Customer Reviews

Cost of Living

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Between his worldwide epic success and fame in the 70's and his spiritual and creative rebirth in the late 80's, Wakeman seemingly joined the ranks of "burned-out has-beens". This 1983 album may be the most outstanding example of that, as sadly after all these years there are still only a few bright spots on it for me. "Gone But Not Forgotten" is the brightest of these, a hauntingly beautiful instrumental that has turned up redone on 3 different later albums-- most notably THE CLASSICAL CONNECTION, the piano version of which may be even better than the original. I'm just not that crazy about vocalist Hereward Kaye, who sings on about half the songs here (I believe this was his only teaming with Rick). Far more intriguing is actor Robert Powell-- forever famous for his portrayals of Jesus AND Victor Frankenstein (what a combo!) who narrates the epic poem, "ELEGY: Written In A Country Churchyard" that finishes the album. Powell would return for 1986's THE GOSPELS (reissued on CD as THE WORD AND THE GOSPELS); along with David Hemmings (the 1974 JOURNEY...), he's one of my favorite Wakeman "narrators"!

This was the last Rick Wakeman LP originally released by Charisma (in 1983). Either he wanted to move to President or the merger with Virgin along with iffy sales made him turn in his cards (he's had the worst luck with record companies, big and small! Maybe that's how the title came about!). The vocalist on a few tracks is Hereward Kaye, who sounds like a poor man's Steve Harley (from "1984"; neither are well-known here). I've heard the poignant "Gone But Not Forgotten" on a couple radio broadcast albums. On XM, Rick said it was inspired by the 1982 Falkland Islands war, after he performed in Argentina a short while before, then Yes at that time played there after things have cooled down, despite tight security there. The song was for those who lost their lives in the conflict, those it may apply to those ever since, or anyone we lose. Reissued 2007 by Music Fusion/President.