Return to the Centre of the Earth

Return to the Centre of the Earth is a concept album by Rick Wakeman. This work is a sequel to Journey to the Centre of the Earth, an earlier album by Wakeman released in 1974.

Infobox Album
Name = Return to the Centre of the Earth
Type = Studio Album
Artist = Rick Wakeman

Released = 1999
Recorded = 1998-99
Genre = Progressive rock
Length = 76:51
Label = EMI Classics
Producer = Rick Wakeman
Reviews = * Allmusic Rating|1.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:3jfwxqujldke link]
Last album = Themes
(1998)
This album = Return to the Centre of the Earth
(1999)
Next album = The Natural World Trilogy
(1999)

Track listing

# A Vision (2:34)
# The Return Overture (2:39)
# Mother Earth (3:48)
## The Shadow of June
## The Gallery
## The Avenue of Prismed Light
## The Earthquake
# Buried Alive (Ozzy Osbourne vocal) (6:01)
# The Enigma (1:18)
# Is Anybody There? (Bonnie Tyler vocal) (6:35)
# The Ravine (0:49)
# The Dance of a Thousand Lights (5:41)
# The Shepherd (2:01)
# Mr. Slow (Tony Mitchell vocal) (3:47)
# Bridge of Time (1:12)
# Never is a Long, Long Time (Trevor Rabin vocal and guitar) (5:19)
# Tales from the Lidenbrook Sea (2:57)
## River of Hope
## Hunter and Hunted
## Fight for Life
# The Kill (5:23)
# Timeless History (1:10)
# Still Waters Run Deep (Justin Hayward vocal) (5:21)
# Time Within Time (2:39)
## The Ebbing Tide
## The Electric Storm
# Ride of Your Life (Katrina Leskanich vocal) (6:01)
# Floating (1:59)
## Globes of Fire
## Cascades of Fear
# Floodflames (2:00)
# The Volcano (2:10)
## Tongues of Fire
## The Blue Mountains
# The End of the Return (5:23)

Live Performances

The world premiere performance of the album was in Trois-Rivières, Quebec on June 30th, 2001. Performing with Wakeman were The English Rock Ensemble, his son Adam on keyboards, guitarist Ant Glynne, bass player Lee Pomeroy, and drummer Tony Fernandez.

The album was performed in its entirety on July 15 2006 on the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City. Wakeman was accompanied by an all-star 45-pieces symphonic orchestra conducted by Gilles Bellemare, the Vocalys Ensemble (a 20 persons choir), the English Rock Ensemble, various vocal guests including Jon Anderson, Annie Villeneuve and Vincent Marois and a narration from Guy Nadon. All this garmented by a large set of giant screens, fireworks and lights. Wakeman has stated that this show was the highlight of his career.

Personnel

* Rick Wakeman - keyboards
* Justin Hayward, Katrina Leskanich, Tony Mitchell, Ozzy Osbourne, Trevor Rabin, Bonnie Tyler - vocals
* Patrick Stewart - narration
* Fraser Thorneycroft-Smith - guitar
* Phil Williams - bass
* Simon Hanson - drums
* London Symphony Orchestra - David Snell, conductor
* The English Chamber Choir - Guy Protheroe, conductor

Charts

References

* [http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=4504 RICK WAKEMAN Return to the Center of the Earth reviews and MP3 @ progarchives.com] retrieved 5-5-07