On January 20, 2025, John James Sykes died aged 65, He was musician (guitar) and singer, recorded with Rick Wakeman, Tony Ashton, Phil Lynott, Derek Sherinian, Hughes Turner, Streetfighter and Def Leppard, but was best known as leader of the band Blue Murder, and member of Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy and Tygers of Pan Tang. As leader, Sykes released five albums.
Tag Archives: Rick Wakeman
David Bowie: The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And Spiders From Mars
On June 16, 1972, “RCA” label released “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars”, the fifth David Bowie studio album. It was recorded July – November 1971, February 1972, at “Trident Studios” in London, and was produced by Ken Scott and David Bowie. Magazine “Rolling Stone” placed “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” at number 40 on its list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
Personnel:
- David Bowie – vocals, acoustic guitar, saxophone, pennywhistle, string arrangements
- Mick Ronson – electric guitar, keyboards, autoharp, backing vocals, string arrangements
- Trevor Bolder – bass guitar
- Woody Woodmansey – drums; congas
- Rick Wakeman – harpsichord
- Dana Gillespie – backing vocals
- Ken Scott – engineer, mixing
Track listing:
All tracks by David Bowie, except where noted.
- Five Years
- Soul Love
- Moonage Daydream
- Starman
- It Ain’t Easy – Ron Davies
- Lady Stardust
- Star
- Hang On to Yourself
- Ziggy Stardust
- Suffragette City
- Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide
Alan White
On May 26, 2022, Alan White died aged 72. He was musician (drums, percussion), performed and recorded with John Lennon, George Harrison, Terry Reid, Donovan, The Ventures, Joe Cocker, Ginger Baker’s Air Force, Gary Wright, Jesse Davis, Paul Kossoff, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, Eddie Harris, Gary Wright, Chris Squire, Johnny Harris and Alan Price, but was best known as drummer of Yes. As leader, he released one album. In 2017, White was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, as a member of Yes.
Al Stewart: Past, Present and Future
In October 1973, “CBS” label released “Past, Present and Future”, the fifth Al Stewart studio album. It was recorded in April 1973, at “Trident Studios” in London, and was produced by John Anthony.
Personnel:
- Al Stewart – vocals, acoustic guitar
- Tim Renwick – electric guitar
- Peter Berryman – acoustic guitar
- Isaac Guillory – acoustic and classical guitar
- B.J. Cole – steel guitar
- Peter Wood – keyboards, piano, accordion
- Rick Wakeman – piano, keyboards
- Tim Hinkley – keyboards
- Bob Andrews – keyboards
- Bob Sargeant – keyboards
- Francis Monkman – Moog synthesizer
- Alistair Anderson – English concertina
- Bruce Thomas – bass
- Brian Odgers – bass
- John Wilson – drums
- Frank Ricotti – percussion
- Roger Taylor – percussion
- Richard Hewson – string arrangements
- Haim Romano – mandolin
- Dave Swarbrick – mandolin
- Luciano Bravo – steel band
- Lennox James – steel band
- Michael Oliver – steel band
- Krysia Kocjan – backing vocals
- John Donelly – backing vocals
- Mick Welton – backing vocals
- Kevin Powers – backing vocals
- Mike “Clay” Stone – engineer
- Mario Grattarola – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Al Stewart.
- Old Admirals
- Warren Harding
- Soho (Needless to Say)
- The Last Day of June 1934
- Post World War Two Blues
- Roads to Moscow
- Terminal Eyes
- Nostradamus
Clive Nolan & Oliver Wakeman: Jabberwocky
On January 25, 1999, “Verglas Music” label released “Jabberwocky”, the first of two albums by Clive Nolan and Oliver Wakeman. It was recorded in 1998, at “Thin Ice Studios” in Surrey, UK, and was produced by Clive Nolan and Karl Groom.
Personnel:
- Clive Nolan – keyboards, engineer
- Oliver Wakeman – keyboards
- Pete Gee – fretless bass
- Ian Salmon – guitar, bass
- Peter Banks – guitars
- Jon Jeary – acoustic guitar
- Tony Fernandez – drums
- Bob Catley as The Boy
- Tracy Hitchings as The Girl
- James Plumridge as The Jabberwock
- Paul Allison as The Tree
- Rick Wakeman – The Narrator
- Michelle Young, Michelle Gulrajani, Suzanne Chenery, Tracy Hitchings, Sian Roberts, John Jowitt, Dave Wagstaffe, Donald Morrison, Ian Gould, John Mitchell, Tina Riley, Clive Nolan – the choir
- Karl Groom – engineer
- Matt Goodluck – design, layout
- Rodney Matthews – artwork
Track listing:
All tracks by Clive Nolan and Oliver Wakeman.
- Overture
- Coming to Town
- Dangerous World
- The Forest
- A Glimmer of Light
- Shadows
- Enlightenment
- Dancing Water
- The Burgundy Rose
- The Mission
- Call to Arms
- Finale
Strawbs: From the Witchwood
In July 1971, “A&M” label released “From the Witchwood”, the fourth Strawbs album. It was recorded February – March 1971, at “Air Studios” in London, and was produced by Tony Visconti.
Personnel:
- Dave Cousins– lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, dulcimer, banjo, recorder
- Tony Hooper– lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar, autoharp, tambourine
- Rick Wakeman– piano, organ, celeste, mellotron, Moog synthesizer, clavinet, harpsichord
- John Ford– lead and backing vocals, bass guitar
- Richard Hudson– lead and backing vocals, drums, sitar
- Bill Price– engineer
- Alan Harris – engineer
- John Punter– engineer
- Chris Michie – engineer
Track listing:
All tracks by Dave Cousins, except where noted.
- A Glimpse of Heaven
- Witchwood
- Thirty Days – John Ford
- Flight – Richard Hudson
- The Hangman and the Papist
- Sheep
- Cannon Dale – Richard Hudson
- The Shepherd’s Song
- In Amongst the Roses
- I’ll Carry On beside You
Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe: Same
On June 20, 1989, “Arista” label released the self – titled, debut and the only Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe album. It was recorded 1988 – 1989, at “La Frette Studios” in Paris, “AIR Studios” in Montserrat, British West Indies, “AIR Studios” in London, and was produced by Jon Anderson and Chris Kimsey.
Personnel:
- Jon Anderson– lead vocals
- Bill Bruford– Tama acoustic drums, Simmons SDX electronic drums
- Rick Wakeman– keyboards
- Steve Howe– guitars
- Tony Levin– vocals, bass, Chapman stick
- Matt Clifford – vocals, keyboards, programming, orchestration
- Milton McDonald– rhythm guitar
- The Oxford Circus Singers – Deborah Anderson, Tessa Niles, Carol Kenyon, Frank Dunnery
- M.C. Singers – Jon, Matt, Chris
- Emerald Isle Community Singers
- In Seine Singers
- “Texas” Joe Hammer – percussion programming
- Chris Kimsey– engineer
- Chris Potter – engineer
- Giles Sampic – engineer
- Rupert Coulson – engineer assistant
- George Cowen – engineer assistant
- Steve Orchard – engineer assisatnt
- Michael Barbiero– mixing
- Steve Thompson – mixing
- George Cowan – mixing assistant
- Olivier Bloch-Laine – assistant
- Bob Ludwig– mastering
- Roger Dean– artwork, painting, design
- Martyn Dean – stage design consultant
- Chris Ranson – group technician
Track listing:
All tracks by Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, and Bill Bruford, except where noted.
- Themes
- SoundThe
- Second Attention
- Soul Warrior
- Fist of Fire
- Brother of Mine
- The Big Dream
- Nothing Can Come Between Us
- Long Lost Brother of Mine – Geoff Downes
- Birthright – Max Bacon
- The Meaning
- Quartet
- I Wanna Learn
- She Gives Me Love – Ben Dowling
- Who Was the First
- I’m Alive
- Teakbois
- Order of the Universe
- Order Theme
- Rock Gives Courage – Rhett Lawrence
- It’s So Hard to Grow
-
- The Universe
Days Between Stations: In Extremis
On August 15, 2013, Days Between Stations self released “In Extremis”, band’s second album.
Personnel:
- Sepand Samzadeh– synthesizer, guitar
- Oscar Fuentes – synthesizer, piano, acoustic guitar
- Peter Banks – 2nd lead and rhythm guitar
- Billy Sherwood– lead vocals, drums
- Matt Bradford – dobro
- Tony Levin– bass
- Rick Wakeman- keyboard solo
- Colin Moulding- lead vocals
- Ali Nouri – tar solo
- Jeffery Samzadeh – sonati vocals
- The Barbershop Quartet – Pat Claypool, Matt Gray, Eric Orr, David Rakita
- Chris Tedesco and The Angel City Orchestra
- Paul Whitehead – artwork, layout
Track listing:
All music by Sepand Samzadeh and Oscar Fuentes. All lyrics by Sepand Samzadeh, Oscar Fuentes and Billy Sherwood.
- No Cause For Alarm
- In Utero
- Visionary
- Blackfoot
- The Man Who Died Two Time
- Waltz In E Minor
- Eggshell Man
- In Extremis
- Part I: Mass
- Part II: On The Ground
- Part III: A Requiem
- Part IV: Writing on Water
- Part V: Overland
- Part VI: Traveler
Days Between Stations: In Extremis
On May 15, 2013, Days Between Stations self released “In Extremis”, bands second album. It was recorded 2012 – 2013, and was produced by Sepand Samzadeh and Oscar Fuentes.
Personnel:
- Colin Moulding- lead vocals
- Sepand Samzadeh– synthesizer, guitar
- Oscar Fuentes – synthesizer, piano, acoustic guitar
- Peter Banks – 2nd Lead and rhythm guitar
- Matt Bradford – dobro
- Tony Levin– bass
- Rick Wakeman– keyboards
- Jeffery Samzadeh – sonati vocals
- Ali Nouri – tar solo
- Billy Sherwood– lead vocals, drums
- The Barbershop Quartet – Pat Claypool, Matt Gray, Eric Orr, David Rakita
- Chris Tedesco & The Angel City Orchestra
- Paul Whitehead – artwork, layout
Track listing:
All music by Sepand Samzadeh and Oscar Fuentes, all lyrics by Sepand Samzadeh, Oscar Fuentes and Billy Sherwood.
- No Cause For Alarm
- In Utero
- Visionary
- Blackfoot
- The Man Who Died Two Times
- Waltz In E Minor
- Eggshell Man
- In Extremis
- Part I: Mass
- Part II: On The Ground
- Part III: A Requiem
- Part IV: Writing on Water
- Part V: Overland
- Part VI: Traveler
Al Stewart: Orange
On January 1, 1972, “CBS” label released “Orange”, the fourth Al Stewart album. It was recorded in September 1971, at “Trident Studios” in London, and was produced by John Anthony.
Personnel:
- Al Stewart – vocals, guitar, keyboards
- Tim Renwick– guitar
- Cal Batchelor – guitar
- Brinsley Schwarz– guitar
- Tim Walker – Spanish guitar
- Rick Wakeman– keyboards
- Bob Andrews– keyboards
- Brian Odgers – bass
- Bruce Thomas– bass
- Graham Hunt – drums
- Roger Pope – drums
- John Wilson– drums
- Kevin Powers – backing vocals
- John Donnelly – backing vocals
- Mick Welton – backing vocals
- David Hentschel– engineer
Track listing:
All tracks by Al Stewart, except where noted.
- You Don’t Even Know Me
- Amsterdam
- Songs Out of Clay
- The News from Spain
- I Don’t Believe You – Bob Dylan
- Once an Orange, Always an Orange
- I’m Falling
- Night of the 4th of May
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