Rock 'n' Roll Prophet
Rock n' Roll Prophet is a 1982 album by Rick Wakeman. The album was recorded at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland,[2] and was released by Moon Records.
Rock n' Roll Prophet | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1982 | |||
Recorded | 1979 | |||
Studio | Mountain, Montreux, Switzerland | |||
Genre | Progressive rock, synthpop | |||
Label | Moon | |||
Producer | Rick Wakeman | |||
Rick Wakeman chronology | ||||
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Singles from Rock n' Roll Prophet | ||||
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The album was re-released in 1991 by President Records as Rock 'n' Roll Prophet Plus, containing four bonus tracks. These tracks were recorded at Wakeman's own[3] Bajanor Studios on the Isle of Man, and were mixed by Stuart Sawney. The re-release was mastered at Abbey Road Studios.[4]
As well as playing keyboards, Wakeman provided lead vocals for three tracks ("I'm So Straight I'm a Weirdo", "Maybe '80", and "Do You Believe in Fairies")[5] – the only album on which his singing appears besides Rhapsodies, which features his singing on the opening song "Pedra De Gavea." [6]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [7] |
Discogs | [8] |
Rock 'n' Roll Prophet has gained largely negative reviews, with comments describing the album as "goofy",[5] "novelty" and "crap".[9] McGlinchey does, however, recognise that the album was largely produced as a tongue-in-cheek project and that "the humour on [the] release is intentional".[9]
Due to his association with progressive rock (being the antithesis of punk rock), Wakeman wanted the album to be released under a pseudonym – his suggestion being "KUDOS". It was, however, released under his own name, which he called "a big mistake".[2] AllMusic described the album as sounding similar to The Buggles,[5] with Wakeman corroborating their influence by stating that the album was an attempted spoof.[2] Wakeman's vocals are also described as "serviceable but not strong" – with the instrumentals "not up to [his] highest standards".[5] Ground and Sky likened the album to "someone gleefully pressing the self-destruct button on whatever credibility they previously had managed to accrue as a music artist".[9]
Wakeman, however, has commented that he likes the analogue sounds and production on the album,[2] and that the album was "little ahead of its time [and] a little off the wall".[4]
Track listing
LP
- "I'm So Straight I'm a Weirdo" – 3:54 - released as a UK single (1980)
- "The Dragon" – 3:34
- "Dark" – 5:07
- "Maybe '80" – 5:27
- "Early Warning" – 3:34
- "Spy of 55" – 5:07
- "Do You Believe in Fairies?" – 4:29
- "Rock 'n' Roll Prophet" – 4:40
1991 re-release
- "Return of the Prophet" – 6:03
- "I'm So Straight I'm a Weirdo" – 3:54
- "The Dragon" – 3:34
- "Dark" – 5:07
- "Alpha Sleep" – 6:00
- "Maybe '80" – 5:27
- "March of the Child Soldiers" – 6:05
- "Early Warning" – 3:34
- "Spy of 55" – 5:07
- "Stalemate" – 5:55
- "Do You Believe in Fairies?" – 4:29
- "Rock 'n' Roll Prophet" – 4:40
Personnel
- Rick Wakeman – Keyboards, vocals and production
- Lilianne Lauber – Backing vocals
- Gaston Balmer – Percussion
- Dave Richards – Engineering
- Martin Pursey – Executive producer
- Stuart Sawney – Engineering (CD bonus tracks)
References
- http://www.45cat.com/record/ams7510
- Wakeman, Rick; Smith, Wayne. "Rock n Roll Prophet (1982)". Discography. Rick Wakeman's Communications Centre. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- Miller, Jonathan (November 1995). "Rick Wakeman: Cirque Surreal". Sound on Sound. SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- Wakeman, Rick; Smith, Wayne. "Rock n Roll Prophet Plus (1991)". Discography. Rick Wakeman's Communications Centre. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- Raiteri, Stephen (2009). "Rock & Roll Prophet Plus". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- Wakeman, Rick; Smith, Wayne. "Albums". Discography. Rick Wakeman's Communications Centre. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- Allmusic review
- Discogs review
- McGlinchey, Joe (15 March 2003). "Rick Wakeman: Rock n' Roll Prophet Plus". Ground and Sky. Prog Reviews. Retrieved 9 January 2010.