Insert your own punchline to the album cover here. Rock N' Roll Prophet was recorded in 1979, originally released in December 1982, and then expanded for CD reissue with an additional 4 tracks recorded in the 1990s (hence the "Plus"). As you might be able to deduce, for once the humor on this release is intentional, and so I can't be too hard on it. Actually, for its three vocal tracks alone, with a rare glimpse of Wakeman himself on lead, Prophet Plus is something of a guilty pleasure.That being said, it's also one of the best examples I can think of for someone gleefully pressing the self-destruct button on whatever credibility they previously had managed to accrue as a music artist. The original liner notes on the LP said "It's making an album of music such as this that really lets you know who your friends are." Amen to that, brother. Solely considering production value, Prophet sounds on the level of demo work, and I refuse to believe anyone would release something of this quality as an 'Album' album, and expect to be taken seriously. But, while navigating through the solo works of Rick Wakeman, one learns very quickly that serious is a relative word.
When I heard such fare as "Return of the Prophet" (which you might be very surprised to learn is Wakeman soloing over pedestrian chords), I thought he had succeeded in doing the impossible: writing not one-dimensional instrumentals, but zero-dimensional instrumentals. So, let's just say all of these are crap, because they certainly are, and cut to the chase: the vocal tracks. Ahh...but what can I really say? Novelty at its purest. "I'm So Straight I'm a Weirdo" according to the CD liner notes, actually entered a Top 50 chart of some sort, although no more detail is provided so it's unclear whether we're talking the U.K. Billboard or Dr. Demento. Put this one together with the legendary "Do You Believe in Fairies?" and you have two rather sizeable jaw-droppers, not just in Wakeman's discography, but perhaps progressive rock in general. My words can scarcely do 'em justice, so I'll just say that you really should hear these goofy gems for yourself to believe them. I mean, They Might Be Giants couldn't come up with this shit if they tried, and that's all they've been trying to do for the past twenty years.
But how is Rick as a lead vocalist, you ask? Ironically, I find him more tolerable than everyone else he's ever hired for the position. Not a strong voice by any means, but at least down-to-earth, smooth, and sometimes in key. You could do worse — just ask Steve Howe. Still, if you ever manage to get this album, give a listen to, say, the execrable "Spy of '55," which sounds like early Roxy Music recording a short joke track in the studio after a night of heavy drinking. Then ponder on this staggering thought: about five years earlier, Wakeman was selling out huge concert arenas with critical acclaim and full-fledged orchestras and choirs at his disposal. O thou joyous plummet of Icarus-like intensity!
review by Joe McGlinchey — 2-15-03 —
