Any attempt to gauge whether Rick Wakeman has more compilations out there than Yawni may induce a migraine. Now Voiceprint's new budget-priced series Sixty Minutes With is in the race, and if there are any Wake-noobs left, this ten-tracker's a worthwhile entry. What's on the menu? Two sterling compositions from the landmark Six Wives Of Henry VII in "Jane Seymour" and "Catherine Howard"; the boppin' title cut — with lead vocal by one Chaka Khan — from 1984; "Merlin" and "Election/Arthur" from Myths & Legends Of King Arthur; the super-cool instrumental arrangement of "Starship Trooper/Wurm" from Fields Of Green that still figures into the Caped One's live performances. Post-millennial output is represented by "Dancing On Snowflakes" from White Rock II, and "Universe Of Sound" from Out There, when Damian Wilson was still singing for Rick's band, the New English Rock Ensemble. Quite a solid overview, rounded out by yet two more cuts. But why not "Ice Run" from the first White Rock? That's a corker of an instrumental, and there are two more sides' worth from Criminal Record, that 1978 masterpiece from which a single note cannot be found on this set. Well, such is the norm. That's not to say there isn't a full pot of symphonic keyboard bombast present here. Nevertheless, the unitiated are better directed to acquisition of the initials detailed above — particularly the aforementioned
Criminal Record.
Tracklist:
1. Jane Seymour (4:30)
2. 1984 (6:25)
3. Julia (4:40)
4. Dancing On Snowflakes (3:10)
5. Universe Of Sound (7:40)
6. Election/Arthur (3:02)
7. Merlin The Magician (7:10)
8. She's Leaving Home (5:12)
9. Starship Trooper/Wurm (12:16)
10. Catherine Howard (7:50)
Total time – 62:46