or more, every band I saw was a disappointment compared to that excellent show.

If you are a fan of the best keyboardist around, this really is close to being the "ultimate" Wakeman experience!"

Not Original Recordings... but good keyboards

Keith Walters | London, Canada | 08/06/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"After enthusiastically ordering this compilation, some Yes songs, plenty of early RW, lots of favourites, some live sets, some songs not heard before. It was some disappointment on first listening realizing all of the above were not the original recordings. This is NOT the Ultimate Experience!!!While the musicianship is passable, with some stellar Wakeman solos, the vocals just don't stand up, this is not Jon Anderson or Ashley Holt.I contacted Rick Wakemans official web site for more details as to personel and recording dates and was politely told that they had no details of this "Cleopatra" release and that Rick receives no renumeration. It is not quite a bootleg, but definately not sanctioned by or has any input from Rick Wakeman or his management, thus the lack of recording detail and the scant liner notes.I will enjoy listening to these 'alternate recordings' for what they are, however it is not what I expected..."

OUTSTANDING!!

kiawra9 | 12/18/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This recording is a paradox. On one hand, I should dislike it because it is all re-recorded Rick and he gets no royalties from its sale. On the other hand, Rick rocks! His musicianship astounded me from the outset. His song selection is first rate and even the Italian recordings grew on me as Wakey plays his myriad keyboards as fluently as ever. This one will surprise you and for the better. Enjoy."

New Recordings - Don't Expect Yes

C. S. Williams | Brentwood, TN USA | 12/26/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I would have to say that the title is accurate, as I can't think of what other music I might want on 3 CDs. It's also interesting to hear someone other than Jon Anderson sing those Yes songs. However, the reason I don't give 5 stars is that time and the opportunity to massage the music does not result in improvement. These were great songs before and they still are, but the changes do not enhance the experience. In fact, for 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth,' I think the original with full chorus and orchestra was MUCH better. However, for those of you wanting a new twist on some real classics, give it a whirl!"

Experience Wakeman.

Bruce Hughes | Brooklyn Park, Minnesota USA | 03/06/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My aversion to "greatest hits" collections is legendary to, well, me.

My feeling is if you enjoy an artist enough to buy their product, you owe it to yourself and to them to understand and own the core canon. That said, how best to turn somebody on to new music? Greatest hits, you say? Well, maybe and no. You don't need a g.h. album for some bands: to use two wildly disparate examples, you just buy them the first album by Boston, or Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis. That alone says what needs to be heard, and the audient can then advance on their own time into the deeper reaches of the artist's repertoire (with ever-greater delight in the case of Miles, with ever-diminishing returns in the case of Boston).

You want Rick Wakeman? You need to hear, have, and internalize The Six Wives Of Henry VIII and Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record, as those are his two finest works, and if you haven't yet heard them, one day thank me you will (and we'll entirely leave aside the idea of a synthesizer wizard as having "any" "Greatest Hits" in the commonly accepted usage of the term--although he did have a U.S. #1 album way back in 1974 with Journey To The Center Of The Earth).

So to greatest hits collections I normally say "bah". Not to this one though, because The Ultimate Rick Wakeman Experience is something else, a super-priced 3-cd collection that really does collect all of his best stuff+plus, AND does it in a way relevant to people who already own a good chunk of what is admittedly an over-voluminous collection of issued Rick Wakeman recordings. Here is his best solo and Yes material re-recorded in super-hot fidelity-this cd set makes your speakers jump in a way few other recorded works by Wakeman will. And it is great fun to hear his workings of what to prog-cognoscenti is already over-memorized material; he gives classic stuff a sharp, fresh slant, and it's great fun re-visiting material that the average prog-head has heard so many times already in original recorded form that he seldom ever puts it on anymore.

Caveat: Wakeman's people claim he gets no royalties from this. This either means that the people who issued this are criminals and should face the law, or that Wakeman did these sessions for a flat-fee, and now cries sour grapes as he is excluded from the royalties. This is in invalid argument if only for the fact the 1) this recording adds large to his legacy and 2) if indeed he did this for a flat-rate fee, then refuses the success of the product, why would anyone hire him out like this again? I would think his fee, based on larger previous sales, would only increase in the bargain. So, for any future transactions of the sort, Wakeman here is only cutting himself off at the knees.

Regardless, this is an excellently recorded collection of powerful performances by one of the truly great rock Musicians of the later 20th-Century. And whether he gets any royalties or not, this recording should turn more ears than hitherto his direction.

Buy this and buy and listen to his other works as well.

"

Search - Rick Wakeman :: Ultimate Rick Wakeman Experience

CD Details

Similar CDs

CD Reviews