Customer Reviews

Journey to the Centre of the Earth

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Who else but keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman would interpret a Jules Verne novel into a live, 40 minute, progressive rock show? And if anyone else would, could they make it as fun, as colourful, and as evocative as this?

Making full use of an orchestra, a choir, a rock band, a couple of lead singers and a narrator, Rick Wakeman lets us come along on the journey, both to the centre of the Earth and through a mixture of musical textures and styles. Since it's a live performance, Rick doesn't use as many of his keyboards as he does on, say, a Yes recording or on The Six Wives of Henry VIII. For the most part he plays Moog (On settings very similar to the ones he used on Yes' "Tales From Topographic Oceans"), clavichord (on which he gets pretty funky for a prog rocker) and a piano. Still, they're enough to show off his talent.

One thing I really admire about Rick Wakeman (both in Yes and his solo career) is the way he can create images in the listeners head through sound. He seems to know exactly what textures, sounds and effects evoke the images he wants, and composes accordingly. I can see the boiling water coming from the rock, I can feel the explorers delirium when they become lost, I can see the two sea monsters at battle in the waves. The narrator has a warm, clear voice, and his descriptions give all the images clarity.

It took me a couple of listens to get into this, mostly because of the singing. Both the choir and leads take it all very straight-faced and seriously, and when they're not the best singers and they're singing phrases like "Silurian epoch", it gets a little laughable at times. It grows on you though, it's all part of this album's unique blend of sound.

If you want something a little different, and enjoy giving your imagination a workout, I recommend this album. Yes/Wakeman fans also would do themselves a favour by picking this up.

(Oh, and this album is in desperate need of a remaster! I'm sure it would sound incredible.)

I first heard this on vinyl as a young teen, when my father brought it home. At that time, and for the first time, music actually built stone cathedrals, and oceans, entire scenes in my mind. Better than any movie ever could, and more so than the books I so much love. I just purchased the disc, to share with my new wife, and her son. The looks on thier faces as the similar scenes developed in thier minds eye... pure magic. Rick Wakeman prooves to be not only the integral part of Yes' best years, but a true magician/painter. Every parent should share this with thier children, to show what TV lacks. Every audiophile should keep a pristine copy for when escape is needed most.

I oringanally bought this vinyl album in the early 70s. At the time I knew nothing about Rick Wakeman but soon learned what a master he really is. This faithfully captures Jules Verne's tale. The use of the orchestra & keyboards is inspiring. After I first heard this album I made a point of learning about Rick Wakeman. If you are a fan & you don't have this album ... get it. You'll be glad you did.

First of all, it's great. But I did not hear it until I heard its sequel, the Return, which admittedly is 25 odd years behind the rest of you prog fans, but hey. It was because I liked the sequel that I bought the Journey. It is admittedly not of the best sound quality but that's to be expected with a live disk. None the less the music is well crafted and of typical Wakeman style. If you have and enjoy any other of his albums then this will be the perfect one for you. Wakeman is at his best with twiddleing his fingers across those synthes, monogons and keyboards, making the rest of us who have tried to play a keyboard feel quite innadequate.
However, since I pesonnally am not trying to sell the album, I will inform you that there is a live DVD of the entire Journey and several other songs, available, most probably from Amazon. The DVD comes with the CD of the Journey so it is worth considering.
Whichever you will get/have got I'm sure you will enjoy/have enjoyed the feast that is Journey to the Center of the Earth. If only Jules Verne were here to listen to it now...

Love the music, but this particular release is poorly mastered for CD. Do yourself a favor, and pay more for the Japanese 24 bit remastered versions released this past Fall '03. Not only is the sound quality far superior, but it is packaged in a replica mini-Lp, complete with insert booklet. I purchased just the first three (Wives/Centre/MythsLegends), but practically, if not all, of the A&M catalog was re-released with 24bit remastering in Japan. Why Universal record company in the US can't get their act together and release these here is beyond understanding. Too busy prosecuting kids who download, I suppose.

If Rick Wakeman could be remembered for one piece of music only, I reckon this should be it. Simply taking on the idea of translating Verne's classic into symphonic rock was audacious enough but to succeed as well as Wakeman does is pretty extraordinary, considering his age (24) and that he did it solo - with some help from orchestrators.

Apparently this was recorded live because it was cheaper than carting an orchestra and instruments into a studio for a week. The record company was not convinced, but I think the live 'special event' feel really makes the album, and the performances are pretty good from all involved.

Musically, it's brilliant - the main theme is very strong, very simple and very classic but soon the trademark Wakeman synths make their presence felt and thereafter it's a great mix of Moog, electric piano, clavinet, Hammond and orchestra and choir. If there is a letdown it's the choice of vocalists - I keep reading that Ashley Holt is a brilliant singer, but I've yet to hear it. He sounds better suited to this album than others he has collaborated on but he still irritates the pip out of me.

The other downside to the album is the lyrics - sorry, Rick but you should have done an Elton and got yourself a lyricist early on. Rick even invents a new word, stupefication. However the cheesy lyrics don't really take much away from the album. The narration is excellent, not only David Hemmings' elocution but the script really brings out Verne's sense of wonder and the pioneering aspect of this very early travel narrative - after all in the 1800s nobody could say you COULDN'T find a vast sea inside the Earth, complete with sea monsters. In fact this narration seems to be one of the better interpretations of Verne's Journey, better than some of the films, anyway.

Wakeman's keyboards dazzle, but never dominate or threaten to derail the overall musical experience - highlights are the funky Hohner clavinet solos at about 13 mins (whoever said Wakeman was ugly on a Clavy needs their head read), and the sea monster battle at the start of track two, with lots of Moog lavished around it.

As far as the audio sound goes, it's a good remaster, sounds are separated nicely and you can even hear individual choir voices which I don't remember hearing on the original vinyl.

I think the strongest aspect of this album is the atmosphere - it's eerie, wondering, and feels like you're on a journey somewhere strange.

There have been plenty of marriages of rock and classical music over the years - this one will go down as the standard.

This Master Piece is incredible and I extremely recomend to buy Journey To The Centre Of The Earth(live)by Rick Wakeman, because is music and music in simply words is magnific.

This is one fun piece of music. If you are not into 1970s progressive rock, like Yes or King Crimsom or ELP, chances are that you won't like this album, either. But who knows? Maybe you should give this piece of music a chance, especially if you enjoy classical music. I don't always enjoy fusions of Rock and Classical, but Wakeman makes it work here. His keyboard playing here is, I believe, at an all time peak. Yes, the music does have a 70s feel to it, but if you can get past that, you'll realize that it really is some great music.

I loved this album, but then again, I love Wakeman's work. If you are a fan of ostentacious progressive rock - as I am - you should love this album. It may seem a bit over the top to some listeners, but if you really love music, and give it a chance, I really believe the stuff will grow on you.

Got to admit, this CD was a disappointment. It's not as good as I remember, sure the music is the same, but the production value is poor.

I would have liked a much cleaner version of this classic.