Journey To The Centre Of The Earth (live album) by Rick Wakeman

Rick Wakeman has a very distinctive style that can't be mistaken. The great thing with this is that he himself doesn't over dominate the musical score, hence making the result a very enjoyable album.

I was 18 when Journey To The Centre Of The Earth first echoed through my radio. I thought it was an amazing concept album and I fell in love with it...so much so, that even now, nearly 50 years later I get a shiver down my spine when I hear certain musical/voicing elements. I still have the album in my top 100 of all time - but that could have a lot to do with sentiment (but then again, ain't that what music does to us - makes us sentimental for time that have long since passed?).
I still have vivid memories of a spine tingling sensation when I was sitting in row C, seat 12 of the Hordern Pavilion, Sydney on 13 February 1975 and Rick Wakeman begin playing the opening sequence to this album.

The opening track is a huge sound with choir, orchestra, timpani and spiralling synths. The second part of the opening track could be a Classical Christmas Overture, things then calm down for the vocal introduction. The narration fits the music perfectly and as it is introduced each time, the music fades back. For those interested in keyboards (and RW had a few) there is some great Mini Moog noodling on this album. Equally there are some really cheesy keyboard sounds like the harpsichord sound. Great concept album.