Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record
| Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Rick Wakeman | ||||
| Released | 9 November 1977 | |||
| Recorded | April–June 1977 at Mountain Studios, Montreux, Switzerland[1] | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock | |||
| Length | 39:04 | |||
| Label | A&M | |||
| Producer | Rick Wakeman | |||
| Rick Wakeman chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record is the seventh studio album by English keyboardist Rick Wakeman, released in November 1977 on A&M Records. The album was recorded in Montreux, Switzerland after Wakeman rejoined Yes in late 1976 as they were making Going for the One. With its concept loosely based on criminality, the album is an instrumental progressive rock record with the exception being "The Breathalyser", in which Bill Oddie provides spoken vocals. Bassist Chris Squire and drummer Alan White of Yes also play on three tracks.
The album received some mixed reviews upon release, and reached No. 25 in the UK. In 2006, the album was remastered as a limited edition with 5,000 copies produced.
Background
Wakeman intended the record to be similar to his first conceptual release, The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1973), but it did not turn out as he wished.[1]
Equipment used
Source: [1]
- Steinway 9' Grand Piano
- Minimoog synthesizer
- Polymoog synthesizer
- Hammond C3 organ
- Birotron
- Mander Pipe organ - recorded at the church of St. Martin, Vevey, Switzerland
- RMI computer keyboard
- Harpsichord
- Fender Rhodes 88 electric piano
- Hohner clavinet
- Baldwin electric harpsichord
- Church organ
Limited edition
In 2006, Hip-O Select released a limited, numbered edition (5000 copies) compact disc, the first CD issue of the album ever available outside Japan. The album has subsequently been re-issued on CD by Real Gone Music and is currently in print.
Track listing
All tracks written by Rick Wakeman.
| Side one | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "Statue of Justice" | Rick Wakeman | 6:20 |
| 2. | "Crime of Passion" | Wakeman | 5:46 |
| 3. | "Chamber of Horrors" | Wakeman | 6:40 |
| Side two | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "Birdman of Alcatraz" | Wakeman | 4:12 |
| 2. | "The Breathalyser" | Wakeman | 3:51 |
| 3. | "Judas Iscariot" | Wakeman | 12:15 |
Personnel
- Rick Wakeman – keyboard, producer
- Chris Squire – bass
- Alan White – drums
- Frank Ricotti – percussion
- Bill Oddie – vocals on 5
- Ars Laeta Choir of Lausanne, Switzerland
- Robert Mernoud – Conductor
- John Timperley – engineer
- Dave Richards - engineer
References
- 1 2 3 "Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record (1977)". Rick Wakeman's Communication Centre. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ↑ Allmusic review
