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 and there are now some other good ones out there (I particularly like this Polish one). 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.

Credits are due to Ray Riethmeier for correcting a complete mistake and a multitude of other useful comments and especially to Wesley Miller and Paul Chandler who keep me up to date with all the different covers and releases they come across. It is thanks to them I can feel pretty confident that this discography is very comprehensive.

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 licenced to Rio Digital so you see some reissues and some new stuff originating on that label. Rio Digital in turn quickly licenced the product to President Records who fortunately seem to be a more robust company financially and have generally kept all the product available. Oh yes and Rio Digital and West Coast appear to be the same company.

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 U.S. recently. Music Fusion product was distributed by Pinnacle but has now switched to Classic Pictures and both those names can appear in listings confused with the label. The relationship with Classic Pictures sounds a lot closer than just distribution so that is particularly understandable.

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 now Amazon don't list any date at all and may even have deleted the entries. So I may be giving catalogue numbers for product that does not and may never exist. The Store For Music, which comes under the Voiceprint umbrella, 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 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.

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 is 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.

Save some scrolling... 1971 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 On The Way... ??? Anything Else?

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 are releasing Piano Vibrations on CD in late March 2003 with a nice reworking of the cover (though the website showed a different one).
Voiceprint VP249CD

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, although 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.
A&M

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 a 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 the DVD+CD package of the same name on the "Classic Pictures Entertainment" label which is the 1975 Melbourne live performance. 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.
A&M (Amazon UK were not listing this as of March 2003 though it was available from Amazon.com)

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 it, 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.
A&M

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).

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 is finally getting a CD release as a "mini-LP" from Universal Japan in September 2003.

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 is getting a CD release as a "mini-LP" from Universal Japan in September 2003.

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. 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 U.S.

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.

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.

1981

1984 ****
This album was originally released on Charisma but has 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.
Griffin

JULIA
This 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.

THE BURNING *
This is the soundtrack to the film of the same name together with "The Wakeman Variations" of it. I've never heard of this being on a CD anywhere (except for transders from the vinyl). I am familiar with the original UK cover art (right) 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.

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.

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. It has never officially been released on CD. 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 COST OF LIVING **
This album was originally released on the Charisma label but has 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).
Griffin

1985

SILENT NIGHTS ***
The discography in the "Wots on TV Tonite" programme says the CD version has "Elgin Mansions" as a bonus track. I find this baffling as the original vinyl version had that track anyway. As well as the President release it was also released in Japan as King K32Y2020.
President RWCD 1

THE THEME FROM "LYTTON'S DIARY" / DATABASE **
Double A-Sided single of two TV themes (President WAKE 2 (7") 12WAKE 2 (12")). I should imagine this must be out of print though I guess President could still have copies sitting on a shelf somewhere. You do see copies advertised in various places.

LIVE AT HAMMERSMITH ***
Live album.
President RWCD 2

1986

COUNTRY AIRS ***
Originally released as CODA NAGE 10CD and then with the "Landscape Series" branding more prominent as CODA 830 510-2 (nage 10). The second version was still circulation in 1997 alongside the 1992 packaging (NAGE 102CD). All three are illustrated later. On 12th May 2003 the album was reissued on Hallmark with the new cover illustrated on the right and at a budget price. I have seen this album listed at under £2 though it seems to have sneaked up in price a little since first listed. The 1992 rerecording of the album with additional tracks is listed separately.
CODA NAGE 102CD, Hallmark 704262

CRIMES OF PASSION / MUSIC FROM CRIMES OF PASSION *
The 1993 UK release of this (reworked) soundtrack on President an extra track over the U.S. versions. The import version I have seen most often is Edel Screen EDS-5404-2 (it also has Fifth Avenue and New World splattered over it) which has different cover art (red background instead of blue, smaller picture on the front, different text layout) but it has also been Cinerama CIN 2202-2. The extra track is a vocal by Maggie Bell and is not one of Rick's compositions and doesn't seem to involve Rick at all. Indeed as far as I can tell it wasn't used anywhere in the film either. You may see this listed as MUSIC FROM CRIMES OF PASSION which is what the spine of the CD case has on it.
President RWCD 3
I am aware as of March 2002 the Amazon link above is linking to something that most definitely isn't CRIMES OF PASSION, although the CD image is. Unfortunately Amazon seems to have a bug where catalogue numbers that are the same for different labels confuses things. This was most definitely CRIMES OF PASSION when I created the link so I am leaving it in place in the hope that problem will clear itself.

1987

THE GOSPELS / THE WORD AND THE GOSPELS *
Double album which was on CD as Stylus SMD 729. THE WORD AND THE GOSPELS is a repackaging of the same album as BMO 002/3. This album seems to have been recorded with too low a budget to do the job properly.

THE FAMILY ALBUM **
The President CD has bonus tracks (presumably relative to the vinyl release) and the U.S. release another version on Relativity/President 88561-1025-2 reverses the colours at the edge to form a border (shown later) and highlight "The Rick Wakeman New Age Collection".
President RWCD 4

1988

A SUITE OF GODS **
This is another of "The Rick Wakeman New Age Collection" on President and is credited to "Ramon Remedios & Rick Wakeman" on the spine, though Rick's name appears first on the cover itself. Rick wrote all the material but Ramon's voice dominates and draws the attention away from some excellent keyboard work. There is a second version of the cover which seems to be a later President reissue.
President RWCD 5

ZODIAQUE **
The UK release of this album is rightly credited to "Tony Fernandez and Rick Wakeman" and the same ordering is used for the writing credits. You should take note of the comments on the sleeve that it is a percussion led album. The U.S. release on Relativity/President 88561-1024-2 (shown later) has the lettering shifted to a border round the original picture to highlight "The Rick Wakeman New Age Collection" again and also changes the credit to "Rick Wakeman and Tony Fernandez" which I think is unfortunate and a little misleading. This could be and probably should be a three star album on my rating system but I think it needs to be taken in smaller doses than the entire album.
President RWCD 6 , Relativity 88561-1024-2 (?)

TIME MACHINE ***
The CD has extended versions of some tracks compared to the vinyl.
President RWCD 7

THE WORD / THE WORD & THE GOSPELS / THE WORD - A Musical Spectacular On The Life Of Christ ***
THE GOSPELS was recorded for TV broadcast with orchestra and choir in Israel. It is in chronological order rather than the separate Gospels and shows the potential of the material. A video of this was released as THE WORD on Central CTV 1014 in 1988 and then by Beckmann as THE WORD & THE GOSPELS in 1991. There is an NTSC version called THE WORD - A Musical Spectacular On The Life Of Christ. Rick seems to have had an issue with this video being on release in around 1994 for some reason to do with licensing.
Beckmann BM 0003 (VHS/PAL)

1989

RICK WAKEMAN: 20TH ANNIVERSARY **** (since that is how I rated all the albums in it)
Four CD box, allegedly 1000 only (aaaghh - now they tell me). SIX WIVES, JOURNEY, ARTHUR, WHITE ROCK. The catalogue numbers of the CDs are the same as the individual releases from 1988 and there isn't anything on the packaging to show it is a limited edition.

SEA AIRS **
An album of piano music. Announces itself as the second in a trilogy and that Night Airs will be the third. This is interesting as Country Airs never hinted that it was part of a trilogy until the 1992 version!
President RWCD 8

BLACK NIGHTS AT THE COURT OF FERDINAND IV ***
A joint album with vocalist/percussionist Mario Fasciano, BLACK KNIGHTS was recorded in 1989 and released in Italy (presumably Vedette Records CDVRA 9333). The UK release with new artwork was in 1991 on Rick's Ambient label with another release on Rio Digital in late 1992. In 1994 it was released on West Coast with new cover art (right) and the same artwork has been used for a release as ICEBEAR 97007. There is also a Japanese release as Jimco JIM 0075 with the Ambient artwork.
West Coast WCPCD 1009

1990

NIGHT AIRS **
An album of piano music. The last of the trilogy.
President RWCD 9

"The Sun Trilogy"
ASPIRANT SUNRISE **
ASPIRANT SUNSET **
ASPIRANT SUNSHADOWS **
An ambient/relaxation music trilogy released on Ambient/Badger in 1990 (first two only I think), on Rio Digital in 1992 and President in 1993. There was a cassette only compilation on Ambient/Badger in 1991 entitled THE SUN TRILOGY (I can't confirm a CD release). The CDs have also been released by Sattva in Germany. In Japan the trilogy was issued as a 3-CD set labelled as SUNRISE SUNSET SUNSHADOWS (Jimco JIM 0072-4) (shown on the right).
President RWCD 17 , RWCD 18 , RWCD 19

OPERATION RALEIGH
I don't think I have heard this single, which is mentioned in the "Wot's On TV Tonite" programme. I understand Rick wrote the music for a series of TV programmes but that the series never got broadcast or something.

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA ****
This is the 1990 colour tinted restoration of the 1925 silent film starring Lon Chaney. Rick composed and performed the soundtrack with Ramon, Ashley and Chrissie taking vocals. Highlights from it were reworked as the PHANTOM POWER album but I think it works a lot better on the soundtrack. I have included this in the discography because being a silent film the soundtrack is continuous and in the foreground and really it is like a long music video. The video is very much packaged as Rick's product. This video is out of print so potential buyers should bear in mind that there are other versions of the 1990 restoration (one with a score by Carl Davis may well still available on video) and other restorations available, not to mention many other completely different films so you have to make sure you buy the right one which is RTV Video RTV 101.

IN THE BEGINNING <>
Originally released in the US only in 1990, it became more widely available on Asaph AR-1049 in December 1991. The RWCC newsletter said it was being reissued as THE WORD AND MUSIC in 1996 but that turns out to be a different album. It contains scripture readings by Nina Wakeman with musical backing by Rick. It isn't my cup of tea at all really. I guess I have to give it no stars until such time as I ever feel inclined to play it again. Tiz Hay still had some copies of In The Beginning in stock at a generous price as of February 2003.

1991

PHANTOM POWER ***
Reworking of some of the soundtrack to the PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. It was available on CD on Ambient A-IOM-2 and Rio Digital once upon a time. I snapped up one of Tiz Hay's last remaining copies in 1998 (she had bought up the stock when Rick had financial problems). It was believed that no CD copies remained anywhere. At long last in April 2001 President announced a release of it for 14th May 2001. This cover for this new release uses the same picture as the Ambient one (right) but all the lettering has been redone.
President RWCD 35

THE CLASSICAL CONNECTION **
Alleged by a programme discography to be a limited edition (1,000) CD, it was released on Ambient / Badger AMB5-MCD in 1991 followed by rerelease on Rio Digital in 1992 and on President in 1993 (right). The same discography also suggests the original was a double CD but this incorrect. The original cover was a plain white with a drawing of a piano.
President RWCD 13

THE CLASSICAL CONNECTION ***
A 52 minute live recording from the Classical Connection tour featuring music from the CD and tracks that appeared as live recordings on the follow up CD was released in 1991. I should imagine there is an NTSC version and there has certainly been an NTSC format DVD of it.
Beckmann BM 0002 (VHS/PAL)

SOFTSWORD (KING JOHN AND THE MAGNA CHARTER) ***
Reworking of music for 1991 Dickens Festival at Rochester upon Medway. Rereleased in 1994 on President with a different booklet. The OED only mentions "Magna Carta" or "Magna Charta" so that is either a misspelling or someone claiming to be historically correct.
President RWCD 24

THE PRIVATE COLLECTION ***
Originally released as Ambient A-IOM-4CD in 1991 and then again in 1992 as Rio Digital RIO CD 1004, President reissued this album with a different sleeve (right) in 1994. Includes the "Pearl and Dean" concerto from the original Journey concert and various odds and ends. Included are some long and quite superb piano solos that make the album well worth having (they take up about 2/3 of the album). By the way the individual timings on the sleeve have lost ten minutes - "Piece For Granny" is actually 14 minutes long.
President RWCD 23

A WORLD OF WISDOM <>
"A World Of Wisdom - with Norman Wisdom, featuring Rick Wakeman". Very much a Norman Wisdom album with some very ropey singing (he wasn't young when he recorded it) and including some sketches. Rick was heavily involved with it and released it on his own label as Ambient AIOM5CD. It arguably shouldn't be included in this discography but if I didn't include it here people would only say I'd missed it so I'll take the easy way out and include it. Even if this was still available you really don't want it unless you are a collector. However as a tribute to a comic genius then it is possibly very good.

2000 A.D. - INTO THE FUTURE ***
This is based on music written for films at some festival or other.
President RWCD 21

THE CLASSICAL CONNECTION II **
Allegedly a limited edition (1,000) released on Rick's own Ambient label in 1991 and reissued in 1993 on President. The cover art is not the same on the two and indeed the original cover illustration was reused by President on their release of CLASSICAL CONNECTION.
President RWCD 14

RICK WAKEMAN LIVE ****
Central TV recorded a series of concerts for broacast under the title "Bedrock". A video of this was released in 1991 and there has also been an NTSC DVD of it. The concert was released again as CLASSIC ROCK LEGENDS on DVD and video in 2002 though it dropped "Merlin the Magician" from the end. I have also heard comment that the video and audio are far superior on this release.

AFRICAN BACH ****
I read somewhere (an old RWCC newsletter?) that this album, sometimes referred to as ANTHEMS, was originally released in South Africa in 1991 but if this is true it has kept its head well down since. It does seem however that the Japanese release on Quattro QTCY-1017 was indeed in 1991 which is why I have shifted it from 1993 in this listing. The UK release was in 1993 on President. I was once told there were two covers for this album but it was unclear if that was including the Japanese release.
President RWCD 20

1992

WAKEMAN WITH WAKEMAN / LURE OF THE WILD ***
There are eleven tracks. Two of them are Adam Wakeman's and he also plays on three others. This has been released as LURE OF THE WILD in some countries.The Japanese release on Zero has a different cover.
President RWCD 11

COUNTRY AIRS ***
This is a complete rerecording of the CODA original on digital piano with four extra tracks and the remaining ones reordered. The sleeve is (naturally) different as well, though similar in spirit to the Art of Landscape one. It seems that a reason why Rick rerecorded it was that the CODA version had gone out of print. Strangely enough the CODA version was rereleased with a new number and different packaging in 1992 as well. This album comes in for stick for using a digital piano.
President RWCD 10

BEST WORKS COLLECTION
I must admit I wasn't paying too much attention to Rick's recordings around this time so I don't know if this was a freely available album in the UK. However it was a Japanese import album and was a compilation of all the material Jimco had on licence at the time which would equate to the Ambient / Rio / President era. Some tracks have titles suggesting they could be A&M era releases but they are later versions from other albums.

THE VERY BEST OF RICK WAKEMAN CHRONICLES LIVE 1975 ***
This is a video release of a televised concert in Mebourne in 1975. A tour discography lists it as Icon VICOM 001 with another release on Fragile FRVD 02 in 1994 but my copy is Wienerworld WNR 2059. I am sure there are NTSC versions and there is certainly a DVD about. There are two covers for this that I know about with the one shown right being the most common one to be seen. Classic Pictures reissued this as the JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH DVD+CD set in 2002.

1993

ROCK'N'ROLL PROPHET PLUS ***
Rerelease of ROCK'N'ROLL PROPHET with four bonus tracks. The bonus tracks are newer recordings made ten years on from the original album and supposedly in the same style. Personally they don't sound much like it to me. Ray Riethmeier, who corrected and added to much of the information in this discography (and indeed added catalogue numbers I haven't used) reckons it goes well with 2000 A.D. which is pretty much of the same date as the new stuff! I think I read somewhere that the new tracks were not new compositions especially for the album but stuff Rick had lying around that seemed suitable, but I may be imagining things.
President RWCD 12

HERITAGE SUITE ***
An album of powerful piano solos inspired by locations on the Isle Of Man. Rick's best pure piano album until "Preludes To A Century" stole its crown. President RWCD 16

PRAYERS *
The musical tracks from this album have been reworked to form the basis of CAN YOU HEAR ME? (1996) and the narrative tracks are included on ORISONS (1996). I bought the only copy I've seen around lately so it is probably out of print now (and I wrote that a few years ago!). The musical tracks are actually rather good but the narratives don't do anything for me. Tiz Hay still had some copies of Prayers in stock at a generous price as of February 2003.
Myrrh MYRCD 1296

THE VERY BEST OF RICK WAKEMAN - CHRONICLES / SELECTIONS FROM JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH **
"CHRONICLES", released on Icon ICOMCD 005 in late 1993, is the same as the second CD of GREATEST HITS. I don't remember ever seeing it in the shops though I believe it was being sold from tour merchandising at the time and it seems to be one of the rarer albums. "SELECTIONS FROM JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH" is a 1999 release available on import from Griffin and is the same album.
Griffin

NO EXPENSE SPARED **
Another "Wakeman With Wakeman" album but this time an equal partnership with the tracks split evenly between Rick, Adam, and joint efforts.
President RWCD 22

UNLEASHING THE TETHERED ONE - The 1974 North American Tour ***
A live recording of Journey and a couple of others from 1974. I've never been entirely clear if this is a boot or a legitimate but obscure release. Probably the former. Certainly not something that used to be easy to get hold of. Nearly didn't include it here but as Wayne includes it on the RWCC site I'll go along with that! JOURNEY TO CENTRE OF THE EARTH PLUS from the TREASURE CHEST seems to be an extended version of this (so the source is a Canadian TV broadcast) but the quality of that is abysmal and painful to listen to whereas this is by no means brilliant but is at least adequate.
ARC 001

1994

GREATEST HITS / RICK WAKEMAN'S GREATEST HITS **
A double CD of new recordings of Yes and solo material. Many of the tracks are very good if considered in isolation but as an album it all gets a little bit too much for me. The first release I saw on Fragile CDFLR001 has the CDs labelled RICK WAKEMAN PLAYS YES (CDJMC003) and THE RICK WAKEMAN CHRONICLES (CDJMC004). A later Disky release (right) had a single width case with a different cover and both were on the shelves at the same time. The Fragile release was later repackaged in a slimline case with a Roger Dean sleeve (but keeping the same catalogue number) that seemed to appear after a similar style U.S. release. I thought that release was on Griffin but there was certainly a version on Herald HER007 so it may have been that one.
Fragile CDFLR001 , Disky DC 866292 , Herald HER007

CLASSIC TRACKS **
Rerecordings. Long available on import on Versailles (right) before I first saw a UK release but a tour brochure discography lists this after a UK release on Prestige in April 1994. In late 1996 the same album with different packaging was released on Hallmark for £2.99 and then rose £4.99 by May 1997. By March 1998 there was a release on Prestige with a third sleeve design available for £8.99. An import on Hot Records has a variation on the original cover and it seems it was also on a label called Kazoo (or something like that). There are also Brazilian and Japanese (COCY 80311) releases too, each with their own cover. A 2001 release of this album with an extra track is listed separately.
Hallmark 305632 , Prestige CDSGP115 , Hot Records

THE OFFICIAL BOOTLEG / WAKEMAN WITH WAKEMAN LIVE / THE STAGE COLLECTION ***
A double CD recorded live with Adam Wakeman, Tony Fernandez and Alan Thompson. I seem to remember the original just said THE OFFICIAL BOOTLEG but I may be mistaken and it could have been the same as the U.S. release on Griffin which was credited to Rick but with the title WAKEMAN WITH WAKEMAN: THE OFFICIAL BOOTLEG. An album called WAKEMAN WITH WAKEMAN LIVE appears to be the same thing, and the Italian release THE STAGE COLLECTION also seems to be the same set with the tracks reordered (I ought to list it separately really). In the U.S. there was a special edition PIANO BOX discussed above. See also the 1999 release OFFICIAL LIVE BOOTLEG.
Cyclops CYCLD006

LIGHT UP THE SKY ***
CD Single also featuring "Simply Free", "Starflight" and "The Bear".
President WAKEY 4

ROMANCE OF THE VICTORIAN AGE ***
With Adam Wakeman. Each plays piano on their own compositions with shared keyboard overdubs. I had this rated as two stars at one stage but to be fair it is perhaps worth four. I rate it down because I heard the later Tapestries first and it is very similar in style. Many people rate the two albums the other way around.
President RWCD 25

LIVE ON THE TEST **
Live album from an "Old Grey Whistle Test" appearance at the start of the No Earthly Connection tour. Credited to "Rick Wakeman and The English Rock Ensemble".
Windsong WHISCD 007

1995

THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD **
Hmm. I remember when Dan Wooding's biography mentioned this as the next big project. That must have been somewhere around 1978. Narration by Garfield Morgan. A lot of people quite like this album but I've never managed to really get into it. Mind you I only got the CD in November 1999 (I just had a tape of it for the years before that) and that may improve the listening experience. I've upgraded it from one star already and it could be a three, though it does get a bit samey. I think perhaps it was recorded on too low a budget.
President RWCD 27

CIRQUE SURREAL - STATE CIRCUS OF IMAGINATION ****
Recording of the music for the Cirque Surreal show with added vocals by the wonderful Chrissie Hammond. This was originally on D-Sharp DSH LCD 7018 in the UK but seems to have appeared on several labels including Griffin and Magnum America.
D-Sharp DSH LCD 7018 , Magnum America

ALMOST LIVE IN EUROPE / ROCK AND POP LEGENDS / THE BEST OF RICK WAKEMAN **
Previously seen as an import on Griffin (I have used the UK release date), this album first got a proper UK release on Disky RPCD 013 as ROCK AND POP LEGENDS with ALMOST LIVE IN EUROPE mentioned on the CD insert. It is a live album from 1989, 1990, and 1991 with studio overdubs and extra instrumentation. By March 1998 the album was on Wise Buy (another Disky label) as THE BEST OF RICK WAKEMAN (sometimes listings add LIVE on the end). A repackaging on Music Fusion in February 2000 reverted to the ALMOST LIVE IN EUROPE title (right). As of summer 2001 The Store For Music had a release with the same cover intended for release in Europe outside the UK. Master Music have a release with yet another cover in 2002.
Disky RPCD 013, Music Fusion MFCD002 ,
Store For Music SFMCD014 , Wise Buy WB885982 , Master Music

THE NEW GOSPELS ***
Double CD. Hope HR001 had a predominantly white cover. HRHCD001 released on 25/10/96 had a new picture cover (right) but was also seen in 2002 with the white cover (old stock perhaps?). The tracks are essentially those on THE GOSPELS plus two new ones (one of which was probably contemporary with the original release I suspect) however there has been considerable rearranging, reordering and reworking and many tracks have been so added to that they are 95% new (if not more so). The reissue under the Voiceprint banner in 2001 has slightly modified artwork.
Hope HRHCD 001 , Hope HOPEVP103C

VISIONS / VISIONS OF PARADISE **
This album is packaged as VISIONS OF PARADISE in some countries and the cover is much nicer.
President RWCD 28

THE PIANO ALBUM / SIMPLY ACOUSTIC - THE MUSIC *
A live album of solo piano pieces. Castle have this under the Essential banner but are also listing a lower price version for March 2001. This lists as RICK WAKEMAN PIANO ALBUM but the (different) cover has the original name. SIMPLY ACOUSTIC - THE MUSIC was announced in the RWCC as a 1997 release to match the name of the video and the tour. I never saw it because it was Asaph ARD 1088 and Asaph is a US label! A 2001 release just called SIMPLY ACOUSTIC (listed separately) is different because it includes anecdotes and also a slightly different track listing.
Essential ESSCD 322 (Castle GAS 0000322 ESS) , Castle

1996

THE NEW GOSPELS ***
Border TV recorded a mimed performance of THE NEW GOSPELS on the Isle Of Man in 1995 and it was released as a video in 1996. As far as I can tell the soundtrack is the same as the original CD.
Hope Vision HRV 001

SIMPLY ACOUSTIC ***
Simply Acoustic is a video of the concert released as THE PIANO ALBUM. It has tended to be a little elusive over the years with the RWCC shop often being the best place to pin it down.
Hope Vision HRV 002

FIELDS OF GREEN *** (based on 1997 release)
This album was released in the U.S. on the Griffin label in early 1996 and was available in the UK on import (illegally according to Rick). The UK release followed on 1997 and is listed separately.

Griffin

TAPESTRIES ****
With Adam Wakeman. Composition of tracks is equally shared and it sounds like they play piano on their own pieces with perhaps shared overdubs.
President RWCD 29

KING BISCUIT FLOWER HOUR PRESENTS RICK WAKEMAN IN CONCERT / IN CONCERT / LIVE ON THE – / LIVE **
A King Biscuit Flower Hour live recording from the 70s appears in several guises. For a long time this was only available on import and in two different sleeves emphasising IN CONCERT. These covers are still shown in listings for the BMG and Plastic Head (right) releases. A July 1998 UK release with a third cover calls it LIVE ON THE KING BISCUIT FLOWER HOUR. There is an IN CONCERT version without the King Biscuit name and one on EMI-Capitol just called LIVE (sometimes listed as RICK WAKEMAN LIVE). A March 2003 release under the Voiceprint umbrella uses the cover on the right and there is also a Japanese release on Sony SRCS 8122 with another cover. See also JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH in 2002 and RICK WAKEMAN: FROM THE FRONT ROW– LIVE in 2003.
King Biscuit/BMG 70710-88009-2 , Plastic Head ,
EMI-Capitol , King Biscuit KBCCD120

3 ORIGINAL CDS **** (since that is how I rated all the albums in it)
Six Wives, Journey, Arthur in the same box labelled as above. I originally thought there appeared to be a booklet in with them but close examination suggests it is more likely to be three bits of cardboard packing. There is another version of the box about which is slimmer and so doesn't need packing out.
A&M

THE WORD AND MUSIC
I had always assumed this was a rerelease of IN THE BEGINNING which was never really released properly in the UK. This is because that is what Rick said it was going to be. In fact it is a similar style album but completely different. Released 12/8/96 though I have never seen it in the big Oxford Street shops. Reissued under the Voiceprint group in 2001 with a new cover. I am not concerned at not having this is my collection!
Hope HRHCD 002, Hope HOPEVP104CD

ORISONS
Narrative sections of PRAYERS with new and rerecorded pieces in a similar style (for example "The Wish" is not the version from PRAYERS). Released 12/8/96 though I have never seen it in the big Oxford Street record shops. I don't have this and have no great desire to get it either. Reissued under the Voiceprint group in 2001 with a new cover.
Hope HRHCD 003, Hope HOPEVP105CD

CAN YOU HEAR ME? ***
Reworking of the musical tracks from PRAYERS with choir and additional instrumentation along with new tracks. Released 14/10/96 though it only made it to Cheap or What CDs' database in February 1997 and HMV Oxford Street in March. It was rereleased under the Voiceprint umbrella in 2001 and at the time I noted it was supposed to get a new cover. Illustrations elsewhere suggest it didn't but I haven't confirmed this.
Hope HRHCD 005 , Hope HOPEVP107CD

VOYAGE - The Very Best Of Rick Wakeman **** (but you may have most of the tracks already, of course)
Two-CD set, with "booklet and extensive sleeve notes", from A&M containing digitally remastered tracks from Six Wives, Journey (complete), Arthur, Lisztomania, White Rock, No Earthly Connection, Rhapsodies and Criminal Record, as well as a track from a Strawbs album. Another set was said to be possible in future but never happened. Note that the "booklet and extensive sleeve notes" are one and the same thing and the sleeve notes include a long paragraph where the writer credits the musicians on the four Six Wives tracks and only gets one right. It seems he must have looked up the credits as if the tracks were in historical order of the wives (1,5,3,2) instead of the actual 1,3,4,5. The track Hibernation, from Lisztomania, also seems to include Excelsior Song.
A&M 540 567-2

VIGNETTES *
With Adam Wakeman. On President records and allegedly released on 25/10/96 but I didn't find it in any shops until 25/11/96. Seven tracks are by Adam (six with his own vocals, one instrumental) and six are by Rick (two with vocals by Chrissie Hammond and the English Chamber Choir) and there are no shared performances. There is some good stuff on here but I give it just the one star because it isn't a patch on Tapestries and so seems relatively disappointing!
President RWCD 30

1997

TRIBUTE / TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES / TRIBUTO **
An album of Beatles covers in various styles was released in May 1997 on RP Media (right). As of June 1998 it was available repackaged to have a grey marbled plastic front to the jewel case (it had the same catalogue number). This version uses the TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES title and there is also a Brazilian release under that name on Movieplay records (different packaging). I have seen it listed as "Tribute to Lennon and McCartney" and "Works of Lennon, McCartney and Harrison". There is a Japanese release and MP Records in Italy have released it as TRIBUTO (MPRCD 037) in what sounds like a digipak.
RP Media CDRPM 0018

FIELDS OF GREEN ***
The RWCC Newsletter suggested this UK release would be retitled "Global Crisis" when released on Rick's new label but in fact it retained its original name when finally released on 29/7/97. This UK release has a different cover and includes "Election '97/Arthur" as an extra track. It is sometimes referred to informally as FIELDS OF GREEN 97 to distinguish it from the earlier release. For the benefit of those who bought the earlier release and missed the new track, this was also released on a limited edition CD single of tracks from the album. The album is receiving a 2002 release on The Store For Music and has also been released on the Master Music label with a different cover.
Music Fusion MFCD 001 , Store For Music SFMCD018 , Master Music

PIANO TOUR LIVE ***
Rick played a tour of churches using a small keyboard rig and one of them was recorded by the venue. The standard turned out to be high enough for Rick to release on his own label.
Hope Vision HRV 003

1998

THEMES ***
An album of thematic material featuring vocals by Chrissie and Fraser, and including some music originally intended for the BBC series Lineker's Golden Boots before Rick was dropped from the project, was announced for May/June 1998. It certainly existed as of the week beginning Monday 8th June (official release was 1st June) though it didn't hit Tower Records until the week of 8th July. It cost £16.99 compared with £12.00 from RWCC which was very expensive. In the notes on his albums that have been added to the RWCC discography, Rick says that he wrote a potential theme for the World Cup under somewhat false pretences and decided to release it on an album with other thematic material he had written. No mention of the Golden Boots material at all.
President RWCD32

MASTER SERIES **** (but you may have all the tracks already, of course)
A budget priced A&M release. It contains 10 tracks from Six Wives, Arthur, White Rock, Criminal Record and Rhapsodies. Three are also on Voyage. Voyage was a compilation by A&M in the UK. This one again appears to have come from the UK but is under the PolyGram banner. A&M has changed hands rather a lot in recent years. I really give the star rating because of the quality of the music, not the quality of the compilation. The Russian compilation ROCK COLLECTION seems to be this CD with three extra tracks.
PolyGram/A&M 540 894-2

1999

THE MASTERS
Not to be confused with the MASTERS SERIES. It seems to be a compilation of tracks from the date range covered by the President albums which makes one wonder if it is a UK release or a freely available European one. Rick isn't impressed by the selection which even includes a track actually performed by Adam! The Russian compilation CD named FOREVER GOLD is this album with eight tracks from RETURN– added.
Eagle  

RETURN TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH ****;
This long awaited album was released on 15th March 1999 in the UK having been delayed from the original date of 18th January. It features Patrick Stewart, Bonnie Tyler, Trevor Rabin, Justin Hayward, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Mitchell, Katrina Leskanitch, Fraser Thorneycroft-Smith, Phil Williams, Simon Hanson and Stuart Sawney along with David Snell, the LSO and the English Chamber Choir. Cover art is by Roger Dean. It is a masterpiece. Watch the pricing of the limited edition double vinyl in a gatefold sleeve. I paid 19.99 in HMV, and others were charged the same, but it seems Virgin (and other places?) were only charging 11.99.
EMI Classics CDC 5 56763 2

THE NATURAL WORLD TROLOGY
Part I: THE ANIMAL KINGDOM **
Part II: BENEATH THE WAVES **
Part III: HEAVEN ON EARTH **
To cut a long story short, THE NATURAL WORLD TRILOGY was originally going to be released around May/June 1996 and after various rumours about different record companies, boxed releases, individual releases, compilation discs etc it finally got a release date of 1st June 1999 as a 3 CD set. It is ambient music like the Aspirant series and excellent as such. In 2002 Master Music have a release of this trilogy with a different cover.
Music Fusion MFACD001 , Master Music

ART IN MUSIC TRILOGY
Part I: THE SCULPTOR **
Part II: THE WRITER **
Part III: SKETCHES **
To cut a long story short, the ART IN MUSIC TRILOGY was originally going to be released around May/June 1996 and after various rumours about different record companies, boxed releases, individual releases, compilation discs etc it finally got a release date of 14th June 1999 as a 3 CD set. It is ambient music like the Aspirant series and excellent as such. To my ears SKETCHES was slightly more interesting music than the others in either trilogy.
Music Fusion MFACD002

WHITE ROCK II **
There was said to be an album of music from several Winter Olympics films that Rick produced music for on its way for late 1997 with the working title WHITE ROCK II. This was finally announced for 14th June 1999! The album was listed by Amazon for a 2002 release on The Store For Music and has also turned up on Musea with a slightly different cover as Rick's name appears on the spine and the front. The whole album is included on the budget priced MY INSPIRATION 3-CD set released in March 2002.
Music Fusion , Store For Music SFMCD016 , Musea FGBG 4396.AR

OFFICIAL LIVE BOOTLEG ***
A suggested 1996 rerelease of THE OFFICIAL BOOTLEG became a much more definite rerelease on Music Fusion for 1997 but in fact at was finally released on 1st June 1999 under the name OFFICIAL LIVE BOOTLEG. The rerelease was long overdue as the original version was an extortionate price like 27.50 for ages. Paul Chandler points out that this release does not include the track "Past And Present" which is on the earlier releases. The album has been listed by Amazon for a 2002 release on The Store For Music. The whole album is included on the budget priced MY INSPIRATION 3-CD set released in March 2002.
Music Fusion MFCD003 , Store For Music SFMCD019

STELLA BIANCA ALLA CORTE DI RE FERDINANDO ****
With Mario Fasciano. A reissue of "BLACK KNIGHTS" with four new tracks (two written by Rick) has long been mentioned but it turned out to be a new album that was initially available in Italy only (with the title in Italian). STELLA BIANCA means WHITE STAR in Italian. Actually most tracks are sung in Neopolitan rather than Italian (I believe Black Knights was the same). On the Wakeman list many regard this as Rick's best album of the year, despite the competition from RttCotE! It is very good, although very short! I forget if the MP Records release is officially available in the UK or if there is another version. In the U.S. there is a release on Cleopatra which includes the single remix though doesn't have the nice booklet. I suppose this meets my criteria for a separate listing really, should I ever get around to it...
MP Records MPRCD 027, Cleopatra

A QUATTE MANE - ATOMIC GILDA REMIX ***
There is a CD single of the track "A Quatte Mane" given the "Atomic Gilda Remix" - in other words given a club style remix (or whatever the correct expression is - I don't know the terminology). It also includes the album version and a version of "Farfarié" from BLACK KNIGHTS that doesn't feature Rick on it.
MP Records MPRCD 031

2000

PRELUDES TO A CENTURY ****
A superb piano album recorded on the Steinway at CTS Studios in Wembley. Amazon indicated the release date as 3rd January 2000 and it seemed reasonably priced compared to some of the recent releases at £7.99 (it eventually changed the release date to 31st January but I suspect this was so it could get some stock in - the CD got into their top 40 purchases at one stage!). CDzone eventually caught up with a release date of the 10th indicated but charged over £13 and YalPlay was also charging the typical full price. Amazon increased their price later so it was either a deliberate good deal or a mistake. The insert mentions that a Korg Trinity Pro-X was also used but I didn't notice how or where and I suspect perhaps it was a mistake.
President RWCD 33

CHRONICLES OF MAN ****
The second of two piano albums, recorded on the Steinway at CTS Studios in Wembley. Originally due to be released around March 2000 but delayed because of strong sales of PRELUDES. It is packaged as a sequel to Heritage Suite with a similar style booklet. President made it available "pre-release" in August 2000 with the official release date due to be on 1st September but it didn't really get a proper release till October 2000. The word is that whereas PRELUDES sold well, CHRONICLES rather bombed which is a shame for Rick, but serves President right for incompetent marketing and sheer greed.
President RWCD 34

MORNING HAS BROKEN ***
The album of hymns Rick recorded earlier this year seems to have been released very, very quietly! Don't know exactly when it was released but I was told at the end of November it had been available for a couple of months or so. It is a very pleasant album, if a little overpriced, and is basically piano with keyboard overdubs. I don't think it has any secular distribution so http://www.kevinmayhewltd.com/ may be the best bet for getting it outside of Christian bookshops. Kevin Mayhew also list a HOPESONGS CD of his praise songs but Rick doesn't actually play on it.
Kevin Mayhew 1490055

CHRISTMAS VARIATIONS **
This would seem to be the closest we will ever get to the long delayed "Christmas Album". Where once there was to be the English Chamber Choir is is now just Rick performing Christmas carols and hymns. Available from tour merchandising in October 2000, a cock up with the bar codes meant that it didn't get a proper release until December 1st/4th. Voiceprint listed TEN CHRISTMAS SONGS (HOPEVP108CD) for October 2001 but despite cover art being featured on the PIANO TOUR LIVE packaging it never happened. The album was rereleased with new artwork in late 2002 and this includes a new catalogue number. Mascot Records resissued the album with a third cover around 1st December 2003 and this cover was adopted for the 2004 reissue on Music Fusion (29/11/2004).
Music Fusion I492164

RECOLLECTIONS **** (you may have many of the tracks though)
This compilation was released by A&M on October 17th 2000 and subtitled THE VERY BEST OF RICK WAKEMAN 1973-1979. There is a lot of overlap with VOYAGE and MASTER SERIES. I have seen it suggested that this one goes back to the original master tapes, which it seems wasn't the case with VOYAGE. My import copy came with a sticker saying it was the first U.S. collection and indeed the other two mentioned originate in the U.K. It certainly seems a better effort all round. This Russian compilation HISTORY OF ROCK is the same as this CD.
A&M

AN EVENING WITH RICK WAKEMAN ****
This is the video of the "Evening With Rick Wakeman" concert in Marlborough in 2000 and if I remember correctly it was not delayed as the DVD was and so came out on 17th October. Despite being listed on the packaging "Merlin" is not on the video. Paul Chandler strikes again and tells me the very first batch is labelled as "An Audience With Rick Wakeman".
The DVD Company DVD3001X (PAL)

CAPED COLLECTION *** (you may have many of the tracks though)
A budget priced 2 CD set released on 30th October 2000. It is basically another selection from the President recordings but does at least seem to have been thought quite carefully about. Mine was defective at the end of the third track and I stopped playing it so I can only give a star rating based on content. It might be that the compilation works well to be worth more. When Amazon finally replaced it eight weeks later the new one had identical problems so this seems like another CD with a manufacturing fault. I've given up on it!
Recall SMDCD314

THE LEGEND - LIVE IN CONCERT 2000 ****
A DVD and CD of the "Evening With Rick Wakeman" concert in Marlborough in 2000 has been issued with an official date of 1st November . A CD with DVD version has been withdrawn. The CD includes Merlin (not on the DVD or video) and has been sensibly stripped to just the music without the anecdotes or the crowd noises. The DVD contains six audio only studio versions of tracks that featured on the tour that were specially recorded during post-production. There was a second version of the packaging being used in 2001 though it doesn't appear so much in 2003. The initial release of the DVD had too high an audio bitrate which means many DVD players don't give any sound.
The DVD Company DVD1001X (PAL DVD+CD)

2001

SIMPLY ACOUSTIC * (based on my rating for The Piano Album)
SIMPLY ACOUSTIC was announced without warning on Voiceprint for 2nd April 2001 with new artwork. This release includes anecdotes and chat between the tracks which are not present on the PIANO ALBUM and presumably not on SIMPLY ACOUSTIC - THE MUSIC either. He also considers the track listing is incorrect as the introductory recorded piece "A Wish" seems to be "Children Of Chernobyl" and indeed "Gone But Not Forgotten" is in fact "Children Of Chernobyl". Wesley concurs with the opening taped piece being "Children Of Chernobyl" rather than "A Wish" but feels "Children Of Chernobyl" at the end is also being played from tape, and so it is more of a case that "Gone But Not Forgotten" is omitted.
Voiceprint HOPEVP101CD

PIANO TOUR LIVE ***
A double CD was suddenly been annouced for 2nd April 2001 on the Voiceprint label. It is from the video of the same name and includes all the chat.
Voiceprint HOPEVP102CD

JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH ****
This is the Melbourne concert from 1975 that has been available on video as CHRONICLES for some time. As with LIVE IN CONCERT (it is released by the same company despite the name) there is a DVD and a CD (naturally the CD will have a omissions because of length). They again announced a DVD + CD in a DVD case and CD + DVD in a CD jewel case to catch both markets but it doesn't look like they released the latter version after all. There have been three versions of the cover, one just being relettered from the original (right).
Classic Pictures Entertainment DVD1077X (DVD + CD)

CLASSIC TRACKS ** (based on the 1994 release)
This is listed separately to the 1994 release of CLASSIC TRACKS as there is an extra "previously unreleased" track by Rick and Mario Fasciano named "Umberto II". However there is a track of that name on Black Knights and Wesley Miller has compared them and reckons they are the same. It seems likely to be somewhat out of place on this album to me. The cover is the same as the Hot Records version of the 1994 release (see picture earlier). Release date 23rd July 2001. In 2002 Master Music have released a version with a different cover (see picture later).
The Store For Music SFMCD003 , Master Music

TALES OF FUTURE & PAST / THE DEFINITIVE MUSIC OF RICK WAKEMAN *** (you may have many of the tracks though)
"Tales" is an import title due for release on 7th August 2001. It is a double CD compilation taken from President-era releases. A double CD on the Store For Music (Voiceprint) label that Amazon have listed as available since December 2001 seems to be the same thing (although Tales doesn't list "Eleanor Rigby" it is in fact on the CD). Interesting that Voiceprint actually say that the album is not for sale in the UK. I'll rate it based on the content because I have all the tracks.
Purple Pyramid , Store For Music SFMCD010

OUT OF THE BLUE ****
Single live CD of a 2001 South American tour concert as announced in the June 2001 RWCC newsletter listed for release on 20th August 2001. Available direct from the RWCC on pre-release. My first copy was faulty and had the look of a badly manufactured disc.It was reported in mid-2002 that the cover has been relettered and the insert improved and this release became available in late 2002. On 12/4/2004 Mascot Records issued the album in Europe with the original cover.
Music Fusion MFCD005 , Mascot M 7088 2

LANDSCAPES OF MIDDLE EARTH ***
Rick appears in a documentary called J.R.R. TOLKIEN: MASTER OF THE RINGS - THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE WORLD OF THE RINGS. His music is *not* used on the soundtrack but the "Special Edition DVD, CD and Booklet Set" includes a CD of Rick's music titled LANDSCAPES OF MIDDLE EARTH. This is actually taken from SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD and THE HERITAGE SUITE but the tracks are renamed. If you are interested please make sure you don't buy the similarly titled DVD with the subtitle beginning "The Unauthorized..." and remember Rick's music is only on the CD in the Special Edition set. Amazon do list one with a catalogue number EREDV247 but that should be avoided as it isn't the correct version. The CD is now available as A TRIBUTE TO THE LORD OF THE RINGS (listed separately).
Eagle Vision EREDV248 PAL

RICK WAKEMAN AND THE ENGLISH ROCK ENSEMBLE - LIVE IN BEUNOS AIRES ****
DVD of a concert from late 2001 and probably a variation on the concert televised over there (I haven't compared the two). It was due for release in July 2001 but was delayed to 24th September 2001 for commercial reasons (though available earlier from the RWCC). It is another DVD+CD release but this time "The Official Bootleg" CD is called a "free CD" and is actually a copy of a bootleg of Chrissie Hammond and the band playing in Birmingham. I was disappointed with it because of the poor sound quality (though good for a bootleg) and because I already had the bootleg! On the Classic Pictures website they refer to the CD as being called "Then".
Classic Pictures Entertainment DVD1095X (DVD)

CLASSICAL VARIATIONS ****
Ten solo piano arrangements of classical pieces intended to be released just about in time for Christmas. Rick hadn't released any original material this year and came up with this as a compromise. It was not expected to make the shops until late January 2002 and 4th February seems to be the official date though it was still proving a little elusive as of April 2002. President have had it available from mid-December for direct purchasers so we'll call it a 2001 release.
President RWCD 36

2002

CLASSIC ROCK LEGENDS ****
The performance from the 1990 Central Music "Bedrock" series previously released as RICK WAKEMAN LIVE (aka LIVE 90) is available as a DVD and Video in PAL or NTSC formats. I couldn't get it delivered till January 2002 so I am calling it a 2002 release. The LIVE 90 release included a version of Merlin that isn't on this DVD so they aren't quite the same. Excellent camera work and an excellent performance but it is only about 48 minutes long which is very short. "Classic Rock Legends" is the name of a series of DVDs taken from the TV series that appears on the top of the cover. Otherwise the DVD doesn't have a name and just says "Rick Wakeman" and "featuring Journey To The Centre Of The Earth". They have had two versions of the cover of this, one being the painting that has appeared on all their other Wakeman stuff in 2002. You might find their marketing material referring to this DVD as BEDROCK or LIVE IN NOTTINGHAM to match CD+DVD and CD releases.
Classic Rock Legends CRL0818 (PAL DVD)

TWO SIDES OF YES *** (but watch the price)
Classic Rock Legends announced this CD at the end of 2001 but provided no mechanism to buy it online and it wasn't mentioned elsewhere. Amazon finally listed an 8th April 2002 release date (though I bought it from CDzone in January!). It features four excellent new solo piano variations of Yes pieces together with three pieces from the GREATEST HITS album. The "Special Edition" (I know of no other) includes a pathetic MPEG video track of "The Meeting" with a strange yellow tinted grainy monochrome look. The piano was recorded at CTS Wembley which closed quite some time earlier so the tracks have been lurking a while. They mention piano duets but Rick says they are all solos. As of mid-2002 the price had been doubled to be top end which is ridiculous. A double CD package with the second volume has appeared in 2003 and also the piano pieces are available separately.
Legends Records CRL0857

MY INSPIRATION *** (based on the two complete albums it is compiled from)
A triple CD set called MY INSPIRATION on the Trilogie label appeared in listings with a release date around the 4th March 2002. CDzone listed it for £7.67 plus postage but couldn't supply it after a month and I have been informed that there was a problem with the licences and it was recalled and eventually listed as deleted. It turns out to be compiled from no more and no less than the entirety of WHITE ROCK II and OFFICIAL LIVE BOOTLEG with the tracks intermingled. Somewhat to my surprise the set reappeared on Amazon UK in February 2003 with a 24th February release date though this slipped to March 17th.
Trilogie 205877

MY INSPIRATION *** (but you may have many tracks of course)
A release of MY INSPIRATION with just two CDs appeared in some listings before the three CD one disappeared. It consists of the first two CDs from the three CD set and this includes 6 of the 7 tracks on WHITE ROCK II. CDzone were listing it for £6.58 plus postage. The jewel case comes in a cardboard sleeve which seems a little over the top considering the back of the insert is just a list of other CDs on the label and the inside back advertises a CD on another label. The packaging actually says 2001 on it. The outer packaging shown is a reworking of that shown for the three CD set. This set has also cropped up on Amazon with an October 2003 release date suggested.
Gemini 220414

TREASURE CHEST
CD1: THE REAL LISZTOMANIA ***
CD2: THE OSCAR CONCERT *
CD3: THE MISSING HALF **
CD4: ALMOST CLASSICAL **
CD5: THE MIXTURE *
CD6: MEDIUM RARE **
CD7: JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH PLUS <>
CD8: STORIES <>
Voiceprint announced an 8-CD boxed set of Wakeman rarities and odds and ends called the TREASURE CHEST for the beginning of April 2002 which naturally got delayed till late May! There are all sorts of bits and bobs really and its hard to describe it briefly. It is a limited edition of 1,000 sets and all have booklets signed by Rick. It is not something that is going to appeal to the casual fan. A highlight is THE REAL LISZTOMANIA which is derived from the original masters Rick produced for the album that were never used. CD7 is baffling me because it seems to have the same source as UNLEASHING THE TETHERED ONE yet is abysmal quality and near impossible to listen to. They seem to gone back to the source tapes and use the wonders of modern technology to produce something much poorer quality than the old boot. In my opinion at £75+£5 postage this box is overpriced and even for £60 it would be pushing it. In my opinion there is a potentially stronger five CD set in here. Incredibly, although the chests are numbered they were not released to customers in any particular order and it also turns out that you could have requested specific numbers if you wanted! Only CD8 is exclusive to the set, the others have all been barcoded so they could be released individually. They claimed not to have any particular plans for this but it remained an option and in February and March 2003 the first two individual releases have appeared in listings. I believe the set is sold out now.
Voiceprint VPTCCD1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8

TWO SIDES OF YES VOLUME II *** (but at a ridiculous price for only two new pieces)
A second volume along the same lines as TWO SIDES OF YES has a release date of 1st July 2002. It cost about £15 including postage on release which was utterly ridiculous as it wass over twice the price the first volume was when it was released (though that had been increased to the same price). Worse still only two of the six pieces are new (the insert tries to imply three with the incorrect studio credits). It took over six weeks for the distributor to get this to my supplier. Note the catalogue number might be seen as CRL0952 - they seem to have switched from Classic Rock Legends to Classic Rock Productions branding since listing the album. A double CD package with the first volume has appeared in 2003 and also the piano pieces are available separately.
Legends Records CRP0952

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH **
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (note the spelling) is the KING BISCUIT album with the tracks reordered. It appeared on European listings in mid-2002 and eventually cropped up on Amazon UK in February 2002 (well they actually list it as JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE.. at the time of writing but it uses the same Amazon UK code as used by Amazon Germany so I assume it is the same animal and not repackaged).
Disky

A TRIBUTE TO THE LORD OF THE RINGS / SONGS OF MIDDLE EARTH ***
This is a U.S. release of the CD named LANDSCAPES OF MIDDLE EARTH that was released with a DVD in 2001. Generally listed under the A TRIBUTE TO THE LORD OF THE RINGS name but Wesley tells me that the spine says SONGS OF MIDDLE EARTH. The cover is taken from the U.S. release of the DVD.
BMG Special Product

THE YES PIANO VARIATIONS *** (based on the two albums)
Well would you believe it, I am still waiting for my copy of TWO SIDES OF YES II which seems to have abysmal distribution and now they have announced this CD comprising the new piano pieces only which is what we wanted in the first place. Again it was initially released at top notch price. They claim on the website it was recorded in Autumn 2001 yet CTS Studios Wembley say they closed in mid-2000! Well you might as well buy this instead of the other two and not get ripped off by the other two albums.
Legends Records CRP1014

SOUNDS & VISION / BEDROCK IN CONCERT **** (based on other DVD)
Classic Rock Productions have released the DVD commonly known as CLASSIC ROCK LEGENDS with an audio CD of the soundtrack in a CD jewel case. Again it just says "Rick Wakeman" and "featuring Journey To The Centre Of The Earth" and this time the cover art is that used for the three Yes piano CDs. In the absence of a proper name I give it the "Sounds & Vision" name used for a series of CD/DVDs. They have released a NTSC version too and it seems for this version the name BEDROCK IN CONCERT has cropped up in listings though I suspect it might not make the packaging.
Classic Rock Productions CRP0999 (CD/PAL DVD)  , CRP1000 (CD/NTSC DVD)

HUMMINGBIRD ***
Rick has recorded an album with Dave Cousins as "Wakeman & Cousins" and after a drift of a couple of months the release date was announced as 9th September for the UK. It was already available for shipping outside the UK by the beginning of August which is really annoying. The release date slipped to 16th September. The vocal performance by Dave Cousins is sadly not all that one might have hoped for.
Witchwood Records WRCD2007 

LIVE / LIVE IN NOTTINGHAM / LIVE - 1990 / RICK WAKEMAN LIVE
LIVE was originally listed by Amazon for release on Voiceprint on 21st October but slipped a a few times to 11th November and ended up available in the US. before the UK. It is sometimes listed as LIVE - 1990 and is the same as the audio CD from SOUNDS & VISION. The cover art on the Voiceprint site says RICK WAKEMAN LIVE but that isn't the cover I've seen in the shops which does just call it LIVE. As if this wasn't enough I received an e-mail from CDzone on 28th October telling me about LIVE IN NOTTINGHAM from Classic Rock Productions being released that day which again is the same CD (there is a series under that title). As of May 2003 the latter version is available at a budget price.
Voiceprint VP250CD  , Classic Rock Productions CRP1050

FROST IN SPACE
This seems to be a single CD version of the MY INSPIRATION albums (i.e. tracks from WHITE ROCK II and OFFICIAL LIVE BOOTLEG) available at a budget price from Master Music. Not sure exactly when it was released but it popped up in the JPC listings in November 2002. The word was that this may also be withdrawn from sale but it seems to have lingered on. It has a cracking cover.
Master Music

THE WIZARD AND THE FOREST OF ALL DREAMS ****
This project with the English Chamber Choir was said to have been put on hold with completion during May or June 2002 being suggested and I did hear of a first live performance being booked for May 2002 but this never happened. There has been no comment as to whether any of the live performances or the originally planned DVD will now ever happen but it was eventually announced that the CD was completed for an expected August release in the UK only with copies available pre-release from the RWCC site. Naturally that didn't happen but it was available from the RWCC by early December. As of April 2004 the Music Fusion release still seems to only be available from the RWCC (or at least isn't listed elsewhere) but there is now a European release on Mascot Records (12/4/2004 or thereabouts).
Music Fusion MFW6092X, Mascot M 7090 2

2003

OUT THERE ***
This new studio CD by the ERE has been a marathon project and much delayed. To cut a long story short, after several slippage the eventual release date is March 17th with the RWCC supplying preorders on 14th March. It was once suggested there will also be a DVD to accompany it but this has now been made into a separate project. There is some great music on this album but I find the mix rather poor and it seems almost low fidelity. The lead vocals are also a disappointment. The album seems also to have been released on Mascot Records in Europe.
Music Fusion MFW6093X

THE REAL LISZTOMANIA *** (since that is how I rated it in the box set)
The Real Lisztomania (from the Treasure Chest) popped was released on 21st April in the UK having slipped a couple of weeks.  The US release was also around that time having initially been listed as before the UK one. The catalogue number and cover art are a straight lift from THE TREASURE CHEST.
Voiceprint VPTCCD1

RICK WAKEMAN: FROM THE FRONT ROW– LIVE
KING BISCUIT strikes again as the improbable choice for a September DVD Audio release.

THE OSCAR CONCERT * (since that is how I rated it in the box set)
Hot on the tails of THE REAL LISZTOMANIA came the second individual release from THE TREASURE CHEST which was first listed for 12th May 2003 though it slipped to 8th September.
Voiceprint VPTCCD2

THE MISSING HALF ** (since that is how I rated it in the box set)
The sequence of releases of the CDs from THE TREASURE CHEST continued with the third CD initially listed for release on 2nd June 2003 but slipping to 22nd September , according to Amazon, which is two weeks *after* the fourth CD. However last time I looked they had put the original date back!
Voiceprint VPTCCD3

ALMOST CLASSICAL ** (since that is how I rated it in the box set)
Not unsurprisingly, the fourth release from THE TREASURE CHEST was listed for July though again there was slippage. Curiously the eventual release date shown on Amazon is the 8th September which is out of sequence.
Voiceprint VPTCCD4

THE MIXTURE * (since that is how I rated it in the box set)
Following the one release a month pattern, here is the fifth individual release from the TREASURE CHEST initially listed for mid-August. It slipped back to the end of September along with several of the others.
Voiceprint VPTCCD5

MEDIUM RARE ** (since that is how I rated it in the box set)
The sixth release from the TREASURE CHEST has been announced for the 6th or 27th October depending on whether you believe Amazon or Voiceprint.
Voiceprint VPTCCD6

JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH PLUS <> (since that is how I rated it in the box set)
The final individual release from the TREASURE CHEST has been announced for 3rd November.
Voiceprint VPTCCD7

THE ULTIMATE PROGRESSIVE ROCK BOX SET
Classic Pictures are bundling together four DVDs from various artists from their catalogue into a box set and it seems like one of them is the 1975 Melbourne concert (again!). If you don't have that DVD and have some interest in the other DVDs then this could be a cheap way of purchasing it. Release date is November 2003. This is being listed under Rick's name in some places.
Classic Pictures DVD7070X

INTO ORBIT <>
This compilation was released on "Direct Source Label" on 18th November. It is a U.S./Canadian release at a budget price. Some tracks have "(Excerpt)" after their names and the rest should do to. It is mostly extremely truncated tracks from The Official Bootleg, plus two from Classic Tracks, one from Fields Of Green and one I'm not sure about (Elizabethan Rock). It is possibly the most pointless compilation I have ever come across and I see no merit in it whatsoever unless you want a complete collection.
Direct Source Label

2004

OUT THERE / OUT THERE - THE MOVIE / OUT THERE EP ***
The much delayed DVD release of OUT THERE was finally confirmed for 28th July 2003 release and then again for the 13th October, which slipped to 20th October and then became "early 2004"(apparently they wanted to avoid clashing with a Yes DVD). You may see it as OUT THERE EP on listings (Classic Pictures have a series of DVDs under the EP banner though this doesn't really seem to fit in with them) and the RWCC refers to it as OUT THERE - THE MOVIE. It has been shown in listings with a variation of the CD cover with the black band at the top that was never used and on the Classic Pictures site with temporary artwork. The content is the album remixed for surround sound as the soundtrack to a mimed performance and computer graphics, plus a piece about the album and tour with mininal live clips. The very latest release date for it was 23rd February in the UK, the following month in North America, and June in Australia, though the UK date slipped to the 1st March. It then slipped again to 15th Match for the UK and Europe and 8th June in Australia and North America. The 'final' artwork published in late 2003 was completely different and that too was changed for the actual release. The 5.1 mix seems a great improvement on the stereo one but the movie is rather disappointing really and doesn't stand up to close scrutiny. The 'making of' type video is a complete disappointment.
Classic Pictures DVD6099X

RICK WAKEMAN  - THE ULTIMATE ANTHOLOGY **
A DVD called THE ULTIMATE ANTHOLOGY appeared in listings for 15th March 2004 release. It turns out to be made by the dreaded Classic Rock Productions in a Ragna Rock guise with Direct Video Distribution simply being the UK distributor, so it will be no surprise to find the Live '90 material recycled yet again together with more of the clips of Rick at the piano playing the Yes solo pieces (as on the video track on Two Sides Of Yes Volume I) and Wondrous Stories with Roger Dean visuals (perhaps that is from the Roger Dean DVD?). The soundtrack is stereo or DTS. The packaging is poor with Ashley Holt renamed Ashleigh Howe and a cardboard outer cover having a hole in it that doesn't line up with the picture it is supposed to be framing.
Direct Video Distribution

REVISITED **
AAO Music (http://www.aaomusic.com/) have a website showing a compilation album called REVISITED. This was released in April 2004 and is initially only available from FYE (http://www.fye.com) in the U.S. which makes you wonder why they don't list it as of the end of May 2004). It should also become available in several European countries (not including the UK) from the end of 2004. They have made a bit of an effort with the notes on the insert and Rick supplied a quote for it and attended the launch so at least they have tried. However it is really just a cut down version of TALES OF FUTURE & PAST / THE DEFINITIVE MUSIC with a couple of tracks out of sequence. Not a bad compilation as it goes but a pretty pointless one really.
AAO Music AAO40411

2005

LIVE AT LINCOLN CATHEDRAL
The Lincoln Cathedral Project was recorded by Voiceprint in late September 2001. Rick and a number of other artists were recorded in Lincoln Cathedral and this included binaural as well as conventional recording. It seems Rick recorded an album on cathedral organ and piano. It was once said that "CD releases will follow in 2002" but only one or two emerged. I enquired about this in early 2003 and it was confirmed that an album was in production but no more than that. Now in December 2004 the resulting album has appeared in listings with a scheduled release date of 25th February 2005. Voiceprint group release dates always seem to slip dramatically and sometimes the product never appears at all so I'll believe it when I see it :-)
Heliopause HPVP104CD

On The Way... ???

Every now and again I "reset" this section as once anticipated projects fade away into the mists of time. The archives of the RWCC newsletter on the RWCC site make interesting reading in this respect for all the stuff that never happened or was never finished.

My latest "reset" is Christmas 2004. Here Rick has been talking about a number of projects that might happen in 2005. Some Hope Records product may be remastered and even rerecorded for the American market. Ideas for DVDs include a complete rerecording and new film of The New Gospels with additional music (this would also get a CD release). Voiceprint will be releasing bootleg and rare archive material that will only be available from their website. Something should be happening by February with luck. Rick intends to do a new one man show in 2005 that will be filmed for DVD by Classic Pictures. Some more piano based music is being considered along with a 'retro' album using vintage keyboards and vintage sounds. All sounds quite promising but it remains to be seen what appears.

Anything Else... ???

First and foremost Voiceprint started listing ... WITH BANDA SINFONICA in their online catalogue for August 2003 release with the clear implication that Rick performs on it. He doesn't as it is a symphonic band associated with a Brazilian music school performing the whole of Arthur with an ELP piece as an encore and they have quickly corrected the catalogue infomation. It was actually released in mid-October with the reworked cover mostly emphasising BANDA SINFONICA JOVEN DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO. Previously only available direct from the school (the original cover is shown above left) it is highly recommended , as was THE RPO PERFORMS THE BEST KNOWN WORKS OF RICK WAKEMAN in the past. It remains to be seen if Voiceprint will amend the title which seems to bear no relation to the cover art anyway.

Anyone who happened upon Classic Rock Productions May 2003 catalogue would have seen a double album of TWO SIDES OF YES advertised at a reasonable price of £12.99 (well reasonably if you hadn't already bought them individually). They even gave a catalogue number CRP1144. However it turns out they never did release it.

Amazon have in the past listed an album called "Classic Rick Wakeman" from 1994. I am not sure if that is another name for something I've already listed or an incorrect listing or what. I'd never noticed it before. It could easily mean CLASSIC TRACKS. They have also listed "Battle Of the Bands" in the past but that is a mistake and is in fact an unrelated jazz album. More recently a similar mistake caused by similar catalogue numbers has led to a album with an arabic looking title being confused with Crimes of Passion.

There are some Russian releases on CDmaximum that are "two CD in one" packages with for example KING ARTHUR and WHITE ROCK. A release of RHAPSODIES features the later "Alpha Sleep" and "March Of The Child Soldiers" as bonus tracks. The packaging looks well done and they have released material by many other artistes with thoughtful addition of bonus tracks. However in the case of Rick's material, and no doubt others, these releases are not "official". Having said that I am told they are quite good quality. You may also find the albums available individually on Russian labels and these are again not official releases even if they are factory sealed silver discs.

As you might expect there are also some Russian compilations. ROCK COLLECTION seems to be MASTER SERIES with three extra tracks intermingled. FOREVER GOLD is THE MASTERS double CD with eight tracks from RETURN TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH added on the end, and HISTORY OF ROCK is the RECOLLECTIONS compilation.

This is just a selection of covers for illustrative purposes. I am making no attempt to show a cover for each film and certainly not to show all the different ones.

There are several films and TV productions which Rick has written and performed the soundtrack for, some of which I suspect are no longer available on video (if indeed they ever were) or have not made it to DVD. The Internet Movie Database volunteers (most of) the following:

• PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1925) - I have treated this as a music video in the main discography.
• LISZTOMANIA (1975) - Reworked as THE REAL LISZTOMANIA.
• UNA FÓRMULA PARA CORRER (1975) - Beats me :-)
• WHITE ROCK (1977) - Reworked on White Rock album.
• THE BURNING (1981) - Reworked on The Burning alongside the original soundtrack.
• G'OLE (1982) - Reworked on G'ole.
• B.C. ROCK (1984) - Three tracks used.
• CRIMES OF PASSION (1984) - Reworked on Crimes Of Passion album.
• SHE (1985) - Credited alongside Justin Hayward and Motörhead.
• PLAYING FOR KEEPS (1986) - Credited for "Additional Songs".
• CREEPSHOW 2 (1987) - One of two credited alongside the writer of the theme.
• HERO (1987)
• THE DAY AFTER THE FAIR (1987) - TV (BBC I think).
• BULLET TO BEIJING (1995)
• MIDNIGHT IN ST PETERSBURG (1995)

LISZTOMANIA should be pretty easy to get hold of and THE BURNING is available on PAL and NTSC DVDs. You probably want to make sure you are getting an uncut one. G'OLE and HERO were available on video in 1998 (a World Cup year) but you had to look for them in the sports section of shops and they might be a little elusive at the moment. CRIMES OF PASSION is available on NTSC DVD and you definitely want to look out for the uncut version of this as the U.S. cinema release had a whole scene removed. CREEPSHOW 2 is available on DVD. BULLET TO BEIJING and MIDNIGHT IN ST PETERSBURG seem to be freely available on PAL and NTSC video and I think were on NTSC DVD not so long ago.

The IMDB lists B.C. ROCK as the U.S. title of the *1979* French/Belgian animated fim (with adult content) "Le Chaînon Manquant" which was released internationally as "The Missing Link". However my researches suggest that the film was initially released in English and then overdubbed into French and that the featured artist is none other than Leo Sayer. I belive the name B.C. ROCK is only used for the *1984* U.S. release of the filmwhich has a new soundtrack featuring a number of well known artists. Rick's contributions are three tracks recorded at the time of COST OF LIVING - "Flyin'", "Steamhole Dance" and "Warmongers". The latter two are featured on the PRIVATE COLLECTION album (hence the cryptic references to "The Missing Link" in the packaging). "Flyin'" is on CD 6 of the TREASURE CHEST. So if you are chasing this search out the NTSC video of the 1984 film called B.C. ROCK and nothing else. Actually the TREASURE CHEST states that "Flyin'" is a joint composition from 1980 and it does include a female vocal, so maybe it was recorded earlier?

I don't know anything about the Spanish film or what his involvement was with CREEPSHOW 2. I came across a mention of SHE in an old RWCC newsletter which talked about Rick having submitted the tapes for a soundtrack album so that would suggest a major contribution beyond that the IMDB credits would suggest. Similarly PLAYING FOR KEEPS is mentioned for having some original music including a piece called "Chloe" that was written for a scene cut from the film.

The remainder are definitely "proper" soundtracks. Rick also recorded a soundtrack for the film "Alone" which was supposed to be released in 2001 but escaped anyone's attention if it did. However last minute edits were made to the film and Rick was not available to redo the soundtrack so it couldn't be used. The album WHITE ROCK II features music from the "Reflections Of Winter" series of films which presumably where shown on TV somewhere by someone.

There are also several TV programmes that Rick has written original theme music for. In addition to "Lytton's Diary" and "Database" which were released on a single, there is also "Ask Aspel" for one (three versions it seems). The theme to a serial called "My Son, My Son" was actually "Birdman Of Alcatraz" and had a single release exploting this. There was also a documentary on British TV called SUPERCAT about Jaguar cars.

CLASSIC GRAND PRIX CARS (available here) is a DVD and VHS that Rick provided a soundtrack for. The short video (about 21 minutes) subtitled BEHIND THE WHEEL is a mix of stills with musical backing and film of the cars in action with and without backing. The engine noise does mask the music in places. The DVD is more of interest because the music has been isolated and presented as a music only selection. However this seems to have been done as the audio backing to a menu page so you can't step or fast forward through it. Rick says it is something he knocked up at the end of some studio time rather than a high quality production job but its still a perfectly decent soundtrack. Though the DVD is new for 2002 the original dates back to 1982 and the soundtrack features Tony Fernandez and John Gustafson which suggests the Cost Of Living sessions. There are 12 tracks with a total of around 20 minutes or so which may be very slightly extended compared to the video soundtrack itself.

Touch wood, I have now merged in all the music videos to the main discography but there is also the mail order only MAKING OF SURREAL video which I haven't seen.

Rick presents and is featured performing live in the Roger Dean documentary DVD called VIEWS (another Classic Rock Legends effort). It seems the live performance is the same clip of him playing "The Meeting" as used on TWO SIDES OF YES but without the pathetic video effects on it.

There are other interesting items about as well. For example the MICROCOSM computer game features some rather good music from Rick (it sounds like it was recorded in the early 1990s to me) and the BETWEEN EARTH AND THE END OF TIME collaboration with Rodney Matthews is also good (it is an interactive CD-ROM featuring original music by Rick). The MICROCOSM stuff is turning up on CD 6 of the TREASURE CHEST. Also on the same CD is the original master mix of "Beyond" which Rick contributed to the album BEYOND THE PLANETS (the album typically gets attributed to Kevin Peek).

Obviously Rick has featured as a member of The Strawbs and Yes and appeared on numerous sessions and guest appearances but this discography is really about his solo works. The odd track may appear on compilations but more of interest is that there are a few otherwise unavailable original works and rearranged pieces around. Ones that spring to mind are a version of "Catherine Of Aragon" recorded for Korg's THE BEST OF THE 01/W promo CD and later included on MUSIC FOR THE 3RD MILLENNIUM, Vol. 1, "Babylon" which has appeared on WE GIVE A DAMN and SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS , and a recording of Beethoven's "Pathetique" on the STEINWAY TO HEAVEN album.

SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS is still freely available but MUSIC FOR THE 3RD MILLENIUM was a limited edition of 1000 and although listed by CDzone they couldn't get it for me in a month (and one supplier said it was deleted). However as of May 2002 AMP still definitely have copies as I bought one (mine is number 701 or 901 - the writing isn't clear - but I don't know if they were issued in order). Although Amazon apparently list MUSIC FOR THE 3RD MILLENIUM the entries are for volumes 2 and 3 and not volume 1 (the catalogue number you need is AMP-CD039).

Something that often turns up is the SPECIAL SAMPLER on Jimco records in Japan which was a promo only disc with a number of Ambient music tracks.

Wesley Miller has told me of an interesting little collection of short instrumentals called BBC RADIOPLAY MUSIC dating from 1986 which never received a public release. This contains the tracks "Early Warning", "Clouds", "Scorpion", "After The Kill", "Serpent", "Indian Rope Trick", and "Dark". A couple of those titles appear on ROCK'N'ROLL PROPHET.

Every now and again the subject of "Dragonmere" comes up. This is nothing to do with Rick. It is the work of an amateur musician who made it available on Napster. Unfortunately when another user downloaded a copy she stored it in the same folder that she kept her copies of Rick's material and this led people to believe it was either Rick's work or it was someone passing off their work as Rick's. In fact it was just an unfortunate set of circumstances and the composer is blameless.