{24K Gold Ultradisc II/Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab Serial# UDCD 633}
Journey To The Centre Of The Earth is Rick Wakeman's second solo album, released in 1974. It is loosely based on Jules Verne's novel Journey to the Centre of the Earth. It was recorded live at the Royal Festival Hall in London, England on January 18, 1974. A big success, this album topped the charts of various countries and sold more than fourteen million copies.
It is said that Wakeman had to sell many of his belongings and mortgage his house to record it. He couldn't cut it in the studio because of the restricted budget. It was originally written to be longer, but certain parts had to be cut and overdubbed since the orchestra was expensive and Wakeman couldn't afford to re-record those parts. Therefore, certain lyric sections are out of order. After the recording, A&M UK did not wish to produce the album, so Wakeman convinced A&M USA to do it. This was the first A&M Quadraphonic (Surround Sound) album to use the CD-4 system.
This album is available in its original recording, a live DVD recording at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, Australia in 1975, and a later orchestra-free/lyric free studio version is available on the 1994 "Greatest Hits" album.
Released May, 1974
Recorded January 18, 1974, Royal Festival Hall, London
Genre Rock, Progressive rock
Length 40:07
Label A&M (USA)
Producer Rick Wakeman
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab Release: 1995
Track Listing
1. The Journey/Recollection - 21:10
2. The Battle/The Forest - 18:57
______________________________________________
* Rick Wakeman - Synthesizers
* Gary Pickford-Hopkins, Ashley Holt - vocals
* David Hemmings - Narrations
* Mike Egan - Guitar
* Roger Newell - Bass
* Barney James - drums
* London Symphony Orchestra
* The English Chamber Choir
* David Measham - Conductor
Review by Mike DeGagne
Journey to the Centre of the Earth is one of progressive rock's crowning achievements. With the help of the London Symphony Orchestra and the English Chamber Choir, Rick Wakeman turns this classic Jules Verne tale into an exciting and suspenseful instrumental narrative. The story is told by David Hemmings in between the use of Wakeman's keyboards, especially the powerful Hammond organ and the innovative Moog synthesizer, and when coupled with the prestigious sound of the orchestra, creates the album's fairy tale-like climate. Recorded at London's Royal Festival Hall, the tale of a group of explorers who wander into the fantastic living world that exists in the Earth's core is told musically through Wakeman's synthesized theatrics and enriched by the haunting vocals of a chamber choir. Broken into four parts, the album's most riveting segment, entitled "The Battle," involves Wakeman's most furious synthesized attack, churning and swirling the keyboards into a mass instrumental hysteria. With both "The Journey" and "The Forest," it's the effective use of the strings and percussion section of the London Symphony Orchestra that causes the elements of fantasy and myth to emerge from the album's depths. The gorgeous voice of Ashley Holt is effectively prominent, and some interesting guitar work via Mike Egan arises occasionally but meritoriously amidst the keyboard fervor. The whole of Journey to the Centre of the Earth still stands as one of the most interesting conglomerations of orchestral and synthesized music, and it is truly one of Wakeman's most flamboyant projects.
It is said that Wakeman had to sell many of his belongings and mortgage his house to record it. He couldn't cut it in the studio because of the restricted budget. It was originally written to be longer, but certain parts had to be cut and overdubbed since the orchestra was expensive and Wakeman couldn't afford to re-record those parts. Therefore, certain lyric sections are out of order. After the recording, A&M UK did not wish to produce the album, so Wakeman convinced A&M USA to do it. This was the first A&M Quadraphonic (Surround Sound) album to use the CD-4 system.
This album is available in its original recording, a live DVD recording at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, Australia in 1975, and a later orchestra-free/lyric free studio version is available on the 1994 "Greatest Hits" album.
Released May, 1974
Recorded January 18, 1974, Royal Festival Hall, London
Genre Rock, Progressive rock
Length 40:07
Label A&M (USA)
Producer Rick Wakeman
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab Release: 1995
Track Listing
1. The Journey/Recollection - 21:10
2. The Battle/The Forest - 18:57
______________________________________________
* Rick Wakeman - Synthesizers
* Gary Pickford-Hopkins, Ashley Holt - vocals
* David Hemmings - Narrations
* Mike Egan - Guitar
* Roger Newell - Bass
* Barney James - drums
* London Symphony Orchestra
* The English Chamber Choir
* David Measham - Conductor
Review by Mike DeGagne
Journey to the Centre of the Earth is one of progressive rock's crowning achievements. With the help of the London Symphony Orchestra and the English Chamber Choir, Rick Wakeman turns this classic Jules Verne tale into an exciting and suspenseful instrumental narrative. The story is told by David Hemmings in between the use of Wakeman's keyboards, especially the powerful Hammond organ and the innovative Moog synthesizer, and when coupled with the prestigious sound of the orchestra, creates the album's fairy tale-like climate. Recorded at London's Royal Festival Hall, the tale of a group of explorers who wander into the fantastic living world that exists in the Earth's core is told musically through Wakeman's synthesized theatrics and enriched by the haunting vocals of a chamber choir. Broken into four parts, the album's most riveting segment, entitled "The Battle," involves Wakeman's most furious synthesized attack, churning and swirling the keyboards into a mass instrumental hysteria. With both "The Journey" and "The Forest," it's the effective use of the strings and percussion section of the London Symphony Orchestra that causes the elements of fantasy and myth to emerge from the album's depths. The gorgeous voice of Ashley Holt is effectively prominent, and some interesting guitar work via Mike Egan arises occasionally but meritoriously amidst the keyboard fervor. The whole of Journey to the Centre of the Earth still stands as one of the most interesting conglomerations of orchestral and synthesized music, and it is truly one of Wakeman's most flamboyant projects.
This is a must-have for any Prog Rock fan. Thank you for the high quality rip from the MFSL Gold disc; thank you also for the hi-res png scans. It's truly appreaciated, bro.
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