Supporting
the siteRick Wakeman Solo Discography
Welcome to my discography of Rick Wakeman's solo works. This is a big page and consists of over 500 kbytes of HTML plus well over 1 Mbyte of small cover art images so it may take a while to load completely on slow internet connections. I may be able to something about the size of the HTML at some stage as a lot of it is due to the 'Save some scrolling' bit.
This discography was neglected a little in 2005 and it is possible that in delaying updates I've overlooked some information that I would have hoped to have included. Let me know if you think I've missed anything.
I am aware that a few tweaks are needed here and there. I am in the process of working through the entries and tidying things up.
Provided you have JavaScript enabled you will see a list of the latest significant additions and amendments to this page below this paragraph. This is taken from the page's associated RSS feed.
I started work on this discography back in 1996 or 1997 at a time when there were no other really comprehensive ones around. It developed from a discography found in the brochure for The "Wots On TV Tonite" Tour and has been added to from personal experience and research, the RWCC newsletter and web site, and from members of the excellent wakeman@yahoogroups.com mailing list.
The official RWCC site includes a discography that I only became aware of some time after I started on this one but that isn't comprehensive by any means and there are several others out there. I have always tried to put my own spin on things and not completely reinvent the wheel. If you want the track listings, credits, big pictures of the cover art, neat lists of the different catalogue numbers and so on then this discography is not for you. However if you simply want to know what is out there then you are in the right place.
The aim of this discography is to give a comprehensive list of all the albums, music videos, music DVDs and "original" singles that have been released featuring Rick as a solo artist rather than as a band member. Here I use "original" singles to mean those that are not taken from albums (I know the single edits may be different but I still exclude them here). The viewpoint is that of a UK based fan which means NTSC videos and DVDs may be overlooked or glossed over if there is a PAL version, and there may be some foreign releases that just don't become available here as a rule.
The discography entries are ordered on the approximate date of the first release anywhere and all the releases with identical content are dealt with in the one entry (you may find in some cases I've been a bit lazy and not created new entries when there are releases with bonus material but I do intend to correct that eventually). This means that from the title line you can instantly see if the same product has been released under different names. The drawback of course is if you only know one of the later names you have to search the page for it.
After the title line there is some discussion of the various releases of the product and any variations in cover art and this includes catalogue number information in many cases. If there are foreign releases with the same cover art as freely available UK versions I may gloss over them or even ignore them. I used to follow this information with a listing of the in print versions of the album. However this information was becoming increasing inaccurate so from July 2006 I have adopted the policy of only showing links to available product on Amazon UK (meaning Amazon UK itself and not its 'sellers') and moving any other catalogue information into the main text (Amazon UK no longer seem to be listing the catalogue numbers in many listings so catalogue numbers quoted in the link have not always been confirmed). I have also started dating the text to indicate when it was last reviewed. It will take a while before all the entries have been revisited! You are welcome to let me know if the links are broken or there are other links I now need.
With each entry I illustrate the cover that I consider is most closely associated with the product in the UK (or was at the time I gave the entry much thought). Other versions are batched together throughout the discography.
Just for fun I've added a star rating for the albums I've got or have heard enough of to form an opinion. The star ratings have the following meanings...
| <> | I see no reason to part with money for these except for completeness. |
| * | Generally perfectly good albums, some with outstanding tracks, but lacking in inspiration or disappointing because of their greater potential. Alternatively ones where there are similar style albums that are better and the albums don't say anything new to me. At a budget price they'd be well worth having but at full price there are arguably other ones to get first. |
| ** | These are albums that stand out a bit more for being different or a little more inspired. Well worth buying at full price. I tend to bundle Rick's ambient music in this category which doesn't reflect just how good it is at what it is. It just reflects that is difficult to call music designed to relax you as a real must have choice! |
| *** | These are highly recommended albums with just that bit extra. |
| **** | Really outstanding "must have" albums or compilation albums with a great track listing. |
I do change the ratings sometimes. My musical tastes change as I get older and I hear things differently.
I have had some very useful contributions to this discography from Rick Wakeman fans worldwide. I would particularly like to mention three people. Ray Riethmeier corrected a complete mistake and made multitude of other useful comments. Wesley Miller helped out with a number of the variations of the cover art and titles. Paul Chandler has somewhat taken over from Wesley and between us we seem to do quite well in detecting new releases and reissues. I only list the product, more often than not, he buys it!
Some notes on record labels
Ambient Records was Rick's own record company and he formed a sister company called Ambient Music to release product on the Badger Records label outside the usual retail channel. That is why you see different format catalogue numbers (AIOM– or A-IOM– for the former, AMB– for the latter) and why I hedge my bets and say Ambient/Badger on some entries. Following financial problems the Ambient company was licensed to Rio Digital so you see some reissues and some new stuff originating on that label. Rio Digital and West Coast appear to have been the same company (or at least they shared an address). Rio Digital in turn quickly licensed the product to President Records who fortunately seem to be a more robust company financially and have generally kept all the product available as well as commissioning and/or releasing many other releases. Having said that, on reviewing the entries in this discography in August 2006 a number of the President releases were not available from Amazon UK though there was evidence of some reissues due for later in the year.
In more recent years Rick formed Music Fusion for mainstream releases and Hope Records for his Christian output. Hope Records had financial problems and was absorbed into Music Fusion so you can see Hope catalogue numbers on the Music Fusion label. Hope now seems to be independent again in the Voiceprint group with product being rereleased in April/May 2001 though some is marked as not being for sale in the UK (though it gets listed anyway) which presumably indicates existing distribution deals. Voiceprint product has been appearing under the United States Of Dist name in the USA. Music Fusion product was distributed by Pinnacle and then switched to Classic Pictures and both those names can appear in listings confused with the label. Distribution switched away again, possibly back to Pinnacle, and perhaps even again after that. In 2006 Music Fusion product started appearing under the Voiceprint umbrella and for convenience I may refer to this as Music Fusion/Voiceprint to differentiate releases from earlier ones. All this change is often a good thing as it is normally a cue for rereleased product, often with improved cover art. Voiceprint release dates have a tendency to slip by a week or several so some of the dates quoted may not correspond with the actual release dates.
A number of Music Fusion titles were listed for release on The Store For Music label in 2002 (ALMOST LIVE IN EUROPE was released previously on the same label using the Music Fusion artwork). They were originally listed by Amazon as 4th February, which is why I mentioned them in the discography, but the release date drifted all year and I should imagine all the listings have long since vanished by now. So I may be giving catalogue numbers for product that has never existed and never will. The Store For Music, which seemed to fall under the Voiceprint umbrella at one stage, sub-licence product internationally which might explain the albums becoming available on the Master Music label in 2002. Master Music are also behind the Gemini and Trilogie labels.
A&M is a well known name of course but was taken over by the equally well known Polydor which is how a couple of the UK originated A&M compilations came to be released on Polydor. Polydor was taken over by Seagram and is now part of the Universal group so you will see the Universal name cropping up. Having said that, the A&M label name seems to be appearing in Amazon listings again, particularly on import items.
As for Classic Rock Legends, champions of flogging the same product in several different ways at high end prices and of being vague about titles for any of them, it seems officially Classic Rock Productions was the distribution operation for Classic Rock Legends Ltd, who also released a series of DVDs called "Classic Rock Legends" and have used Legend Records as their name on CDs. So that makes the label information wonderfully inconsistent between releases and listings. They were also behind Ragna Rock. I'm not sure quite what has happened with this company as I can't get at the old websites but Classic Rock Direct looks like it may be related.
Classic Pictures have released several DVDs and DVD+CD sets. The first products were released using the name The DVD Company. They now seem to emphasise the name the Classic Media Group and use various names such as Classic Pictures Holdings, Classic T Stage, Classic Screen T and Classic Studio T for various purposes. The Amazon UK listings for several of the Classic Pictures products have dates suggesting reissues and are listing Warner Music Vision as the label. The Studio T digital download site is operated by Pinnacle Digital and the Amazon UK listing for AMAZING GRACE actually names the studio as Pinnacle Vision. I am speculating that the studio/label and the distributors are getting a bit confused in some listings.
1971
PIANO VIBRATIONS *This was actually by the John Schroeder Orchestra and Rick rightly doesn't regard it as one of his own albums. It is a "Top Of The Pops" type of thing with Rick, an orchestra/band and vocalists. Rick says that the album was going to give a lead vocalist more prominence and that he was merely a session piano player but he became quite well known at the time and they decided to mix the piano more up front and put his name on the sleeve to exploit this. Several tracks do sound like a backing track to a non-existent lead vocalist. Voiceprint released PIANO VIBRATIONS on CD (Voiceprint VP249CD) in late March 2003 (Amazon actually list 7th April) with a nice reworking of the cover (the website showed a different one and this is also used by Amazon even though it is not correct).
Voiceprint VP249CD
[Entry reviewed 24/7/2006]
1973
THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII ****The CD of this album has been freely and continuously available for a number of years, occasionally drifting into "mid-price" promotions, and since 2001 Amazon UK have been listing it as an import. It was one of the 3 ORIGINAL CDS set. Four tracks appear on VOYAGE, 2 on MASTER SERIES and 3 on RECOLLECTIONS which covers all bar Anne Of Cleves. The additional cover shown later, slightly cropped, is alleged to be an official Spanish only vinyl release though I would welcome confirmation of this. In 2003 this album has become available from Japan in mini-LP card sleeves as UICY-9261. That was a limited edition release but another limited edition reissue is being listed for 27th September 2006.
A&M
[Entry reviewed 24/7/2006]
1974
JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH ****The CD of this album has been freely and continuously available for a number of years, occasionally drifting into mid-price promotions and even onto budget labels (my copy is Spectrum Music 550 0612), and again has been listed by Amazon UK as an import since 2001. There always seem to be various US or Japanese versions around including special gold disc versions. It was one of the 3 ORIGINAL CDS set, and is featured in its entirety on VOYAGE. Watch out for a number of other CD and DVD releases with identical or near identical names as it would be easy to confuse them in internet shops. In 2003 this album has become available from Japan in mini-LP card sleeves as UICY-9262 and again there will be a another limited edition reissue on 27th September 2006.
A&M (This link previously showed the CD as being Universal CD5136)
[Entry reviewed 24/7/2006]
1975
THE MYTHS & LEGENDS OF KING ARTHUR AND THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE ****Again the CD is freely available, again since 2001 Amazon UK have listed it as an import (though in 2006 it seems to be a stock item again), and again it is part of a the 3 ORIGINAL CDS set. Three tracks are featured on VOYAGE, two on MASTER SERIES and two on RECOLLECTIONS but there are only four different ones. My copy of the CD was produced without any printing on the CD itself which was a little unfortunate. In 2003 this album has become available from Japan in mini-LP card sleeves as UICY-9263. This is being reissued for another limited edition run on 27th September 2006.
Universal
[Entry reviewed 24/7/2006]
LISZTOMANIA *Soundtrack album. There was a CD release in Japan as A&M D32Y3550 but apart from there are the three tracks that appear on VOYAGE (two seem to have been combined under the same name). It is pushing it a bit to treat this as a solo album as Rick isn't prominent on much of the stuff. It seems that Rick's masters were rejected and then a different soundtrack album was released with Rick's name prominent on it that didn't really feature him much at all. In 2002 a CD called THE REAL LISZTOMANIA was released as part of the TREASURE CHEST boxed set (released individually in 2003) and it is derived from the masters Rick originally prepared. In September 2003 the original received another CD release as the limited edition Japanese "mini-LP" (UICY-9294) and this receives a limited edition reissue on 27th September 2006.
[Entry reviewed 24/7/2006]
1976
NO EARTHLY CONNECTION ****This is the only studio album before 2002 to be credited to "Rick Wakeman and the English Rock Ensemble" on the cover. One track appears on VOYAGE and one on RECOLLECTIONS. The original 12" album packaging included a piece of silver foil which you were supposed to roll up and stand over the centre of the front or back cover. If you then looked into it you would see the distorted pictures of Rick brought back into proportion. I think there might have been a tiny graphic indicating this on the corner of the inner sleeve. The album finally received a CD release as a "mini-LP" from Universal Japan in September 2003 (UICY-9295). This is being reissued for another limited edition run on 27th September 2006.
[Entry reviewed 24/7/2006]
1977
WHITE ROCK ****This album is based on the soundtrack to the film of the 1976 Innsbruck Winter Olympics. A tour brochure discography implies an individual release on CD in 1988 as A&M CDA 4614 at the same time as the first three albums but I only ever saw it bundled with those albums in the limited edition 20th Anniversary boxed set in early 1989. It would make sense that it had been released but I haven't heard of anyone actually possessing it. I remember someone did suggest it was a limited edition of 1,000 but they may have been confusing it with the boxed set. Four tracks are on VOYAGE, two on MASTER SERIES and two on RECOLLECTIONS. The album received a CD release as a "mini-LP" from Universal Japan in September 2003 (UICY-9296) and this receives a limited edition reissue on 27th September 2006.
[Entry reviewed 24/7/2006]
RICK WAKEMAN'S CRIMINAL RECORD ****This was only ever available on CD in Japan as A&M D32Y3127. Four of the six tracks are available on the compilations. The cover has been available with both white and red lettering. The album had a limited edition CD release as a "mini-LP" from Universal Japan in September 2003 (UICY-9301). In August 2004 another limited edition release, which sounds like it again might be in a "mini-LP" format, appeared from Hip-O Select in the USA. The Japanese version received another limited edition reissue on 27th September 2006. Amazon UK are listing a release on Hip-O Select from12th February 2008.
Hip-O Select
[Entry reviewed 9/7/2008]
1979
RHAPSODIES ***Double album. There was a Japanese CD release as A&M D50Y3128 but I don't think it was imported to the UK. It seems it was a two CD set actually which seems unnecessary as it fits comfortably on a single CD. Two tracks are on VOYAGE, 2 on MASTER SERIES and 1 on RECOLLECTIONS. I understand the track Credits was not on all international releases of the vinyl version. During 2005 I noticed that there appeared to be a single CD release appearing on certain internet sites (such as Amazon.com) but I don't really know anything about this. It might indicate a final "mini-LP" from Universal Japan perhaps, though to be faithful to the original that should have two CDs, but equally it could be nothing at all.
[Entry reviewed 24/7/2006]
1980
THE SPIDER / DANIELLE ***Single initially released with picture sleeve with limited edition of 2,000. I am told that the track Danielle is incorporated into the track The Mountain which is on PRIVATE COLLECTION, though I haven't compared the two myself. Danielle is played at a faster tempo which is perhaps why I never noticed.
[Entry reviewed 24/7/2006]
Alternate releases and cover art variations for albums initially released from 1971 to 1980
PIANO VIBRATIONS was reissued by Voiceprint in 2003 as a CD and has new artwork. The original was part of a series of albums with common styling and is shown alongside DYLAN VIBRATIONS which apparently also featured Rick but doesn't get picked up on like PIANO VIBRATIONS does. PIANO VIBRATIONS also had a second cover it seems. The Voiceprint website displayed the artwork on the right for the 2003 release which is obviously inappropriate and presumably has not been used. Unfortunately it also gets used to illustrate the album on Amazon UK.
SIX WIVES was also available on vinyl in quadrophonic and I also mentioned earlier a Spanish only vinyl version which is shown slightly cropped. The gold disc version of JOURNEY is packaged slightly differently. There also seem to be versions of the vinyl for the South American market with the title and text translated. Since I played around with an animated GIF in the entry for NO EARTHLY CONNECTION I am showing the album cover itself and finally I am showing that Criminal Record has been available with both white and red lettering. I am not sure which colour was used for which releases though the CD appears to have been red.
The latest trend from Japan is the release of CDs in "mini-LP" packaging. That is to say faithful scaled down copies of the original vinyl LP packaging complete with gatefolds and inserts etc. In early 2003 Rick's first three A&M albums were released in this format. Look out for catalogue numbers UICY-9261/2/3.
Even better news is that Lisztomania, No Earthly Connection, White Rock and Criminal Record joined them in September as UICY-9294/5/6 and UICY-9301. Notice that Criminal Record has the white lettering again.
1981
1984 ****This album was originally released on Charisma but never received a release on CD in the UK. Fortunately it was released on CD in the US on the Griffin label and survived their demise and rescue and remains available. Less fortunately it has the inferior U.S. cover art. There was a release using the U.K. artwork (right) in Japan as Virgin VJCP 2551. The great news is that a release was announced for 20th March 2006 on Music Fusion/Voiceprint (Amazon list it as17th April) and it has been remastered and would appear to be using the U.K. artwork. The less great news was that the initial batch turned out to be faulty and couldn't be played on audio CD players. A "mini-LP" 24 bit remastered issue of this CD was released in Japan on 16th January 2008 as AIRAC 1440. There does seem to be a hint of another paper sleeved version but it might be the same release from two sources.
Music Fusion MFVP101CD
[Entry reviewed 6/3/2008]
JULIAThis was a 7" single (Charisma CB384) with a picture sleeve and was backed with Sorry. I don't normally bother to mention singles that are taken from albums, even if the edit might be different, but in this case the single featured Cori Josias on vocals rather than Chaka Khan which makes it more of interest. Obviously no longer available but you do see copies floating around various places on the internet.
[Entry reviewed 24/7/2006]
THE BURNING *This is the soundtrack to the film of the same name together with "The Wakeman Variations" of it. I'd never heard of this being on a CD anywhere (except for transfers from the vinyl), but that situation is changing. I am familiar with the original UK cover art (shown) but a black cover with a face on it appears a lot and is included in the RWCC discography and there also seems to be a third verson including a figure holding shears in silhouette (this seems to be the Japanese release). The film itself was released again on PAL video and region 2 DVD in 2000. As hinted at earlier there is at last to be a CD release on Music Fusion/Voiceprint in 2007. Amazon UK gave the release date as 26/2/2007 (as did various Japanese sites) but Voiceprint themselves were quoting 2/4/2007 even though they were already shipping direct by early March. The tracklisting seems unchanged from the vinyl releases and Voiceprint say it has been remastered. They are illustrating the listing with the original UK cover. A "mini-LP" 24 bit remastered issue of this CD was released in Japan on 16th January 2008 as AIRAC 1439.
Music Fusion MFVP116CD
[Entry reviewed 26/2/2007]
1982
ROCK'N'ROLL PROPHET *** (based on the later release)Rereleased on President in 1993 as ROCK'N'ROLL PROPHET PLUS with extra bonus tracks. Includes I'm So Straight I'm A Weirdo and Do You Believe In Fairies which were a 1980 single release on A&M. This album was actually recorded in 1979 and was to be called MAYBE 80 (also the name of one of the tracks) but didn't make it out until Moon records released it three years later.
[Entry reviewed 26/7/2006]
1983
G'OLE! *This is the soundtrack for the film of the 1982 World Cup. It is rerecorded and reworked and the music is quite far back in the mix in the film so the video isn't a substitute by any means. I have a feeling there may have been more than one cover for this album but I may be imagining things. There was a film called HERO for the 1986 World Cup but the music for that never had a solo release. The music for that comes across more as "incidental music" than self-contained pieces and is even further back in the mix. The great news is that G'OLE! has been announced for its first ever official CD release on 2nd October 2006 on Music Fusion/Voiceprint MPFV123CD. A "mini-LP" 24 bit remastered issue of this CD was released in Japan on 16th January 2008 as AIRAC 1441.
Music Fusion MFVP123CD
[Entry reviewed 31/8/2006]
COST OF LIVING **This album was originally released on the Charisma label but never had an official UK release on CD. It has been available in the US on Griffin for many years but unfortunately with the rather literal US cover which shows bank notes. It has also had a Japanese release as Virgin VJCP 2552 with the attractive UK cover (right). The good news is that Music Fusion/Voiceprint have remastered it and released the CD in the U.K. on 20th March 2006.
Music Fusion MFVP102CD
[Entry reviewed 26/7/2006]