Journey to the Centre of the Earth (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Journey to the Centre of the Earth
Type = live
Artist = Rick Wakeman


Released = May, 1974
Recorded = January 18, 1974, Royal Festival Hall, London
Genre = Rock, Progressive rock
Length = 40:07
Label = A&M (USA)
Producer = Rick Wakeman
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5snsa9wgb238 link]
Last album = "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" (1973)
This album = "Journey To The Centre Of The Earth" (1974)
Next album = "The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table" (1975)

"Journey To The Centre Of The Earth" is Rick Wakeman's second solo album, released in 1974. It is loosely based on Jules Verne's novel "Journey to the Centre of the Earth". It was recorded live at the Royal Festival Hall in London, England on January 18, 1974.

It is said that Wakeman had to sell many of his belongings and mortgage his house to record it. He couldn't cut it in the studio because of the restricted budget. It was originally written to be longer, but certain parts had to be cut and overdubbed since the orchestra was expensive and Wakeman couldn't afford to re-record those parts. Therefore, certain lyric sections are out of order.After the recording, A&M UK did not wish to produce the album, so Wakeman convinced A&M USA to do it. This was the first A&M Quadraphonic (Surround Sound) album to use the
CD-4 system.

This album is available in its original recording, a live DVD recording at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, Australia in 1975, and a later orchestra-free/lyric free studio version is available on the 1994 "Greatest Hits" album.

This was the first Wakeman album with vocals.

Track listing

ide one

# The Journey/Recollection - 21:10

ide two

# The Battle/The Forest - 18:57

Personnel

* Rick Wakeman - Synthesizers
* Gary Pickford-Hopkins, Ashley Holt - vocals
* David Hemmings - Narrations
* Mike Egan - Guitar
* Roger Newell - Bass
* Barney James - drums
* London Symphony Orchestra
* The English Chamber Choir
* David Measham - Conductor

External links

* [http://www.rwcc.com/title_detail.asp?int_titleID=148 Live DVD]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5snsa9wgb238 All Music Review of Original Release]
* [http://www.quadraphonicquad.com/aandm.htm A&M Quadraphonic albums]