“The Six Wives of Henry VIII” is the second studio album
by the English keyboardist Rick Wakeman, released in January 1973 on A&M
Records. It is an instrumental progressive rock album with its concept based on
his interpretations of the musical characteristics of the six wives of Henry
VIII. After signing with A&M as a solo artist, Wakeman decided on the
album's concept during a tour of the United States as a member of the rock band
Yes. As he read a book about the subject on his travels, melodies he had written
the previous year came to him and were noted down. Musicians from Yes and from
Strawbs, the group Wakeman was in prior to Yes, also play on the album.
“The Six Wives of Henry VIII” received mostly positive reviews from critics. It reached number 7 on the UK Albums Chart and number 30 on the Billboard 200 in the United States. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1975 for over 500,000 copies sold in the United States. In 2009, Wakeman performed the album in its entirety for the first time live at Hampton Court Palace as part of the 500th anniversary celebration of Henry's accession to the throne. The tracks were rearranged with sections, including a track dedicated to Henry himself, that were left off the original album due to the limited time available on a single record. The album was reissued in 2015 with a quadraphonic sound mix and bonus tracks.
“The Six Wives of Henry VIII” received mostly positive reviews from critics. It reached number 7 on the UK Albums Chart and number 30 on the Billboard 200 in the United States. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1975 for over 500,000 copies sold in the United States. In 2009, Wakeman performed the album in its entirety for the first time live at Hampton Court Palace as part of the 500th anniversary celebration of Henry's accession to the throne. The tracks were rearranged with sections, including a track dedicated to Henry himself, that were left off the original album due to the limited time available on a single record. The album was reissued in 2015 with a quadraphonic sound mix and bonus tracks.
“The Six Wives of Henry VIII” este al doilea album de
studio al organistului englez Rick Wakeman, lansat in ianuarie 1973 la A&M
Records. Este un album de rock progresiv instrumental cu o conceptie bazata pe
interpretarile lui referitoare la caracteristicile musicale ale celor sase
sotii ale lui Henry VIII. Dupa ce a semnat cu A&M ca artist solo, Wakeman
s-a hotarat la conceptul albumului in timpul unui turneu in Statele Unite ca
membru al trupei Yes. Cum citise cartea despre subiect in calatoriile lui,
melodiile pe care le scrisese anul anterior au revenit si au fost notate.
Muzicieni de la Yes si Strawbs, grupul Wakeman, fiind anterior in Yes, au
cantat de asemenea pe album.
“The Six Wives of Henry VIII” a primit mai mult cronici bune de la criticii muzicali. A atins locul 7 in UK Albums Chart si locul 30 in Billboard 200 in Statele Unite. A fost certificat cu aur de RIIA in 1975 pentru peste 500.000 de copii vandute in Statele Unite. In 2009 Wakeman a cantat albumul in intregime live pentru prima oara, la celebrarea a 500 de ani de la urcarea pe tron a lui Henry VIII. Piesele au fost rearanjate cu sectiuni, incluzand o piesa dedicata lui Henry insusi, piesa la care s-a renuntat pe albumul original datorita timpului limitat disponibil pentru o singura inregistrare. Albumul a fost relansat in 2015 cu sunet quadraphonic si cu piese bonus.
“The Six Wives of Henry VIII” a primit mai mult cronici bune de la criticii muzicali. A atins locul 7 in UK Albums Chart si locul 30 in Billboard 200 in Statele Unite. A fost certificat cu aur de RIIA in 1975 pentru peste 500.000 de copii vandute in Statele Unite. In 2009 Wakeman a cantat albumul in intregime live pentru prima oara, la celebrarea a 500 de ani de la urcarea pe tron a lui Henry VIII. Piesele au fost rearanjate cu sectiuni, incluzand o piesa dedicata lui Henry insusi, piesa la care s-a renuntat pe albumul original datorita timpului limitat disponibil pentru o singura inregistrare. Albumul a fost relansat in 2015 cu sunet quadraphonic si cu piese bonus.
List of tracks
Side 1
1. "Catherine
of Aragon" 3:44
2. "Anne
of Cleves" 7:53
3. "Catherine
Howard" 6:35
Side 2
1. "Jane
Seymour" 4:46
2. "Anne
Boleyn 'The Day Thou Gavest Lord Hath Ended'" 6:32
3. "Catherine
Parr" 7:06
Personnel
Rick Wakeman – 2 Minimoog synthesisers, 2 400-D
Mellotrons (one for vocals, sound effects and vibes; the other for brass,
strings and flutes), frequency counter, custom mixer, Steinway 9' grand piano,
custom-built Hammond C-3 organ, RMI electric piano and harpsichord, ARP
synthesiser, Thomas Goff harpsichord, church organ at St
Giles-without-Cripplegate, portative organ.
Additional musicians
Bill Bruford – drums on "Catherine of Aragon"
and "Anne Boleyn"
Ray Cooper – percussion on "Catherine of
Aragon" and "Anne Boleyn"
Dave Cousins – electric banjo on "Catherine Howard"
Chas Cronk – bass guitar on "Catherine Howard"
Barry de Souza – drums on "Catherine Howard"
Mike Egan – guitar on "Catherine of Aragon",
"Anne of Cleves", "Anne Boleyn", and "Catherine
Parr"
Steve Howe – guitar on "Catherine of Aragon"
Les Hurdle – bass guitar on "Catherine of
Aragon" and "Anne Boleyn"
Dave Lambert – guitar on "Catherine Howard"
Laura Lee – vocals on "Anne Boleyn"
Sylvia McNeill – vocals on "Anne Boleyn"
Judy Powell – vocals on "Catherine of Aragon"
Frank Ricotti – percussion on "Anne of Cleves",
"Catherine Howard", and "Catherine Parr"
Chris Squire – bass guitar on "Catherine of
Aragon"
Barry St. John – vocals on "Catherine of
Aragon"
Liza Strike – vocals on "Catherine of Aragon"
and "Anne Boleyn"
Alan White – drums on "Anne of Cleves",
"Jane Seymour", and "Catherine Parr"
Dave Wintour – bass guitar on "Anne of
Cleves" and "Catherine Parr
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