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RICK WAKEMAN IN CHURCH

 
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childprufe



Joined: 22 Dec 2006
Posts: 212
Location: lincolnshire

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:33 am    Post subject: RICK WAKEMAN IN CHURCH Reply with quote

I had the great pleasure and privilege of seeing Rick Wakeman doing his one man show in Lincoln last week. If anyone gets the chance, go and see him. He is a brilliant musician and the most amusing, droll speaker you could hope to see. A true professional.
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ColinB
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:42 am    Post subject: Re: RICK WAKEMAN IN CHURCH Reply with quote

childprufe wrote:
I had the great pleasure and privilege of seeing Rick Wakeman doing his one man show in Lincoln last week. If anyone gets the chance, go and see him. He is a brilliant musician and the most amusing, droll speaker you could hope to see. A true professional.


Rick is a fabulous stand-up entertainer as well as a brilliant piano player and general keyboards player. I always listen to him on Planet Rock (which he part-owns) on Saturday mornings with David Jensen.

In fact, I was listening to "Close To The Edge" by Yes in the car only this morning!

PS: I didn't know until a few weeks ago that Rick played the piano accompaniment to Cat Stevens' "Morning Has Broken". He mentioned this on his Saturday show.
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childprufe



Joined: 22 Dec 2006
Posts: 212
Location: lincolnshire

PostPosted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 2:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rick told a brilliant anecdote in relation to Morning has Broken. Apparently he was approached by Cat Stevens and asked to do the musical arrangement, but apparently the hymn only has 3 verses and the full recording would last about 90 seconds. Rick suggested a flowery introduction which would drag it out to just under 2 minutes. Still not long enough so Rick agreed to using the flowery piece in the middle and at the end, extending the piece to 2minutes 40 seconds - still not long enough. He then suggested a key change and an interval piece that would extend the recording to over 3 minutes - that will do nicely.
The recording then became a HIT - Top of the Pops loomed and Rick got a request for the score of his arrangement. Rick was still awaiting payment for his original work, so his reply to TOTP was "No".
Apparently there have been numerous requests over the years for the arrangment, but it has never been written down, so the answer remains "No".
Rick claims he was eventually paid in 1990, but the score remains in his head.
To hear him play it live, you would not know the difference from the piece he first played 40 years ago.
Rock on Rick
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ColinB
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 8:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I like Rick Wakeman, he's one of Britain's true characters as well as being a truly superb musician. He really does make me laugh with his wayward conversations with David Jensen and also phone callers on Planet Rock.

I'm listening to "Roundabout" (from the album "Fragile" by Yes) and his keyboard playing is unbelievably good.
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becky sharp



Joined: 01 Dec 2008
Posts: 6847

PostPosted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 12:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was neither one way or the other in my views of Rick Wakeman then a few years ago he did a programme on the BBC, round Easter time, about the song Amazing Grace, tracing it's history etc, and I found myself really warming to him....would like to see more of him in this type of thing.

Judy Collins sang it in a cathedral whilst she was just sat there talking to Rick about it........a lovely moment....
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preraphaeliteangel



Joined: 16 Nov 2010
Posts: 249
Location: Yorkshire

PostPosted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 7:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I saw Rick Wakeman's one man show at the Grassington Festival this year and it was absolutely superb. His timing in telling an anecdote is second to none and of course the music was excellent. I'd definitely recommend see it if you get the chance.
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Soulsister



Joined: 14 Sep 2010
Posts: 242
Location: Good Old Sussex by the Sea

PostPosted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've always been a little bit in love with Rick Wakeman. Great musician and very funny guy - I'd love to see him live but sadly I don't think our local theatres are big enough to host a Rick Wakeman show - as a matter of interest, what size were the venues where you folks saw him?

I did go to see Alan Price earlier this year and he was excellent. Like Rick a very funny bloke,a great raconteur, very droll, and he had the audience in stitches. I'd only gone to see Maggie Bell who was guest vocalist, but Price was a revelation.

I'll have to start listening to that Planet Rock show.
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ColinB
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Soulsister wrote:
I'll have to start listening to that Planet Rock show.


You will indeed! I discovered it after looking for the escape hatch from Wossy on Radio 2 Satruday mornings.

Rick pairs up for a show with David Jensen each saturday between 10.00am and 1.00pm and is well worth the listen - not least because they do actually play some really good music (when Rick isn't moaning about something or other!!!!!).

Cool
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preraphaeliteangel



Joined: 16 Nov 2010
Posts: 249
Location: Yorkshire

PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Soulsister wrote:
I've always been a little bit in love with Rick Wakeman. Great musician and very funny guy - I'd love to see him live but sadly I don't think our local theatres are big enough to host a Rick Wakeman show - as a matter of interest, what size were the venues where you folks saw him?


At the Grassington Festival where I saw him they put up a huge marquee, which I would guess held around 1,000 people, and it was just about full.
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childprufe



Joined: 22 Dec 2006
Posts: 212
Location: lincolnshire

PostPosted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 4:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There was a series of concerts in churches this year, the one in Lincoln only held about 250 and attendance was about 150. Rick was one of the featured aristes. Others included Courtney Pine and Alfie Boe. It was an innovative idea that will hopefully be repeated.
Have a word with your local vicar............Smile
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