Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record

Rick Wakeman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 13, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 1977
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hip-O Select
• ASIN: B000BQQ8P4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,760 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Statue of Justice

2. Crime of Passion

3. Chamber of Horrors

4. Birdman of Alcatraz

5. The Breathalyser

6. Judias Iscariot

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Wakey's best, December 24, 2003

By 

Amanda Bartels (Eltham, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Criminal Record (Audio CD)

Criminal Record comes from a time when Rick Wakeman's musical creativity was at its peak - during the 80s he didn' write much that came up to the same levels, with the exception of '1984'.

Rick recorded this album right after he rejoined Yes in 1977 and they had completed Going for the One at Montreux in Switzerland. Chris Squire and Alan White both volunteered to play on Rick's album and recorded their parts after he had laid down the keyboard tracks and gone home, an unusual arrangement but I guess it was Rick's album so he got what he wanted. It doesn't seem to matter - it all seems very integrated, especially on a track like Crime of Passion with Squire's trademark melodic bass well to the fore.

It's only six tracks, based upon a theme of crime and punishment. Like Six Wives, the theme is really a vehicle to tie the album together rather than a true exploration of the concept as in the Arthur, Journey or No Earthly Connection albums. However it doesn't matter how loose the theme is, the music is very tight, very innovative and Rick's writing and arrangements show a lot of maturity and depth.

The outstanding track is the last one, Judas Iscariot, a grand, soaring piece which explores the tragic nature of the man and his circumstance. Wakeman uses the Vevey church organ which appears on Going for the One to great effect - its lavish pipes rumble everywhere on this track and others. I especially like the blend of church organ and Moog, where the two instruments appear to imitate each other, with Rick using the piano for tonal contrast or emphasis instead - it's unusual in that you'd expect piano and church organ together with Moog as contrast, but this is quite a different effect.
Rick uses choir to give a pastoral and valedictory feel to the piece and his piano lilts are exquisite. There's a certain five-note chromatic run repeated during this track which gave rise to conjecture that Andrew Lloyd Webber had pinched it and incorporated it into Phantom of the Opera, which was released in 1980. Not only the melody but the entire operatic feel of the song is very Phantom-ish - or Phantom is very Judas-like! You'll notice it immediately, however despite dark mutterings the lawsuit didn't prosper (Lloyd Webber probably had better lawyers anyway. . .)

Judas is the best track but that is not to denigrate the other five. The opening track, Statue of Justice, is an abstract piece of genius, fresh and innovative and alive, and a departure from Wakeman's usual style, which is a nice surprise. Really there isn't a bad track at all. Crime of Passion is lush and romantic, Birdman of Alcatraz delicate and the Breathalyser quirky and humorous. Probably Chamber of Horrors is my least favourite but that's only cos it's not as brilliant as the others.

What's good about this album is the balance of keys, other instruments and voices - nothing seems to dominate, and Rick's trademark keyboard runs seem essential to the pieces rather than there for their own sake, a crime of which he is guilty on a few occasions elsewhere in his career (like going to see a movie with special effects, rather than a special effects movie, if you know what I mean.)

One of Wakeman's best. Everything incorporated here that he is brilliant at doing, and nothing that he is no good at all at doing (e.g. lyrics, vocalists!) It's tight and gets better with repeated listenings.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC VOYAGE - MASTERPIECE!!!, October 7, 2007

By 

Mike "kanannas" (Tlalnepantla, Estado de Mexico Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record (Audio CD)

Finally, after many years of legal issues (or something like that) it's re-released this fantastic album from the best classical-rock keyboardist of all times, with 6 well-timed tracks, this album inspires everything, each composition transports you from crazy to misty, dark to mellow, happy to sad atmospheres and for the art-rock and progressive fan it's a delightful combination of complex rythms and structures that in my humble opinion equals those of Six Wives of Henry VIII... underrated masterpiece of Symphonic Rock.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars His reference album, November 9, 2003

By 

"pico_de_luuks" (VA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Criminal Record (Audio CD)

From all the Rick Wakeman albums I have this is without a doubt my favorite one. I special ordered it from Japan back in the late 80's and it was worth the money. Short (36mins) but powerfull, showing all his great skills. Judas from Iscariot is an amazing song you cannot afford to miss if you like the "old" Rick. Three thumbs up.