1984 (Rick Wakeman album)

April 2022 1984 studio Rick Wakeman 1984 Charisma.jpg 19 June 1981 23 February–14 April 1981 Morgan, London Progressive rock 45 36 Charisma Rick Wakeman The Burning 1981 Rock 'n' Roll Prophet 1982 1984 Album Julia July 1981 Robot Man November 1981 AllMusic 4 5album r108902 yes 1984 Overview AllMusic 29 April 2011 1984 is a studio album by the English keyboardist Rick Wakeman, released in June 1981 on Charisma Records. After reforming his band The English Rock Ensemble in 1980 and completing a European tour, Wakeman entered a recording deal with Charisma and began preparing material for a studio album. He decided on a concept album based on the dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. The lyrics are by Tim Rice. The album received a warm reception, and peaked at No. 24 on the UK Albums Chart. Wakeman promoted it further with a world tour throughout 1981. Recording After leaving Yes in early 1980, Wakeman resumed his solo career and reformed his band, the English Rock Ensemble, and completed a European tour. For his next project, Wakeman secured a recording deal with Charisma Records which granted him an advance and without a deadline to complete an album.http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/rick-wakeman-in-1984/3626 Rick Wakeman in 1984 December 1981 Electronics & Music Maker Muzines Mike Beecher 2 April 2018 Wakeman estimated the album took around two-and-a-half years to produce from conception to completion. It stemmed from his longtime wish of working with other musicians, blend electronic keyboards with an orchestra and choir, and to write an album based on the future rather than historical concepts. He chose to make a concept album based on the 1949 dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. Despite thinking the book was "lousy", Wakeman adapted it with a more lighthearted approach. He encountered some difficulty with the lyrics as he was unable to write a set that he liked. The music was written during breaks in touring, including a period of time at his home in Beaulieu-sur-Mer near Monaco. He then got Tim Rice to make them more suitable for the songs he was writing. To sing them, Wakeman enlisted a group of vocalists which he thought suited the various tracks on the album, and was able to get his first choice each time. The album was recorded between 23 February–14 April 1981 at Morgan Studios in London, with Wakeman as the sole producer. It was then cut at Townhouse Studios. Upon completion, the album cost short of £100,000 to make. At the time of recording Wakeman knew what keyboards he wanted to use and ordered some models from Korg, but they failed to arrive in time. Instead, he used a mix of his own instruments with rented or borrowed equipment. Wakeman said the finished product contains just one tape edit which occurs towards the end of "1984" so a better take could be inserted. A tape reversal effect occurs on "Robot Man" with a series of arpeggios and Wakeman's then three-year-old son banging things on the piano. "Julia" was written during a difficult time that Wakeman and his then wife Danielle were going through. Wakeman added: "I was very low, but the result was that I wrote 'Julia' straight off in just a few minutes. I really wrote it for my wife". Wakeman dedicated the album to his late father Cyril, who died in 1980. The album's launch party was held on the platform at Aldwych tube station on 11 June 1981.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109933870/rick-wakeman-1984-1981/ Keeping 'em off the rails Unknown Evening Standard 11 June 1981 19 Newspapers.com 21 September 2022 Track listing Side one Lead vocals 1984 Overture" a) "Part One" b) "Part Two" c) "War Games Rick Wakeman, Tim Rice Chaka Khan 10:57 Julia Wakeman, Rice Khan 4:45 Hymn Wakeman, Rice Jon Anderson 3:13 The Room (Brainwash) Wakeman 4:16 Side two Lead vocals Robot Man Wakeman, Rice Khan, Kenny Lynch 3:55 Sorry Wakeman 3:18 No Name Wakeman, Rice Steve Harley 3:06 Forgotten Memories Wakeman 2:57 Proles Rice Wakeman, Rice 3:32 1984 Wakeman 6:28 Personnel Credits adapted from the 1981 and 1994 edition of the album.https://www.discogs.com/Rick-Wakeman-1984/release/458500 1984 1981 Charisma Records 6302 136https://www.discogs.com/Rick-Wakeman-1984/release/2309174 1984 1994 Griffin Music GCDWR-160 Music Rick Wakeman – piano, Prophet-5, Prophet 10, RMI synthesiser, Hammond organ, Oberheim OB-X 1 synthesiser, Mini-moog synthesiser, Yamaha CS80 synthesizer, string machine, Synclavier synthesiser Steve Barnacle ( "Boghead") – Fender bass guitar Tim Stone (a.k.a. "Beaky") – guitar Tony Fernandez – drums Gary Barnacle – selmer saxophone Frank Ricotti – Ludwig drums Chaka Khan – vocals Kenny Lynch – vocals Steve Harley – vocals Tim Rice – vocals Jon Anderson – vocals Production Rick Wakeman – production Mark Ellis (a.k.a. "Flood") – tape operator Mike Babak (a.k.a. "Albert") – engineer Tim Rice – lyrics Charts Chart (1981) Peakposition Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)Kent David David Kent (historian) Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 illustrated Australian Chart Book St Ives, N.S.W. 1993 0-646-11917-6 10Norway 36 Soundtrack / Rick Wakeman 1984 true October 5, 2023UK2 24 19810628 true October 5, 2023 References Category:1981 albums Category:Albums with cover art by Hipgnosis Category:Charisma Records albums Category:1980s concept albums Category:Music based on Nineteen Eighty-Four Category:Rick Wakeman albums Category:Albums recorded at Morgan Sound Studios