Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record

Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record is the seventh studio album by English keyboardist Rick Wakeman, released in November 1977 on A&M Records. The album was recorded in Montreux, Switzerland after Wakeman rejoined Yes in late 1976 as they were making Going for the One. With its concept loosely based on criminality, the album is an instrumental progressive rock record with the exception being "The Breathalyser", in which Bill Oddie provides vocals. Bassist Chris Squire and drummer Alan White of Yes also play on three tracks.

Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record
Studio album by
Rick Wakeman
ReleasedNovember 1977 (1977-11)
RecordedApril–June 1977
StudioMountain, Montreux, Switzerland
Genre
Length39:04
LabelA&M
ProducerRick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman chronology
White Rock
(1977)		 Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record
(1977)		 Rhapsodies
(1979)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Variety(favourable)[2]

The album received some mixed reviews upon release, and reached No. 25 in the UK. In 2006, the album was remastered as a limited edition with 5,000 copies produced.

Production

Wakeman did not start work on the album until recording for Going for the One was complete as he realised that making a band and a solo album simultaneously was not feasible.[3] With members of Yes and the production crew still in Montreux after the album had been done, Wakeman felt it was the right time to start work on a new solo album for A&M Records, to whom he was signed as a solo artist. Yes bassist Chris Squire asked Wakeman about the project during a visit in the White Horse pub in Montreux, and learned that the keyboardist intended to produce an album with its concept based on criminality and revealed its title.[3] At the time, Wakeman wished for the album to feature a band playing, but wanted to do "something completely different this time around" and pointed out that typically, the keyboard tracks got put down last after the group had played their parts, leaving the keyboards fighting for space around the pre-recorded music. Wakeman, however, wished for Criminal Record to be similar to his first, The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1973), and be an album where the keyboards take precedent.[3]

With the concept settled upon, Wakeman proceeded to record the album at Mountain Studios with John Timperley as the engineer and mixer and Dave Richards as assistant engineer. Wakeman wished to put down his keyboard parts first, followed by bass guitar and drums. Squire and Yes drummer Alan White agreed to play the respective parts, and are featured on side one of the album: "Statue of Justice", "Crime of Passion", and "Chamber of Horrors". However, instead of giving Squire and White preconceived music or ideas on what to play, Wakeman told the pair to record what they wanted on top of the keyboards, thereby giving them complete control of what they played. He added: "I deliberately didn't go anywhere near the studio. [...] The first time I heard it was after about ten days, I can't even remember where I went. I didn't even stay in Switzerland!"[3] After Richards informed Wakeman of the completion of the bass and drum parts, Wakeman returned to the studio and enjoyed listening back to the songs transformed as it felt like he was listening to them for the first time. He remembered White called him "some gynaecological term" as the music continually varied in pace and he had refused to use a click track due to his distaste of them. Wakeman praised Squire in particular as he contributed some interesting ideas and parts that he had not thought of.[3] With the keyboard, bass, and drum parts down, Wakeman brought in Frank Ricotti to add timpani and tuned percussion, and comedian Bill Oddie of The Goodies fame to record a humorous, tongue in cheek lyric for "The Breathalyser", both in the course of a day.[4][3]

Looking back on the album, Wakeman recalled A&M Records "couldn't understand it" and continue to hold some dissatisfaction towards it.[5][3]

Release

In 2006, Hip-O Select released a limited, numbered edition (5000 copies) compact disc, the first CD issue of the album ever available outside Japan. The album has subsequently been re-issued on CD by Real Gone Music.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Rick Wakeman.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Statue of Justice"6:20
2."Crime of Passion"5:46
3."Chamber of Horrors"6:40
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Birdman of Alcatraz"4:12
2."The Breathalyser"3:51
3."Judas Iscariot"12:15

Chart performance
Chart (1977–78) Peak
position
Norway[6] 19
UK Albums Chart[7] 25
US Billboard 200[8] 128

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's sleeve notes.[4]

Music

  • Rick Wakeman – Steinway 9' grand piano, Minimoog synthesiser, Polymoog synthesiser, Hammond C3 organ, Birotron, Mander pipe organ at St. Martin's church in Vevey, RMI computer keyboard, harpsichord, Fender Rhodes 88 electric piano, Hohner clavinet, Baldwin electric harpsichord, church organ[5]
  • Chris Squire – bass guitar on "Statue of Justice", "Crime of Passion", and "Chamber of Horrors"
  • Alan White – drums on "Statue of Justice", "Crime of Passion", and "Chamber of Horrors"
  • Frank Ricotti – percussion on "Statue of Justice", "Crime of Passion", "Chamber of Horrors", and "Judas Iscariot"
  • Bill Oddie – vocals on "The Breathalyser"

Production

  • Rick Wakeman – production
  • Ars Laeta Choir of Lausanne – choir on "Judas Iscariot"
  • Robert Mernoud – conductor on "Judas Iscariot"
  • John Timperley – engineer, mixing
  • Dave Richards - assistant engineer on "Statue of Justice", "Crime of Passion", and "Chamber of Horrors", mixing
  • Chuck Beeson – visual concept, design
  • Roland Young – art direction
gollark: Also maybe posted anonymously on pastebin earlier this year along with several fake ones but I doubt it.
gollark: For security it's only on that one workstation in my cube.
gollark: I don't have that either.
gollark: They're pulled from the internet and books and stuff.
gollark: Also, none of those are things **I** said.

References
  1. DeGagne, Mike. "Rick Wakeman: Criminal Record". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
  2. "Music Records: EW&F, Midler, Boz, Wakeman, Crosby-Nash, Allman-Cher, Van, Rawls, Genesis Top New LPs". proquest.com. Vol. 298 no. 4. Variety. November 30, 1977. p. 58.
  3. Morse, Tim (21 March 2003). "Conversation with Rick Wakeman [NFTE #275]". Notes from the Edge. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  4. Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record (Media notes). Wakeman, Rick. A&M Records. 1977. SP-4660.CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. "Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record (1977)". Rick Wakeman's Communication Centre. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  6. http://tsort.info/music/3rbt8v.htm
  7. http://www.officialcharts.com/search/albums/white%20rock/
  8. https://www.billboard.com/music/rick-wakeman/chart-history/TLP
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