Rick Wakeman – 1984(1981)

Biography
Richard Christopher “Rick” Wakeman is an English keyboardist, songwriter, television and radio presenter, and author. He is best known for being in the progressive rock band Yes across five tenures between 1971 and 2004 and for his solo albums released in the 1970s. Wakeman pursued solo projects in the 1980s that varied in levels of success; his most successful album was 1984, released in 1981, which was followed by his minor pop hit single, “Glory Boys”, from Silent Nights (1985).  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Wakeman

Album & Cover
1984 is a concept album by British keyboardist Rick Wakeman, based on the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. Tim Rice wrote the lyrics. From Rick’s Perspective this was  “The wrong album at the wrong time, with all the wrong people around at the time. To do an orchestral rock concept album at a musical time when I probably couldn’t even have got a job as a piano tuner was nigh on suicidal. I formed the wrong band, (the worst I have ever had), the deal for the stage show fell through and all in all I listen back to the music with my head in my hands. True there are some good moments, but my personal life was such a mess at the time that I should have run away rather than run into the studio!”

Ian Wright was an assistant to George Hardie before setting up his own studio in 1981, doing work for the music paper New Musical Express(NME), The Face magazine, and many other projects such as, Givenchy, Bjork, and Pete Townshend. https://www.instagram.com/misterianw/

Cover Location: Hipgnosis Studio, London, UK.
Who Did What: Illustration – I. Wright. Cover Design – Hipgnosis.
Label: Charisma CDS4022(UK)
Source: Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art, The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue: Aubrey Powell

Tracklist

Credits
Bass – Steve Barnacle
Drums – Frank Ricotti
Guitar – Tim Stone
Lyrics By – Tim Rice
Producer – Rick Wakeman
Saxophone – Gary Barnacle, Tony Fernandez