Rock 'n' Roll Prophet

Rock n' Roll Prophet
Studio album by Rick Wakeman
Released	1982
Recorded	1979
Genre	Progressive rock, synthpop
Label	Moon Records
Producer	Rick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman chronology
1984 (1981) Rock 'n' Roll Prophet (1982) Cost of Living (1983)

Rock n' Roll Prophet is a 1982 album by Rick Wakeman. The album was recorded at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland,^[1] and was released by Moon Records.

The album was re-released in 1991 by President Records as Rock 'n' Roll Prophet Plus, containing four bonus tracks. These tracks were recorded at Wakeman's own^[2] Bajanor Studios on the Isle of Man, and were mixed by Stuart Sawney. The re-release was mastered at Abbey Road Studios.^[3]

As well as playing keyboards, Wakeman provided lead vocals for three tracks ("I'm So Straight I'm a Weirdo", "Maybe '80", and "Do You Believe in Fairies")^[4] – the only album on which his singing appears.^[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[6]
Discogs	[7]

Rock 'n' Roll Prophet has gained largely negative reviews, with comments describing the album as "goofy",^[4] "novelty" and "crap".^[8] McGlinchey does, however, recognise that the album was largely produced as a tongue-in-cheek project and that "the humour on [the] release is intentional".^[8]

Due to his association with progressive rock (being the antithesis of punk rock), Wakeman wanted the album to be released under a pseudonym – his suggestion being "KUDOS". It was, however, released under his own name, which he called "a big mistake".^[1] AllMusic described the album as sounding similar to The Buggles,^[4] with Wakeman corroborating their influence by stating that the album was an attempted spoof.^[1] Wakeman's vocals are also described as "serviceable but not strong" – with the instrumentals "not up to [his] highest standards".^[4] Ground and Sky likened the album to "someone gleefully pressing the self-destruct button on whatever credibility they previously had managed to accrue as a music artist".^[8]

Wakeman, however, has commented that he likes the analogue sounds and production on the album,^[1] and that the album was "little ahead of its time [and] a little off the wall".^[3]

Track list

LP

1. "I'm So Straight I'm a Weirdo" – 3:54 - released as a UK single (1980)
2. "The Dragon" – 3:34
3. "Dark" – 5:07
4. "Maybe '80" – 5:27
5. "Early Warning" – 3:34
6. "Spy of 55" – 5:07
7. "Do You Believe in Fairies?" – 4:29
8. "Rock 'n' Roll Prophet" – 4:40

1991 re-release

1. "Return of the Prophet" – 6:03
2. "I'm So Straight I'm a Weirdo" – 3:54
3. "The Dragon" – 3:34
4. "Dark" – 5:07
5. "Alpha Sleep" – 6:00
6. "Maybe '80" – 5:27
7. "March of the Child Soldiers" – 6:05
8. "Early Warning" – 3:34
9. "Spy of 55" – 5:07
10. "Stalemate" – 5:55
11. "Do You Believe in Fairies?" – 4:29
12. "Rock 'n' Roll Prophet" – 4:40

Personnel

• Rick Wakeman – Keyboards, vocals and production
• Lilianne Lauber – Backing vocals
• Gaston Balmer – Percussion
• Dave Richards – Engineering
• Martin Pursey – Executive producer
• Stuart Sawney – Engineering (CD bonus tracks)

References

1. Wakeman, Rick; Smith, Wayne. "Rock n Roll Prophet (1982)". Discography. Rick Wakeman's Communications Centre. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
2. Miller, Jonathan (November 1995). "Rick Wakeman: Cirque Surreal". Sound on Sound. SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
3. Wakeman, Rick; Smith, Wayne. "Rock n Roll Prophet Plus (1991)". Discography. Rick Wakeman's Communications Centre. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
4. Raiteri, Stephen (2009). "Rock & Roll Prophet Plus". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
5. Wakeman, Rick; Smith, Wayne. "Albums". Discography. Rick Wakeman's Communications Centre. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
6. Allmusic review
7. Discogs review
8. McGlinchey, Joe (15 March 2003). "Rick Wakeman: Rock n' Roll Prophet Plus". Ground and Sky. Prog Reviews. Retrieved 9 January 2010.