Rick Wakeman

Keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman is one of the most talented and influential musicians and composers to have graced the world of popular music. He is also one of the most prolific, with more than 100 albums to his credit. The 1970s, however, was Rick’s most significant decade; one in which he regularly topped magazine polls, staged extravagant concerts and released several highly successful albums, including a UK number one in Journey To The Centre of The Earth.


Rick’s professional career began as a highly respected session musician where he played on hundreds of recordings, including many hit singles and songs by David Bowie, Elton John, Cat Stevens and Lou Reed, amongst many others. He was also a member of the folk rock band Strawbs and played a key role in the International success of progressive rock pioneers Yes.


In addition to tracing Rick’s career trajectory throughout the 1970s, this book examines in detail his recorded output during the period, including nine solo albums, six albums with Yes and two with Strawbs. As such, this is the most comprehensive guide yet to the music of this extraordinary musician during this most pivotal decade in rock history.

Geoffrey Feakes is an author and music journalist. He has published four previous books, The Moody Blues On Track, The Who On Track, Steve Hackett On Track and 1973: The Golden Age of Progressive Rock. He has been a writer for the Dutch Progressive Rock Page since 2005, with hundreds of reviews and interviews to his credit. He lives in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, UK and when he’s not writing, he spends a good deal of time listening to music, including contemporary progressive rock.