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The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table · In the summer of 1974 Rick Wakeman lay in hospital after three mild heart attacks. A specialist advised him to stop performing, but he began writing that very evening. As a boy he had lived for five months on a farm in Cornwall, close to where, according to legend, Arthur's castle stood. That gave him the idea for a concept album about King Arthur. He sang his first ideas into a cassette recorder.

Recording took place from October 1974 to January 1975 at Morgan Studios in London, with his band, the New World Orchestra and the English Chamber Choir. The Last Battle was the first piece he wrote in hospital. The album received good reviews, although some called it an example of the excess of progressive rock. In England it reached number two. In 1975 three sold-out shows at Wembley followed, staged as an ice show.

Listening

Listening tip. In Merlin the Magician, listen to the theme with which the piece begins and to how it later becomes heavier. In this way Wakeman portrayed an old man with his potions, and then the mad professor in his cellar.

Track list

  1. 1Arthur7:32Apple Music ↗
  2. 2Lady of the Lake0:46Apple Music ↗
  3. 3Guinevere6:49Apple Music ↗
  4. 4Sir Lancelot and the Black Knight5:25Apple Music ↗
  5. 5Merlin the Magician8:50Apple Music ↗
  6. 6Sir Galahad5:52Apple Music ↗
  7. 7The Last Battle9:45Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

Categories: Albums and songs