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From the Vault...
01/30/2011
#1240 |
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info
Rick Wakeman
"Can You Hear Me"
© Hope Records
Year of Release: 2001
Rating:
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track listing
Hymn Of Hope
A Little Piece Of Heaven/
Part Of The Crowd
Stay With Me
The Answer
Believe Me
A Cry Without Tears
Why Keep Hiding/
Running Away
I Can't Hear You
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Rick Wakeman
"Can You Hear Me"
Rick Wakeman returns this week, with an album of Christian/Spiritual themes, Can You Hear Me. Interesting
to learn, that most of the songs from this release were from previous Christian-inspired albums. "I Can Hear You",
"Stay With Me," "The Answer" and "A Cry Without Tears" were originally from Wakeman's album Prayers.
These songs were remixed with additional guitars and choir for Can You Hear Me. "Hymn Of Hope" was
originally titled "The Battle Hymn" and was from the Softsword release. Additional guitars and keyboards
were added, with its new name, and also appeared on the album Prayers. For Can You Hear Me this song
was given another remix of the guitars, and the English Chamber Choir was added.
"New" songs for Can You Hear Me were "Why Keep Hiding/Running Away," "A Litle Piece Of Heaven/Part Of The
Crowd" and "Believe Me." All musical arrangements were by Rick Wakeman. The vocalist heard on most of the
songs were by Chrissie Hammond.
The instrumental "Hymn Of Hope" is very powerful in sound, and can easily be used for a movie soundtrack.
Wakeman's highly skilled piano is exceptionally beautiful on "A Little Piece Of Heaven," which merges into a
Rock sound heard on "Part Of The Cloud."
Chrissie Hammond provides the vocals on these three Christian/Spiritual songs: "Stay With Me," "The Answer"
and "A Cry Without Tears." All three of these songs are soothing, in the Christian/Spiritual mood. "Believe
Me" (vocals by Chrissie Hammond) has more of a Christian Rock atmosphere. On that topic of Rock, Chrissie Hammond's
vocals, and the Rock sound of "Why Keep Hiding/Running Away" is a reminder of what the band Survivor would sound
like, if they pointed into the Christian Rock direction. Even the last track, "I Can Hear You" can be compared
to Survivor, and another band, which WSVNRadio promoted from its Hall of Fame, the band Sweet Crystal.
Can You Hear Me is definitely a powerful, Christian album. Who is Chrissie Hammond? A truly inspiring singer
in her own right, she has recorded numerous albums with Rick Wakeman, and her vocals has a slight resemblence to the band
Survivor, and their musical style. Hammond's work with Rick Wakeman: Phantom Power, Softsword, Prayers, No Expense
Spared, Light Up The Sky, Cirque Surreal, Can You Hear Me, Vignettes, Fields Of Green, Themes. She does have other
albums, in which she teamed up with Adam Wakeman (Rick's son), on Soliloquy. She also was in the band, Cheetah, with
her sister Lyndsay Hammond.
Each song is powerful in their own rights as well. Rick Wakeman has proved beyond recognition, being a musical
genius. He has covered many and interesting sources of music: Rock (most famous with the band Yes), Classical,
and Christian. One day I would love to create a weekly radio show, covering Wakeman's career. It would be very
interesting, to hear how his musical horizons has developed and expanded throughout the decades. He still records
albums as of 2011. Can You Hear Me is a powerful album, with its Rock and Spiritual tracks. Visit his website,
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Hope Records
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