Lisztomania (album)
Lisztomania is a soundtrack album by English keyboardist Rick Wakeman, released in November 1975 on A&M Records. It features Wakeman's score for Ken Russell's film Lisztomania, itself a biography of the Hungarian composer Franz Liszt.
Lisztomania | ||||
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Soundtrack album by | ||||
Released | November 1975 | |||
Recorded | 1975 | |||
Studio | Mobile studios from Island and RAK Studios[1] | |||
Genre | Progressive rock | |||
Length | 32:12 | |||
Label | A&M | |||
Producer | Rick Wakeman | |||
Rick Wakeman chronology | ||||
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Some tracks feature The Who's Roger Daltrey singing lead vocals. The album was later upgraded as The Real Lisztomania by Wakeman because he was dissatisfied with the original release.
Background
By April 1975, Wakeman was asked to compose much of the score for Lisztomania, a contemporary biography of the Hungarian composer Franz Liszt directed by Ken Russell.[2] An initial cut and master was produced by Wakeman which his label, A&M Records, declared unsatisfactory. This only complicated matters further between Wakeman and A&M as the two parties had disagreed over aspects of his earlier albums, The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1973) and Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1974). This led A&M to produce a cut of its own and without Wakeman's approval, which contained less of his music and annoyed the keyboardist upon hearing what A&M had selected for release.[3]
Reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [4] |
When Allmusic rated the album they said "The soundtrack to Ken Russell's movie provided Wakeman with a canvas upon which to work his magic (or do his damage—it depends upon one's attitude) upon the music of Franz Liszt and, to a lesser degree, Richard Wagner. Actually, much of what is here is more substantial than the material on Journey or Myths and Legends, which can be attributed largely to the composers' contributions."[5]
Track listing
Side one
- "Rienzi/Chopsticks Fantasia" (Richard Wagner/Ferenc Liszt) - 4:20
- "Love's Dream" (Liszt/ lyrics: Roger Daltrey) - 4:25 - vocal: Roger Daltrey
- "Dante Period" (Liszt) - 2:05
- "Orpheus Song" (Liszt/ lyrics: Jonathan Benson, Roger Daltrey) - 3:10 - vocal: Roger Daltrey
- "Hell" (Liszt/ translation: John Forsythe) - 1:59 - vocal: Linda Lewis
Side two
- "Hibernation" (Rick Wakeman) - 1:11
- "Excelsior Song" (Liszt/ lyrics: Wakeman, Ken Russell) - 2:32 - vocal: Paul Nicholas
- "Master Race" (Wagner) - 0:45
- "Rape, Pillage and Clap" (Wagner) - 3:09
- "Funerailles" (Liszt/ lyrics: Jonathan Benson) - 3:48 - vocal: Roger Daltrey
- "Free Song (Hungarian Rhapsody)" (Liszt) - 1:57
- "Peace at Last" (Liszt/ lyrics: Jonathan Benson, Daltrey) - 2:59 - vocal: Roger Daltrey
Charts
Chart (1975) | Position |
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Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] | 85 |
Personnel
Musicians
- Rick Wakeman - keyboards
- David Wilde - piano
- National Philharmonic Orchestra - Orchestra
- The English Rock Ensemble - Band
Technical
- Bill Curbishley, Brian Lane - executive production
- Roland Young - art direction
- Junie Osaki - design
References
- https://www.discogs.com/Rick-Wakeman-Lisztomania/release/778016
- Welch, Chris (5 April 1975). "Rick Wakeman: Next Stop – The Gods". Melody Maker. Retrieved 20 September 2019 – via Rock's Backpages.
- https://www.discogs.com/Rick-Wakeman-The-Real-Lisztomania/release/9061503
- Eder, Bruce (2011). "Lisztomania - Rick Wakeman | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- http://www.allmusic.com/album/lisztomania-soundtrack-album-mw0000372527
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 282. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.