Rick Wakeman

I don't like Yes, and I don't much like prog-rock, but I think Rick Wakeman's pretty cool, and he's made a zillion albums.

Information: Rick Wakeman's Communication Centre
Suggested first purchase: Voyages--The Very Best of Rick Wakeman
Suggested first album: The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (1975) -- A progressive rock concept album that actually works and isn't just stupid (if you can believe it). The album sort of tells the story of characters in the Arthur legends (and some of the stories surrounding them) by not only lyrics but music. "Guinevere" is a very pretty song, and "Merlin the Magician" sounds like a better version of "Higitus Figitus" (from Disney's The Sword in the Stone) with his crazy fingers going nuts on the synths. The album only barely sounds dated, but that's not much of a drawback. B