The Six Wives of Henry VIII received generally positive reviews from critics. It reached number vii on the U.K. Albums Chart as well as number thirty on the Billboard 200 inward the United States. It was certified golden yesteryear the Recording Industry Association of America inward 1975 for over 500,000 copies sold inward the United States. In 2009, Wakeman performed the album inward its entirety for the inaugural of all fourth dimension alive at Hampton Court Palace every bit purpose of the 500th anniversary celebration of Henry's accession to the throne. The tracks were rearranged amongst sections, including a rails dedicated to Henry himself, that were left off the original album due to the express fourth dimension available on a unmarried record. The album was reissued inward 2015 amongst a quadraphonic audio mix as well as bonus tracks.
In August 1971, Rick Wakeman joined the progressive stone band Yes every bit a replacement to their original keyboardist Tony Kaye. Towards the halt of the year, he signed a five-album bargain every bit a solo creative individual amongst A&M Records. While touring the US amongst Yes on their Fragile Tour promote Fragile (1971), Wakeman was informed yesteryear his managing director Brian Lane that A&M co-founder as well as executive Jerry Moss wished to consider him at A&M Studios inward Los Angeles. Moss wished for Wakeman to tape a solo album as well as offered an advance of $12,500, around £4,000, to make it which Wakeman accepted. As purpose of his signing on fee, Wakeman received a 1957 Cadillac limousine from A&M which he claimed was ane time owned yesteryear Clark Gable as well as had it shipped to England. Wakeman chose it afterwards the label asked him what he would desire every bit a nowadays as well as remembered he had seen the automobile inward the building's parking lot.
During the Fragile Tour, Wakeman bought 4 books at an aerodrome bookstall inward Richmond, Virginia, including ane close Henry VIII as well as his 6 wives titled The Private Life of Henry VIII (1964) yesteryear Scottish author Nancy Brysson Morrison. As he read close Anne Boleyn on the subsequent flying to Chicago, a subject he recorded inward Nov 1971 ran through his hear which he wrote on some manus drawn ledger lines as well as played during the audio banking enterprise jibe as well as the subsequent concert. Said Wakeman, "I had been searching for a mode to write inward as well as all of a abrupt I establish it inward writing music close these 6 ladies...I would concentrate on ane of the wives as well as hence music only came into my caput as well as I would write it down. Sometimes I was flying, other times I was on stage, or only inward front end of the pianoforte at abode ... The 6 wives subject gave me the thread, the link, I needed to give me a argue for putting these pieces of music together." He explains the album's concept farther inward its liner notes: "The album is based around my interpretations of the musical characteristics of the wives of Henry VIII. Although the mode may non e'er last inward keeping amongst their private history, it is my personal excogitation of their characters inward relation to keyboard instruments." Wakeman elaborated as well as wrote the music every bit if he was doing a surreal painting, "sketches of how I felt close them at the time".
Not alone did this album assist pave the means for progressive rock, but it besides introduced the unbridled liberate energy as well as overall effectiveness of the synthesizer every bit a bona fide instrument. Six Wives gave Wakeman his hazard to interruption away from the other instrumental complexities that made upwards Yes as well as allowed him to evidence what a driving forcefulness the keyboard could genuinely be, specially inward amount album form. More than only synthesized wandering, Wakeman astoundingly conjures upwards a divide musical persona yesteryear means of an instrumental ode to each of Henry VIII's wives through his dazzling utilization of the Mellotron, Moog, as well as Hammond C-3 organ. For example, Wakeman's fiery runs as well as fortissimo thwarting of the synthesizer throughout "Anne Boleyn" is a tribute to her feisty temper as well as valiant courage that she maintained patch standing upwards to her husband. With "Jane Seymour," on the other hand, Wakeman's playing is somewhat subdued as well as gentle, which coincides amongst her legendary meekness as well as frailty, every bit good every bit her willingness to cater to Henry VIII. Wakeman's masterful utilization of his synthesizers is instrumentally stunning, every bit is his talent of magically shaping the notes to stand upwards for behavioral idiosyncrasies of his characters. Yes bassist Chris Squire lends a manus on "Catherine of Aragon," patch guitarist Steve Howe as well as drummer Bill Bruford appear on a few tracks every bit well, every bit does quondam Strawbs fellow member Dave Cousins, playing the electrical banjo. The Six Wives of Henry VIII unleashes the unyielding ability of the keyboard every bit a dominant instrument, but besides displays Wakeman at the outset of an extremely resplendent career every bit a solo musician.
It says inward the fine impress of Rick Wakeman's inaugural of all solo album that the music is "based around [my] interpretations of the musical characteristics of the wives of Henry VIII." The thought for the album came from the mass of the same name, which Yes' Wakeman purchased at a London airport. He writes that the music for each of Henry's wives came flowing within his caput every bit he read close them. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 flake apocryphal perhaps, but champaign Wakeman establish what he was looking for -- a subject through which he could reveal his keyboard virtuosity. He overdubbed viii of them: Mini-Moog synthesizer, mellotron amongst brass as well as string effects, a Steinway Grand piano, some other mellotron amongst vocalism effects, C-3 Hammond organ, RMI electrical piano, Arp synthesizer as well as a Thomas Goff harpsichord.
Placing himself inward the middle of these diverse keyboards, Wakeman created a synthesized orchestra. Along amongst a musical rhythm department oft composed of Yes' Chris Squire on bass, Steve Howe on guitar as well as the group's latterly acquired drummer Alan White, he used the electrical pianoforte to bring the house of strings, the electrical harpsichord to supplant the audio of reeds, as well as the Arp to supplant a contra bassoon.
With this album, Wakeman has made his bid for Keith Emerson's house every bit the master copy of keyboard electronics. Though falling a picayune curt inward technique, he has a brilliant experience for tasteful impressionistic composition. For example, "Catherine Of Aragon," at inaugural of all sounds similar ELP's "Tarkus," but evolves into a to a greater extent than melodic cutting featuring some human choral operate yesteryear Liza Strike, Barry St. John as well as Judy Powell.
The brightest spot on the album is "Catherine Howard," which contains at to the lowest degree 4 fourth dimension changes as well as some amazing interplay betwixt mellotron, harpsichord, Moog as well as acoustic piano.
Henry VIII is an exceptionally interesting instrumental album. The production is superb, the mixing tasteful amongst hardly an uncomfortable studio effect. In fact, most of what nosotros would commonly mean value of every bit effects are the production of Wakeman's ain playing which is only fine.
Track Listing:
1. Catherine of Aragon (3:45)
2. Anne of Cleves (7:50)
3. Catherine Howard (6:36)
4. Jane Seymour (4:44)
5. Anne Boleyn (Incl. 'The Day Thou Gavest Lord Hath Ended') (6:31)
6. Catherine Parr (7:00)
Total Time: 36:36
Personnel:
- Rick Wakeman / Steinway grand piano, RMI electrical piano, Hammond C3 organ, acoustic & electrical harpsichord, Mini-Moog, ARP synthesizer, Mellotron 400D, Cripplegate St. Giles church building organ (4), arrangements & production
With:
- Mike Egan / guitar (1,2,5,6)
- Steve Howe / guitar (1)
- Dave Lambert / guitar (3)
- David Cousins / electrical banjo (3)
- Chris Squire / bass (1)
- Dave Winter / bass (2,6)
- Chas Cronk / bass (3)
- Les Hurdle / bass (1,5)
- Bill Bruford / drums (1,5)
- Alan White / drums (2,4,6)
- Barry de Souza / drums (3)
- Ray Cooper / percussion (1,5)
- Frank Ricotti / percussion (2,3,6)
- Judy Powell / chorus (1)
- Barry St.John / chorus (1)
- Liza Strike / chorus (1,5)
- Laura Lee / chorus (5)
- Sylvia McNeill / chorus (5)
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