Rock 'n' Roll Prophet

Rock n' Roll Prophet
Studio album by
Rick Wakeman
ReleasedDecember 1982[1]
Recorded1979
StudioMountain, Montreux, Switzerland
GenreProgressive pop, synth-pop, novelty
LabelMoon
ProducerRick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman chronology
1984
(1981) 		Rock n' Roll Prophet
(1982) 		Cost of Living
(1983)
Singles from Rock n' Roll Prophet
  1. "I'm So Straight I'm A Weirdo"
    Released: February 1980 (UK)[2]

Rock n' Roll Prophet is a 1982 album by English musician Rick Wakeman. The album was recorded at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland,[3] and was released by Moon Records.

Production

As well as playing keyboards, Wakeman provided lead vocals for three tracks ("I'm So Straight I'm a Weirdo", "Maybe '80" and "Do You Believe in Fairies")[4] – the only album on which his singing appears besides Rhapsodies, which features his singing on the opening song "Pedra De Gavea".[5] Due to his association with progressive rock (being the antithesis of then-popular punk rock), Wakeman wanted the album to be released under a pseudonym – his suggestion being "KUDOS". It was, however, released under his own name, which he called "a big mistake".[3]

The album was re-released in 1991 by President Records as Rock 'n' Roll Prophet Plus, containing four bonus tracks. These tracks were recorded at Wakeman's own[6] Bajanor Studios on the Isle of Man, and were mixed by Stuart Sawney. The re-release was mastered at Abbey Road Studios.[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[8]
Discogs[9]

Rock 'n' Roll Prophet has gained largely negative reviews, with comments describing the album as "goofy",[4] "novelty" and "crap".[10] McGlinchey does, however, recognise that the album was largely produced as a tongue-in-cheek project and that "the humour on [the] release is intentional".[10]

AllMusic described the album as sounding similar to The Buggles,[4] with Wakeman corroborating their influence by stating that the album was an attempted spoof.[3] Wakeman's vocals are also described as "serviceable but not strong" – with the instrumentals "not up to [his] highest standards".[4] Ground and Sky likened the album to "someone gleefully pressing the self-destruct button on whatever credibility they previously had managed to accrue as a music artist."[10]

Wakeman, however, has commented that he likes the analogue sounds and production on the album,[3] and that the album was "little ahead of its time [and] a little off the wall".[7]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Rick Wakeman

Original LP

  1. "I'm So Straight I'm a Weirdo" – 3:54
  2. "The Dragon" – 3:34
  3. "Dark" – 5:07
  4. "Maybe '80" – 5:27
  5. "Early Warning" – 3:34
  6. "Spy of 55" – 5:07
  7. "Do You Believe in Fairies?" – 4:29
  8. "Rock 'n' Roll Prophet" – 4:40

1991 re-release

  1. "Return of the Prophet" – 6:03
  2. "I'm So Straight I'm a Weirdo" – 3:54
  3. "The Dragon" – 3:34
  4. "Dark" – 5:07
  5. "Alpha Sleep" – 6:00
  6. "Maybe '80" – 5:27
  7. "March of the Child Soldiers" – 6:05
  8. "Early Warning" – 3:34
  9. "Spy of 55" – 5:07
  10. "Stalemate" – 5:55
  11. "Do You Believe in Fairies?" – 4:29
  12. "Rock 'n' Roll Prophet" – 4:40

Personnel

Technical

References

  1. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 878. ISBN 9780862415419.
  2. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 878. ISBN 9780862415419.
  3. ^ a b c d Wakeman, Rick; Smith, Wayne. "Rock n Roll Prophet (1982)". Discography. Rick Wakeman's Communications Centre. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d Raiteri, Stephen (2009). "Rock & Roll Prophet Plus". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  5. ^ Wakeman, Rick; Smith, Wayne. "Albums". Discography. Rick Wakeman's Communications Centre. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  6. ^ Miller, Jonathan (November 1995). "Rick Wakeman: Cirque Surreal". Sound on Sound. SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  7. ^ a b Wakeman, Rick; Smith, Wayne. "Rock n Roll Prophet Plus (1991)". Discography. Rick Wakeman's Communications Centre. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  8. ^ Allmusic review
  9. ^ Discogs review
  10. ^ a b c McGlinchey, Joe (15 March 2003). "Rick Wakeman: Rock n' Roll Prophet Plus". Ground and Sky. Prog Reviews. Retrieved 9 January 2010.