It’s understandable that one could be sceptical of a release such as this. After all, Mr Wakeman has cashed in on his Yes connection as well as his own back catalogue more times than I can possibly count. Yessonata certainly has all the trappings of a cash grab…
… but what a glorious cash grab it is: pure unadulterated sonic beauty straight from Wakeman’s Steinway into your ears.
It’s fair to assume that most punters who go to a Rick Wakeman concert expect to hear a bit of Yes, so the maestro decided to form The Yes Suite for band and choir to be played at the London Palladium last year. It proved so popular that he adapted the idea for solo piano and called it Yessonata, incorporating a multitude of themes from Wakeman’s time with Yes (because you’ll be damned if you hear him playing any Relayer).

The Six Wives of Henry VIII is the second studio album by English keyboardist Rick Wakeman, released in January 1973 on A&M Records. It is an instrumental progressive rock album with its concept based on his interpretations of the musical characteristics of the wives of Henry VIII. After signing with A&M as a solo artist, Wakeman decided on the album's concept during a tour of the United States as a member of the rock band Yes. As he read a book about the subject on his travels, melodies he had written the previous year came to him and were noted down. Musicians from Yes and from Strawbs, the group Wakeman was in prior to Yes, also play on the album.

Most of Wakeman's albums revolve around a concept; this double album's only concept is of a collection of "rhapsodies," which here seems to mean "enthusiastic and improvisational pieces." The album is instrumental except for the opener, "Pedra de Gavea," where the electronically treated vocals are presumably by Wakeman himself. Most of the pieces are concise for Wakeman, and very lively and bright, with engaging lead parts and well-chosen keyboard sounds (something Wakeman has not always managed). "Swan Lager" sets music by Tchaikovsky and Grieg to a reggae beat.

No Earthly Connection is a 1976 progressive rock concept album by Rick Wakeman. It was recorded in France for tax purposes.
The LP record's sleeve attributes the album to Rick Wakeman and the English Rock Ensemble. In addition to Wakeman with his wide variety of keyboard instruments, including harpsichords, Mellotrons, Moog synthesizers, organs, and pianos, musicians on the album are vocalist Ashley Holt, Roger Newell (bass guitar and vocals), John Dunsterville (guitars, mandolin, and vocals), Tony Fernandez (drums and percussion), Martyn Shields (trumpet, French horn, and vocals), and Reg Brooks (trombone and vocals).