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| Rick Wakeman - Return To The Centre Of The Earth |
 Released: 1999 Label: EMI Classics Cat. No.: Total Time: 76:51 | |
Review courtesy John "Bo Bo" Bollenberg, January 2000
When the original vinyl album, Journey To The Centre Of The Earth, was recorded live more than 25 years ago, the story took us to the centre of the earth by means of a tunnel in the crater of Sneffels Yokul. This time we take another tunnel in that same volcano to encounter a totally different 'journey'. Instead of the 38 minutes of the vinyl 'forefather,' this all digital CD runs in excess of 76 minutes, taking you from one highlight to the another. With the help of the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Snell, the English Chamber Choir conducted by Guy Protheroe, a superb talented young backing band, and numerous guest singers, this new album puts Rick Wakeman back on the map in capital and bold letters! What is nice about this album is that the 22 tracks have been edited in such a way that you can programme the CD to either hear the story alone, the music alone, or the entire project. The odd numbered tracks contain the fantastic deep voice of actor Patrick Stewart, best known for his work on Star Trek: The Next Generation. So who better than Patrick to create that necessary sci-fi feel based on the great Jules Verne saga? The even numbered tracks contain the actual songs, six of which have been sung by guest singers. Whilst some of you might find the combination of singers rather weird, I can guarantee you that it works perfectly well. Longtime friend Ozzy Osbourne lends his distinctive voice to "Buried Alive," whilst back again is the glorious sound of the Moog synthesizer that we have missed for so long. In "Is Anybody Out There?" the sandpaper voice of Bonnie Tyler goes really deep, backed once again by the outstanding choir. Having already worked with Jim Steinman in the past (whose "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" sold more than one million copies in the US alone!), it is not the first time Bonnie lends her unique voice to this kind of music. Newcomer Tony Mitchell sings by far the most commercial song on this album, "Mr. Slow." Backed by a very modern percussive sound, the melody is very catchy and should be a strong contender to get lots of radio airplay. The same applies to the uptempo "Never Is A Long, Long Time' for which ex-Yes guitarist Trevor Rabin has been called in. Rick has always felt very strong about Trevor and I guess it won't be too wrong to suggest that we will might see (and hear!) a joint album between them! Apart from recording an ace vocal output, Trevor also plays a fab guitar solo, whilst the orchestra puts a lot of power into the song. Next on the list is Moody Blues singer Justin Hayward. Whilst his Days Of Future Passed album has been regarded as probably the very first prog album, his longtime friendship with Rick, together with the unique colour of his voice, was the main reason why he'd been asked to collaborate. "Still Waters Run Deep" has a slight folk-like feel and floats nicely, backed again by heavenly violins and choir. Pure rock 'n roll is reserved for Katrina Leskanich better known as the singer from Katrina and the Waves. Having won the Eurovision song contest Katrina is used to being a winner. Even if "Ride Of Your Life' is probably the longest track she has ever done, she does it with enormous input and splendor. If there is one song on the album which perfectly entertains both the classic purists and the rock audience it will be the all instrumental "The Dance Of A Thousand Lights" in which Rick delivers that whirlwind on the piano he alone is capable of! Another all instrumental is "The Kill" in which all our attention goes towards the Bach trumpet. I cried when I heard this album for the first time! Cried because I have known Rick for so long and know he has always been capable of delivering this kind of masterpiece. Unfortunately the world runs on money not on talent, so for the last twenty years or so Rick has been unable to create the work he ís really capable of producing. With Return To The Centre Of The Earth he has clearly made his mark. Not only is it a return to the centre of the earth but also the return of the 'real' Rick Wakeman we have all loved for so many years. Knowing that the first 'Journey' sold a mere 12 million copies, this one should at least sell twice as much! Above all it proves once again that progressive rock is now definitely back and I trust this album to be the locomotive for the well-deserved revival of the genre. In the name of all progressive rock lovers in the world, all the musicians who have taken Rick as their prime example and all the new prog acts all over the world: thanks Rick for giving us the injection we have been waiting for for so long. Thanks for being back. We all love you! Thanks also to Richard C Lyttelton, President of EMI Classics, who believed in Rick's talent and enabled him to record this masterpiece with no limits whatsoever. If it wasn't for him then the only man who would ever have heard "Return To The Centre Of The Earth" would have been Rick Wakeman himself, in his mind! Now go out and buy that album, the interlocking key to go from the rock room to the classical room and back again. Buy one for yourself and one to give as a present to your best friends. They will love you forever! [Hear, hear! I second that! -ed.] Further reading:
More about Return to the Centre of the Earth: Track Listing: A Vision (2:34) / The Return Overture (2:39) / Mother Earth (3:48) / Buried Alive (6:01) / The Enigma (1:18) / Is Anybody There? (6:35) / The Ravine (0:49) / The Dance Of A Thousand Lights (5:41) / The Shepherd (2:01) / Mr. Slow (3:47) / Bridge Of Time (1:12) / Never Is A Long, Long Time (5:19) / Tales From The Lidenbrook Sea (2:57) / The Kill (5:23) / Timeless History (1:10) / Still Waters Run Deep (5:21) / Time Within Time (2:39) / Ride Of Your Life (6:01) / Floating (1:59) / Floodflames (2:00) / The Volcano (2:10) / The End Of The Return (5:23) Musicians: Contact: Website: www.rwcc.com Discography
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