The Six Wives of Henry VIII

The Six Wives of Henry VIII
Studio album by Rick Wakeman
Released	1973
Recorded	Feb 1972 - Oct 1972
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	36:36
Label	A&M
Producer	Rick Wakeman
Professional reviews
Allmusic link
Rick Wakeman chronology
Piano Vibrations (1971) The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1973) Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1974)

The Six Wives of Henry VIII is the title of a 1973 concept album by progressive rock keyboard player Rick Wakeman. It was his first solo album released in the US, though several other members of the band Yes, to which Wakeman belonged at the time, appeared on various tracks. As he did with Yes, Wakeman plays a variety of keyboard instruments on the album. The album performed respectably on the charts, and is viewed as one of Wakeman's strongest solo works.

The music has little to do with Henry VIII's six wives. Wakeman explains the title and visual themes in the liner notes:

This album is based around my interpretations of the musical characteristics of the wives of Henry VIII. Although the style may not always be in keeping with their individual history, it is my personal conception of their characters in relation to keyboard instruments.

Track listing

All tracks were composed by Rick Wakeman, except for the hymn at the end of track 5, which the album sleeve credits to E.J. Hopkins^[1] with arrangement by Wakeman. On "Anne Of Cleves" there are several musical references to other songs by different artists and origins, most notably The Hollies "Bus Stop" and traditional Latin American song "Cumbanchero" (starting at 3:30 on the track).

Live performances

During live performances, each member of Yes was given time for solo works, and Wakeman frequently performed sections from this album live. Excerpts from the album (mostly "Catherine of Aragon") appear on a single track of Yes' triple live album Yessongs, interspersed with pieces of other works, including the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah. In the Yessongs video, he instead added a jazzy version of "Jingle Bells." Rick fulfilled a life-long ambition by performing the album, in whole, at Hampton Court Palace on 1st & 2nd May 2009, which has been released on the live album and DVD, The Six Wives of Henry VIII: Live at Hampton Court Palace.

Side one

1. "Catherine of Aragon" – 3:44
2. "Anne of Cleves" – 7:53
3. "Catherine Howard" – 6:35

Side two

1. "Jane Seymour" – 4:46
2. "Anne Boleyn (The Day Thou Gavest Lord Hath Ended)" – 6:32
3. "Catherine Parr" – 7:06

Musicians

• Rick Wakeman: Grand Piano, Organs, Electric Piano, Harpsichords, Synthesisers & Mellotron (Melloton tapes sets include Sound Effects, Vibes, Brass, Strings, Flutes, Choir)

Bass Guitar:

• Dave Winter (tracks 2 & 6)
• Chris Squire (track 1)
• Chas Cronk (track 3)
• Les Hurdle (tracks 1 & 4)

Guitar:

• Mike Egan (tracks 1, 2, 5 & 6)
• Dave Lambert (track 3)
• Steve Howe (track 1)

Drums:

• Alan White (tracks 2, 4 & 6)
• Bill Bruford (tracks 1 & 5)
• Barry de Souza (track 3)

Percussion:

• Ray Cooper (tracks 1 & 5)
• Frank Ricotti (tracks 2-4)

Electric Banjo:

• Dave Cousins (track 3)

Vocals:

• Liza Strike (tracks 1 & 5)
• Laura Lee (track 5)
• Barry St. John (track 1)
• Sylvia McNeill (track 5)
• Judy Powell (track 1)

Sleeve design

The photograph for the front cover of the sleeve was taken at Madame Tussaud's in London. The figure of Richard Nixon can be seen behind the left most figure because the curtain behind the exhibit was not fully closed.

The inner sleeve of the vinyl issue features Wakeman surrounded by his equipment: 2 Mini-Moog Synthesizers, 2 400-D Mellotrons (one for vocals, sound effects, and vibes; the other for brass, strings, and flutes), a frequency counter, a custom mixer, a Steinway 9' grand piano, a custom-built Hammond C-3 organ and an RMI electric piano. Also featured, but not photographed, were an ARP synthesiser and a Thomas Goff harpsichord.

Footnote

1. ^  The tune incorporated into the end of track five is "St. Clement," which is the traditional tune to which the hymn "The Day Thou Gavest, Lord is Ended," by John Ellerton, is sung. Contrary to the acknowledgement on the album sleeve, this tune was composed by Clement Cotterill Scholefield.