For days of Classic Rock & Roll (1950s to1960s), including a lot of tunes I don't remember hearing ever, I've been listening to streaming online from Splinterwood Rock'n'Roll Radio from England.
@motie2 I've been searching for the Shadowfax CD for decades. I had the LP but ended up selling my entire LP collection about 10 years ago. Assumed I'd be able to upgrade to CD without much trouble. That was a mistake. Since then I could only find it offered from import dealers for unreasonable sums of money. Usually in the $59.00 to $70.00 price range. Then recently I visited an old site I bought a lot of prog/rock from in the past Syn-Phonic Music, and low and behold, the owner Greg Walker had a copy for $18.00. So I snapped up a copy as fast as my fingers could type. Received it about a week ago.
Shadowfax went on to become more of a new age, World, and jazz fusion band. Nothing afterwards matched "Watercourse Way".
If you buy the album be sure it's the original mix with the scenic view. Once Shadowfax transitioned to a New Age Fusion band they re-recorded the album all over again and released it on the Windham Hill label because they couldn't get the rights to the original recording. That indie label went bust. So because of the demand for that album in their catalog they opted to re-record it with some different personnel, and the over all style in more in keeping with the current band. I had both on LP ... and the re-mix is a nice recording ... but the use of more modern digital keyboards as opposed to analog gear and the glorious Mellotron detracts from the over all mood of the piece.
The symphonic band The Enid did a similar thing by re-recording their first two albums because they couldn't get the rights. And the results were similar to the Shadowfax album. Thankfully they finally obtained rights to the original albums "In The Region Of The Summer Stars" and "Aerie Faerie Nonsense" ... and when compared side-by-side to the re-recorded version there is a world of difference.
Keith Emerson or Rick Wakeman? ... was always the subject of debate among progressive rock aficionados as to which should be crowned Best Rock Keyboardist. I've always been of the opinion the crown could be shared equally between them. But now with the passing of Keith Emerson, and even with other promising and established names now tossed into the mix, I personally believe the crown sits firmly upon the head of Rick Wakemen.
Even in his advancing years he remains in top form and continues putting out new music at an astounding rate.
His albums can be hit or miss - but that's because his albums vary in style from one to the next, appealing to a wide range of listeners.
I tend to favor his progressive rock instrumental albums where he is surrounded by banks of analog and digital keyboards. Albums like "Six Wives Of Henry The 8th", "Criminal Records", "White Rock", and "2000 A.D. Into The Future". Others enjoyed his lavish orchestral productions with vocals like "Journey To The Centre Of The Earth", "The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table" and No Earthly Connection". And still others with a penchant for quiet introspective new age music lean towards his many piano centrist albums.
Well his recent release, "Red Planet" has really hit my sweet spot, and I've been listening to it non-stop since receiving it in the mail. It's old school instrumental prog like "Six Wives" and the type of music he was playing while a member of the band YES. And his extensive use of vintage keyboards like the MiniMoog and Mellotron, in addition to his digital gear, really gives the album that classic old school 70s' flavor. My personal sweet spot!
If you enjoy albums from ELP, YES, early Genesis - and of course Wakeman's solo albums give this a listen the next time you find yourself puffing on a bowl and staring out into space. Perfect music to smoke your pipe to ...
Keith Emersen in my book, "oh what a lucky man he was". Well maybe not him anymore unless he is playing keyboard for the Almighty), but ELP was an outstanding group in my mind.
@motie2 "Five Bridges" was Emerson's work with his first band before ELP, "The Nice".
Many well established keyboardist playing today all seem to agree that Emerson's left hand playing rivaled many of his contemporaries right hand leads. Just listen to "Tarkus".
I loved them both and had the privilege of seeing them at the top of their game ... Emerson with ELP during the "Brain Salad Surgery" Tour. And Wakeman during the YES "Tales From Topographic Oceans" Tour.
A bit of jazz fusion tonight, "Vinyl Tap" by Spyro Gyra. Covers of mostly pre disco pop/rock hits. They were one of the bands that rekindled my love of jazz.
Heavy Weather and Mr. Gone are my two favorite albums by WR, and I will always missJaco Pastorius's bass lines, a genius and a nut like so many musical servants.
Comments
6 bucks for mp3 album
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY_Cz1G0zWY
Beautiful music, thank you..........just what I think I need
Listening to Ghosts of Pompeii, Vol. 2
Great article with many pix.
https://www.eacarey.co.uk/2016/06/pipe-smoking-music/
https://youtu.be/fPclkRI-1Dw
Forgive me; I’m old.. You are right, of course.....
....... and then, Sweetnighter
Perhaps “savants?”
The brunette is the niece of Jerry Lee Lewis.