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The Six Wives of Henry VIII
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work
The Six Wives of Henry VIII · Rick Wakeman was offered a solo record when he was playing with Yes in 1971 and had previously been with the Strawbs. He had no band, no lyrics and few ideas. During an American tour he bought a book about Henry VIII and his six wives. That is how he found the common thread: each piece is a musical portrait of one of the wives. The record is instrumental and was made in 1972 at Morgan and Trident Studios in London, with guests from Yes and the Strawbs.
He combined piano, organ, harpsichord and synthesizers, and left each musician room for their own interpretation. Anne of Cleves is free in form, and Anne Boleyn ends with a small choir singing a hymn without words. The label at first thought the record too difficult to sell. Even so, the album reached number seven in the United Kingdom in January 1973.
Listening
Track list
- 1Catherine of Aragon3:49Apple Music ↗
- 2Anne of Cleves7:53Apple Music ↗
- 3Catherine Howard6:38Apple Music ↗
- 4Jane Seymour4:50Apple Music ↗
- 5Anne Boleyn "The Day Thou Gavest Lord Hath Ended"6:36Apple Music ↗
- 6Catherine Parr7:07Apple Music ↗
30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗