Rick WAKEMAN

The Six Wives Of Henry VIII

(1973)

1. Catherine Of Aragon 3'47
(Rick Wakeman)
2. Anne Of Cleves 7'55
(Rick Wakeman)
3. Catherine Howard 6'38
(Rick Wakeman)
4. Jane Seymour 4'51
(Rick Wakeman)
5. Anne Boleyn: The Day Thou Gavest Lord Hath Ended 6'37
(Rick Wakeman)
6. Catherine Parr 7'04
(Rick Wakeman)

Total Time: 36:52

  • Rick Wakeman - Mini Moog Synthesizer, Custom Mixer, Freqency Counter, Steinway 97 Grand Piano, Custom Built, Hammond C-3 Organ, RMI Electric Piano and Harpsichord, Mellotron 400-D
  • Mike Egan - Guitar (1, 2, 5, 6)
  • Steve Howe - Guitar (1)
  • Dave Lambert - Guitar (3)
  • Les Hurdle - Bass (1, 5)
  • Dave Winter - Bass (2, 6)
  • Chris Squire - Bass (1)
  • Chas Cronk - Bass (3)
  • Alan White - Drums (2, 4, 6)
  • Bill Bruford - Drums (1, 5)
  • Barry de Souza - Drums (3)
  • Ray Cooper - Percussion (1, 5)
  • Frank Riccotti - Percussion (2, 3, 6)
  • Dave Cousins - Electric Banjo (3)
  • Liza Strike - Vocals (1, 5)
  • Barry St. John - Vocals (1)
  • Judy Powell - Vocals (1)
  • Laura Lee - Vocals (5)
  • Sylvia McNeill - Vocals (5)

    Written and Produced by Rick Wakeman
    Michael Doud - Art Director
    Ken Carroll - Design
    Front Cover Photograph by Bruce Rae at     Madame TUSSAUDS
    Rian O'Lochlainn - Inside

    All Songs Published by RONDOR MUSIC

    "Catherine Of Aragon" was Engineered and Mixed by Ken Scott at TRIDENT STUDIOS, London
    "Anne Boleyn" was Engineered by Ken Scott at MORGAN STUDIOS, London
    and Mixed by Dave Henshall at TRIDENT STUDIOS
    All the remaining Tracks were Engineered and Mixed by Paul Tregortha at MORGAN STUDIOS
    Assistant Engineer - Pete Flanagan

    Recorded between February and October 1972.

    "Catherine Of Aragon", under another title predating The Six Wives concept, was originally recorded with Squire / Howe / Bruford for Wakeman's solo spot on Fragile. However, licensing issues meant it could not be used and it was re-used here with further overdubs from Hurdle / Egan / Cooper.

    This Album is based around my interpretation of the musical characteristic of the wives of Henry VIII.
    Although the style may not always be in keeping with their characters in relation to keyboard instrument. Rick

    In addition to the above instruments a Thomas Goff Harpsichord and A.R.P. Synthesizer were used.
    All Songs put through two Stereo Leslies, Fender Dual Showman Amp and two JBL Cabinets.
    Also used a custom built Oscillator Fuzz & Wahwah Pedal and Binson Echo Unit, Keyboards & Amplification set up by John Cleary, Michael Tait, Phillip Hepple, Claude Johnson Taylor.
    The organ on "Jane Seymour" was Recorded at St. GILES, Cripplegate.

    Catherine of Aragon

    Born 1485. Married 1509.
    Divorced 1533. Died 1536

    The Youngest child of Ferdinand and Isobella of Spain. She was intelligent, accomplished and spirited although not a ravishing beauty. Henry, anxious for a son to continue the dynasty, ordered her to leave the court after 18 years of marriage and having borne a daughter. She spent her last years in lonelinnes and sorrow. Player and her deep-seated faith sustained her, She died three weeks after her 50th birthday.


    Anne of Cleves

    Born 1515. Married 1540.
    Divorced 1540. Died 1557

    She came from the ducal court of Disseldorf and was schooled in the domestic arts which made her unfamiliar with the world Of music and books, which played such a large part in Henry's life. As the Holbein portrait shows, she was neither a captivating beauty nor entirely without appeal. When Catherine Howard appeared it became apparent that the king wanted to free himself from Anne and the po litkal and personal obligations therein. It took six months to untie the knot Anne graciously accepted the honorary title "King's Sister" and the property that was her compensation, living in comfortable obscurity until 1557.


    Catherine Howard

    Born 1521. Married 1540.
    Executed 1542

    A day, nigh spirited girl, free with her favours and possesing uninhibited behaviour. Her precence in the Queen's entourage undoubtedly accelerated the nullification of the Cleves marriage. Catherine was patently adored by her loving and devoted spouse who showered her with gifts and pampered her in every way. Fine clothes and flattery she enjoyed; as well as the privileges that belonged to her as queen. Her promiscuous life behing the king's back shattered his idyll. She was revealed as a deceiver who had played with his affections and dishonoured bis crown. She was beheaded in the tower on 13 February 1542.


    Jane Seymour

    Born 1509. Married 1536.
    Died 1537

    I was the very contrast to Anne that appealed to Henry. Jane was calm, meek and gentle and ready to submit to her sovereign's will, In October 1537 Henry received the son, Prince Edward, he had so ardently desired. Although she never recovered from this birth, she was treated more kindly by posterity and was lovingly remembered as the mother of Henry's son. She is the only wite to share his grave.


    Anne Boleyn

    Bora 1502. Married 1532.
    Executed 1536

    Educated in France, Ànne came to the court of King Henry in 1521 where she gained popularity with the younger men. She was of middling stature, long neck, with beatiful dark eyes. In 1533 she was crowned as queen. Eater that year she gave birth to a girl - her first and greatest failure. Anne's quick temper and savage tongue broke the spell that once had hound Henry to her. She was executed 19 May 1536.


    Catherine Parr

    Born 1512. Married 1543.
    Died 1548

    A well educated lady who could discourse with the foremost scholars of the day. She kept her personal protestant sympathies to herself white Henry was alive. Twice widowed when she married the king, she became as much a nurse to him as a wife. She knew how to humour him, ease his pain and soothe his spirits. Although Catherine had her enemies she managed to bring to the royal family a degree of harmony it bad scarcely known before. She survived her spouse and married Thomas Seymour, and died shortly after giving birth to his child.