02 APOLLO MANCHESTER APRIL 25th 2014.
April & May 2014 Rick Wakeman Toured the UK. to Commemorate The 40th
Anniversary of his Album ” Journey To The Centre Of The Earth ( Jules Verne)
Performing the expanded version with a Band consisting of Rick Wakeman
Keyboards / 3 Mellotrons , 2 Minimoog Synthesisers , 2 Grand Piano’s ,
Hammond Organ & Fender Electrical . Dave Colquhoun Guitars & B/V . Adam
Falkner Drums & Percussion , Lee Pomeroy Bass Guitar & B/V & Adam
Wakeman Keyboards / Guitar & B/V . HISTORY Richard Christopher Wakeman
( Born ) 18th May 1949 ( Age 75 ) Perivale Middlesex England is an English
Keyboardist & Composer Best know as a Member of the Progressive Rock
Band Yes across Five Tenures between 1971 & 2004 & for his Profile Solo
Career . All Music describes Wakeman as a Classically Trained Keyboardist
Extraordinaire who piled his trade with Yes & developed his Own Brand of
Live Spectacular in A Solo Act . Born & Raised in West London , Wakeman
quit his Studies at the Royal College Of Music in 1969 to become a Full
Time Session Musician . His early sessions included ” Space Oddity ”
among others Tracks for David Bowie & Songs by Elton John , Marc
Bolan , Cat Stevens & Lou Reed in 1970. In 1970 Wakeman joined
the Folk Group The Strawbs during which his virtuosity gained National
Press Coverage . He left in 1971 to join Yes 1971 whom he played on
some of their influential Albums . During this time Wakeman began his
Solo Career in 1973 & became a Iconic & Prominent Figure in Progressive
Rock . His highest selling & most acclaimed Albums are his First Three
” The Six Wives Of Henry Vlll ( 1973 ) , The UK. Number One Journey To
The Centre Of Earth ” ( 1974 ) & The Myths & Legends Of King Arthur &
The Knights Of The Round Table ” ( 1975 ) All Concept Albums . In 1974
He Formed The English Rock Ensemble with which he Toured World Wide
& Continues to perform & went on to Score his First Major Film Liszfomania
( 1975 ) Line Up Rick Wakeman Keyboards ex. ex. ex. Dave Colquhoun
Lead & Rhythm Guitars & B/V ex. ex. ex. Adam Falkner Drums & Percussion
ex. ex. ex. Lee Pomeroy Bass Guitar & B/V ex. ex. ex. Adam Wakeman
Keyboards / Guitar & B/V ex. ex. ex. Hayley Sanderson Vocals ? ex. ex. ex.
Ashley Holt Vocals ? ex. ex. ex. Symphony Orchestra ? ex. ex. ex. & Choir ?
ex. ex. ex. Narrator ex. ex. ex. This is a Real Production Show Pure Magic .
SONG 1. Morning Has Broken ex. ( Cat Stevens Cover ” ( C ) Morning has
Broken like the first morning ” ” Blackbird has spoken like the first Bird ”
” Praise for the singing , praise for the morning ” ” Praise for them springing
fresh from the world ” Amazing arrangement just Heavenly Sounds .
SONG 2. Life On Mars ex. ( David Bowie Cover ) ( With Hayley Sanderson)
” Sailors fighting in the Dance Hall ” ” Oh, man ! look at those cavemen Go”
” It’s the freakiest show ” ” Take a look at the lawman beating up the wrong
Guy ” ” Oh man ! wonder if he’ll ever know ” ” He’s in the bestselling show ”
” Is there life on Mars ? ” Outstanding overall Sounds & Brilliant Vocals .
SONG 3. Summer Time ( George Gershwin Cover ) ( Wish Asley Holt )
” Summertime ” ” & the livin’ is easy ” ” Fish are Jumpin ‘ ” ” The cotton
is High ” Crowd going wild with delight amazing playing & Vocals Magic.
SONG 4. Eleanor Rigby ex. ( The Beatles Cover ) ( C ) ” All the lonely
people ” ” Where do they all come from ? ” ” All the lonely people ”
Where do they all come from ? ” Where do they all belong ? ” Love It.
JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH.
SONG 5 . Preface To The Journey ( Lyrics Rick Wakeman ) ( Narrator )
( Jules Verne ) The Storey Begins on 24th May 1863 in Hamburg when
Professor Lidenbrock & his nephew , Axel discovered an old Parchment,
in a 12th Century Book called Heins Kringla ,a chronicle of Norwegian
Princess that ruled over Iceland . The Parchment when decoded into
Latin & translated by axel proved to be written by an Alchemist of the
16th Century & read as follows ” Descend into the Crater of Snaefells –
Jokull over the shadows of Scutaris Falls before the kalends of July ,
Bold Traveller , and you will reach the centre Of The Earth . I have done
this Arni Saknussem. Snaefells is a 5000 foot high Mountain in Iceland ,
an extinct Volcano it’s Last Eruption being in 1229 & so the journey from
Hamburg to Iceland begins . Main Characters Professor Otto Lidenbrock
A Hot Tempered Geologist at the Johanneum Gymnasium with radical
ideas . Axel Lidenbrock Nephew , a young Student whose ideas are more
cautious Hans. Bjelke Icelandic Eiderduck hunter who hires on as their
guide resourceful & imperturbable. Grauben Lidenbrocks Goddaughter
with whom Axel is in love from Vierlande ( Region Southeast of Hamburg.
Martha Lidenbrocks House Keeper & Cook. Fantastic Storey Telling Magic.
SONG 6. The Journey Overture ex. ( Song by Rick Wakeman ) ” Two men
incensed by one mans journey from the past ” ” In Iceland , where the
mountain stood with pride ” ” They set off with guide to reach the mountain
side” Outstanding arrangement with Playing & Vocals & Harmonies Love It.
SONG 7. Journeys Dawn ex. ” Roped as one for safety through the long
descent ” ” Into the Crater of Volcanic Rock they went ” ” Look up from our
Telescopic Laari , one star for us to share , we continue on our prayer ”
SONG 8. Crystals ( Narrator )ex. ” Admiring shades of Lava which
imperceptivity passed from reddish Brown to bright Yellow , their way ”
” Crystals of Opaque Quartz studded limpid tears , forming Magic Chandeliers,
Lighting Blistered galleries ” Such a wonderful arrangement with Pure Magic.
SONG 9. Gothic Cathedral ex. ( Narrator ) ” The walls were enhanced with
impressions of Rock ” ” Weeds & mosses from the Silurian Epoch Pure Magic
SONG 10. A Quest For Water ex. ( Narrator ) ” The Eastern route they had
taken ” ” Had come to a Dead End ” ” With three days walk back to the fork
to find Arne Saknussemm’s original route , they found their waters ” Rations
were limited to one day ” ” Knowing their only chance of finding water was
on that route ” Amazing arrangement with playing & Vocals So much Magic.
SONG 11. The Hansbach ex. Instrumental . Amazing Music Score Love It .
SONG 12. Fervent Prayer ex. ” ( Narrator ) ” Replenished with the water ,
the Journey ” ” Continued with haste but somehow ” ” They found , them
selves separated ” Crowd going wild with delight so much Magic in the Air.
SONG 13 Recollection ex. ” Memories of Life on Earth go Flashing past ”
” Of the home of Grauben , friends of whom he’s seen his last ” ” Contem-
plating what his life’s been worth ” ” While trapped beneath the earth ”
” An embryo at Birth ” ” Contemplating what his life’s been worth ” ” While
trapped beneath the earth ” ” An embryo at Birth ” Outstanding Sounds .
SONG 14. Lost & Found ex. ” Upon rising from his prayer , he ran blindly
through a tunnel only to reach a dead end where he fell panting for breath”
SONG 15. Echoes ex. ” Can you hear me call ? ” ” Can you hear me far
away ? ” ” In the darkness can you hear my Cry ” ” Just a thread of hope
to Guide ” Amazing arrangement with Playing & Vocals. Just Pure Magic.
SONG 16 4 Miles ex. ( Narrator ) ” By means of their chronometers” ” They
discovered they were 4 miles apart ” So Axel set about the task of rejoining
the professor & there guide ” Amazing spoken word from the Narrator .
SONG 17. The Reunion ex. Instrumental pure magic Sounds & Playing .
SONG 18. New Vista ex. ( Narrator ) ” Suddenly the ground disappears from
beneath his feet ” ” He fell down a vertical shaft , his head hitting a sharp
rock , he lost consciousness ” ” On opening his eyes he found himself with
the Professor & their guide and looking around him he saw an ocean ”
” Stretching as far as the eye could see & a giant forest of mushrooms , a
line of huge cliffs & strange clouds hung over head as he lay on a deeply
indented shore pf golden sand strewn with shells ” Fantastic Storey Telling.
SONG 19 . A World Within A World ex. Instrumental Brilliant arrangement .
SONG 20. The Raft ex. ( Narrator ) ” Having made a raft from the giant
mushroom forest with rigging consisting of a mast made of two staves
lashed together , a yard made of a third , & a self borrowed from there
stock of rugs , they set sail from the harbour . Brilliant amazing sounds.
SONG 21. The Last Battle ex. ” Five days out to sea , they witnessed a
terrifying battle between two Sea Monsters ” Outstanding Playing Magic.
SONG 22. Cumulus Clouds ex. Narrator Cumulus clouds formed heavenly
in the South , like huge wool pack’s heaped up in picturesque disorder ,
under the influence of the ” ” Breezes they merged together, growing
darker , foaming a single menacing mass ” ” The raft lay motionless on
the sluggish wave less sea & the silence they waited for the Storm .
SONG 23. The Storm ex. Another amazing instrumental Pure Magical.
SONG 24. The Cemetery ex. ( Narrator ) ” For days the storm had raged
as they clung to the mast of their raft for safety ” ” Finally with their raft,
being bashed against the reefs ” ” They lay sheltered from the pouring
rain beneath a few overwhelming rocks where they ate & slept ” The
next Day all track of the storm had disappeared ” Great Storey Telling.
SONG 25 Quaternary Man ex. ” Journey through the centuries ” ” The
Guardian Angel of Time ” ” 100,000 years have passed by ” ” With no
reason to find ” Another amazing arrangement with Fantastic Playing.
SONG 26 The Ravine ex. This is a heavenly score with amazing Sounds.
SONG 27. The Dance Of A Thousand Lights ex. Amazing Instrumental
Crowd going wild with delight They are creating so much Magic in the Air.
SONG 28. Mastodons ex. ( Narrator ) A mile further on , they reached the
edge of a huge forest made up of vegetation of the Tertiary Period. Tall
tall palms were linked by a network inextricable creepers a carpet of
moss the ground & the leaves were colourless everything having a
brownish hue . Exploring the forest they discovered a heard of Gigantic
animals Mastodons. Outstanding Narrator taking us through the Journey.
SONG 29. The Forest ex. ” The shore now gone behind the hills ” ” A
Forest in our sight ” ” A private Prehistoric World , for you & I a Dream ”
SONG 30. Ages Of Man ex. ( Narrator ) Dumb with astonishment &
amazing which boarded on stupefaction . they fled the Forest .Instinct-
ively . They made towards the Lidenbrook sea ” Great Storey Telling .
SONG 31. The Tunnel ex. Outstanding Instrumental with Great Playing.
SONG 32. In The Hall Of The Mountain King ex. Another amazing
Instrumental with such magical Playing. Brilliant Mixing & Lights &
Graphics & Brilliant Stage Presentation & Screens out of the World .
SONG 33. Mount Etna ex. Instrumental . Great playing from Band & Rick.
ENCORE.
SONG 34 Time Within Time ex. Another amazing song with brilliant Magic.
SONG 35. Ride Of Your Life ex. ” None stop freedom ” ” It’s an absolute
beginning ” ” A lottery to nowhere ” ” With an even chance of winning ”
” Listen for the countdown on your biggest fantasy Ride ” Love It Magic.
SONGS 36 / 37 / 38 Reprises Ages of Man , The Tunnel & In The Hall Of
The Mountain King Instrumental Just Out Of This World Pure Magical .
SONG 39. Mount Etna ex. ( Narrator ) The explosion had caused an earth-
quake , the abyss had opened up the sea was pouring into down & down
they plunged into the huge gallery , but on regaining there senses found
their raft rising at tremendous speed trapped in the shaft of an active
Volcano they rose through the ages of man to be . Finally ,expelled out
on a mountain riddled with Tiny Lava Streams . Their Journey was
Completed & they found themselves 3000 miles from there original
starting point in Iceland . They had entered by one volcano & had come
out by another with the blue mountains of Calabria in the east . They
walked away from the mountain that had returned them. The Fright-
ening Mount Etna . ( This should have been on SONG 33 with 33 on
Song 39 Instrumental Outro ) This review has been a real challenge .
This has been one of my favourite shows over the years I also so the
Show back in 1974 which was Fantastic . Rick Wakeman was
Outstanding & His Band of Talented Musicians & Singers & Choir &
Orchestra . Brilliant Mixing , Lights & Graphics /One Hell Of A Show .
SCARLET LIGHT 