Journey to the Centre of the Earth [LIVE]

Rick Wakeman

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: February 22, 1988
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Fontana a&M
• ASIN: B000002GA8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #37,634 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jules Verne LIVES on my #1 favorite Rick Wakeman album!, January 17, 2000

By	Henry R. Kujawa ("The Forbidden Zone" (Camden, NJ)) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Having left YES behind, Rick Wakeman's follow-up to THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII proved less abstract and far more ambitious: adapting Jules Verne's classic novel to music in a mere 40 minutes! And while originally intended as a studio recording, it was instead performed LIVE, with the London Symphony Orchestra and The English Chamber Choir, and David Hemmings along for the ride as narrator. It blows my mind to think of all those musicians getting it perfect in ONE take! --but they did. I love to play this late at night with the lights turned down to simulate being underground. Amazingly the brief summary of the story is told more accurately here than in several film versions over the years. Rick has redone this at least 6 times (both live and in studio) but none has touched the original-- not the least reason being only this one has the narration. I wish Hemmings had returned on subsequent such ventures. Out of the 60-some solo projects he's done (so far! ) this remains my #1 favorite Rick Wakeman album.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Experimental Then, Classic Now, August 30, 2002

By	Lonnie E. Holder "The Review's the Thing" (Columbus, Indiana, United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

It's easy to look down your nose at the Model T when you have a Transam or a Corvette, or an SUV or truck for that matter. However, in the day of the Model T, it was something to which everyone aspired.

So too we have an entire class of album that was more common and popular in the 70s than before or since, the story theme album. Epitomized by Jeff Wayne's outstanding "War of the Worlds", the story album is the concept album taken taken to an extreme, setting a story in a music framework. Rick Wakeman tried several variants on this style of album, with probably "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" and "Return to the Centre of the Earth" being the most story-like.

With so few entries in this genre, by definition the few that are there are the best. How fortunate that "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" really is good. I recall listening to a vinyl version of this album often in the mid-70s, along with a large group of nerdy electronics technicians because the structure and uniqueness of the music appealed to us. The synthesizers Rick Wakeman used were state-of-the-art at the time, and his skill was phenomenal.

As I listen to the music now, you could readily guess it is 70s music. The riffs and arrangement have that 70s flavor. Regardless, the music still retains its appeal. There are so many influences in this music that it would be difficult to point out half of them. Certainly Rick brought his Yes influences. You could perrhaps feel a bit of Hendrix in spots, maybe some Moody Blues, perhaps even a bit of Isaac Hayes. Throw that in with an orchestra and you have something that at that time was very progressive.

Okay, the lyrics are nothing to write home about. They are simple, almost juvenile. Fortunately they are not the main attraction, the music is. The lyrics do tell part of the story, so you should still understand what the singer is saying.

Other than the other story albums of the time, and the more symphonic productions of Yes, the closest album I can think of similar to this in terms of style is The Moody Blues "Days of Future Passed", which is completely different in concept.

Given the goal of the album, I think that the music is well-matched to the goal, not over-blown or pretentious. However, recall that much symphonic music is by its nature overblown and pretentious. Consider, as an example, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. Definitely overblown and pretentious. And who cares? It's good music well done.

As with much of the music I enjoy, this album is not for everyone. It is a niche album for those who like the fusion of rock and classical, with synthesizers and a story thrown in for good measure. There are a variety of styles represented, including Rick Wakeman's unique style. If you are still unsure whether you would like this, borrow a copy or download a portion from someone and give it a listen. If Yes and The Moody Blues are your idea of exciting music, I'm betting this album will soon be on your list of good music.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Landmark in 20th century musical experiences, December 29, 2003

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

If Rick Wakeman could be remembered for one piece of music only, I reckon this should be it. Simply taking on the idea of translating Verne's classic into symphonic rock was audacious enough but to succeed as well as Wakeman does is pretty extraordinary, considering his age (24) and that he did it solo - with some help from orchestrators.

Apparently this was recorded live because it was cheaper than carting an orchestra and instruments into a studio for a week. The record company was not convinced, but I think the live 'special event' feel really makes the album, and the performances are pretty good from all involved.

Musically, it's brilliant - the main theme is very strong, very simple and very classic but soon the trademark Wakeman synths make their presence felt and thereafter it's a great mix of Moog, electric piano, clavinet, Hammond and orchestra and choir. If there is a letdown it's the choice of vocalists - I keep reading that Ashley Holt is a brilliant singer, but I've yet to hear it. He sounds better suited to this album than others he has collaborated on but he still irritates the pip out of me.

The other downside to the album is the lyrics - sorry, Rick but you should have done an Elton and got yourself a lyricist early on. Rick even invents a new word, stupefication. However the cheesy lyrics don't really take much away from the album. The narration is excellent, not only David Hemmings' elocution but the script really brings out Verne's sense of wonder and the pioneering aspect of this very early travel narrative - after all in the 1800s nobody could say you COULDN'T find a vast sea inside the Earth, complete with sea monsters. In fact this narration seems to be one of the better interpretations of Verne's Journey, better than some of the films, anyway.

Wakeman's keyboards dazzle, but never dominate or threaten to derail the overall musical experience - highlights are the funky Hohner clavinet solos at about 13 mins (whoever said Wakeman was ugly on a Clavy needs their head read), and the sea monster battle at the start of track two, with lots of Moog lavished around it.

As far as the audio sound goes, it's a good remaster, sounds are separated nicely and you can even hear individual choir voices which I don't remember hearing on the original vinyl.

I think the strongest aspect of this album is the atmosphere - it's eerie, wondering, and feels like you're on a journey somewhere strange.

There have been plenty of marriages of rock and classical music over the years - this one will go down as the standard.