Off this evening to see Mr Rick Wakeman CBE. Not a tribute act and billed as 'The Return of the Caped Crusader' himself. 

I have lots of previous notes and links to many tracks (mostly Yes) and more recently (the Strawbs), so what to choose was the question. Then I checked tonight's tickets, which says "Six Wives & King Arthur", so it had to be something from these records.  

I found a video from a 1975 production of Rick Wakeman in 'The Myths and Legends of King Arthur' - A Pageant on Ice - featuring his six-strong band the English Rock Ensemble (ERE), narrator Terry Taplin, conductor David Measham and the 46-strong New World Symphony Orchestra, chorusmaster Guy Protheroe and the English Chamber Choir, and the Nottingham Festival vocal group. And taking the performing personnel up to 130 or so, what the programme notes described as ‘a host of ice stars'. 
Mid-70s progressive rock had a reputation for pomposity, grandiosity and excess all areas. Rick who funded the three shows at Wembley Empire Pool, was quoted as saying "Everyone thinks I'm crackers"! Though all the shows were a sell out they ultimately lost money.

A review in music paper 'Sounds' revealed sound problems and they weren't to complimentary, feeling the ice skaters stole the show. "Guinevere looked appropriately ethereal as she gracefully navigated the arena, while ERE singers Ashley Holt and Gary Pickford Jones sang a particularly soppy ode in her honour; and nobody fell over."

The clip I found is of 'Guinevere' (Patricia Pauley skating) from King Arthur on Ice. 

Not expecting such an extravaganza this evening, but should be fun, knowing Rick.

 

FYI: I unearthed a copy of the 16 page Programme of the Show. (click to view)

As I had so many other videos I though some extras might work well this coming midweek ...

to follow

  

As this is birthday week, today's Star Track is for the birthday girl. One of Margaret's favourite tracks is 'At Last' by Etta James. 

It's a song written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the 1941 musical 'Sun Valley Serenade'. Glenn Miller and his orchestra recorded the tune several times, with a 1942 version reaching No.2 on the US Billboard chart.

In 1960, R&B singer Etta James recorded an arrangement by Riley Hampton that improvised on Warren's original melody. It was the title track of her debut album and has become her signature song.