Journey to the Centre of the Earth is the second album from the English keyboardist Rick Wakeman, released in May 1974. With its concept based on Jules Verne's same-titled science fiction novel, the album tells the story of Professor Lidenbrok, his nephew Axel, and their guide Hans, who follow a passage to the Earth's centre originally discovered by Arne Saknussemm, an Icelandic alchemist. Wakeman performs with the London Symphony Orchestra, the English Chamber Choir, and a group of hand-picked musicians for his rock band which later became The English Rock Ensemble. Actor David Hemmings narrates the story.
The album received some negative reaction upon its release, with music critics having described the record as a "classical pastiche...genuinely appalling" and "brutal synthesiser overkill". Journey however, was well received by others.
Track listing:
(All tracks written by Wakeman)
Side one:
"The Journey"/"Recollection" – 21:20
Side two:
"The Battle"/"The Forest" – 18:57
https://youtu.be/YJ9W2pZwvlY : Full album:
https://youtu.be/3WvXPZNC0z8 : The Journey:
In 1999, Wakeman released a sequel, Return to the Centre of the Earth. He re-recorded the album with additional parts previously removed from the original score due to time constraints, in 2012.
Wakeman presumed that the original conductor's score was lost when his record company MAM collapsed in the early 1980s. However, a "huge cardboard packing case" arrived at his house in 2008 which stayed in his garage for "about five months" before he found the score at the bottom which was damaged by water. A year was spent digitising and forming the complete score with conductor Guy Protheroe. Wakeman re-recorded the album with an orchestra, choir, and members of his English Rock Ensemble band as a studio album, incorporating 20 minutes that was previously cut. As Hemmings died in 2003, the narration is voiced by actor Peter Egan. Released on 20 November 2012, the new album is packaged with a one-off magazine published by Classic Rock and a copy of the 1974 Royal Festival Hall concert program.
https://youtu.be/q9g10wdemd8 : full album/concert
https://youtu.be/8wFag3o10wg : The Journey:
2012 re-recording:
1. "Preface to the Journey" 1:11
2. "The Journey Overture" 2:25
3. "Journey's Dawn" 3:38
4. "Crystals" 0:33
5. "The Gothic Cathedral" 1:07
6. "A Quest for Water" 1:18
7. "The Hansbach" 2:54
8. "Fervent Prayer" 0:41
9. "The Recollection" 2:32
10. "Lost & Found" 0:43
11. "Echoes" 3:49
12. "4 Miles" 0:18
13. "The Reunion" 2:40
14. "A New Vista" 0:50
15. "A World Within a World" 2:13
16. "The Raft" 1:06
17. "The Battle" 5:55
18. "Cumulus Clouds" 0:38
19. "The Storm" 2:01
20. "The Cemetery" 1:28
21. "Quaternary Man" 4:49
22. "Mastodons" 0:55
23. "The Forest" 2:30
24. "Ages Of Man" 1:55
25. "The Tunnel" 1:53
26. "Hall of the Mountain King" 0:52
27. "Mount Etna" 3:12
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Wakeman's equipment:
3 Mellotrons
2 Minimoog synthesisers
Grand piano
Hammond organ
Rhodes electric piano
RMI electric piano
Hohner clavinet
Honky-tonk piano
Additional musicians:
Gary Pickford-Hopkins – vocals
Ashley Holt – vocals
Mike Egan – electric guitar
Roger Newell – bass guitar
Barney James – drums
David Hemmings – narration
David Measham – conductor
London Symphony Orchestra
English Chamber Choir
Source and more info: Wikipedia
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