Detailed Reviews [Rick Wakeman - 2016 - "San Francisco Winterland Ballroom 1975"]

Prolusion. UK composer and musician Rick Wakeman is a household name not only in the progressive rock universe but in the music universe in general. Arguably most famous for his membership in a number of incarnations of progressive rock band Yes, he also has an extensive number of solo albums to his name. The production "San Francisco Winterland Ballroom 1975" is an archival live recording that was first officially released back in 1995, albeit under a different album name, and appeared in a remastered edition with this new album title back in 2016.

Analysis. You do know what you get with Rick Wakeman. Symphonic progressive rock is what he is best known for, and superb musicianship by way of his trusted arrays of keyboards will always be a dominant element. So is the case for the material we find on this live production. This is a recording made way back in 1975, and covers earlier phases of Wakeman's solo career. Originally recorded for a live radio performance on the show King Biscuit Flower Hour, it made its way onto CD in 1995 through the label dedicated to releasing the recordings aired by that show. This remastered edition was released by Wakeman's own label RRAW in 2016. In many ways this is a striking and elegant live production. Brass instruments adds a a slight orchestral vibe to these compositions, an addition that is a very good fit for the compositions of Wakeman in general. That the concert opens with a piece from the album "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" makes very good sense in that context of course. The performance by all instrumentalists and vocalist alike here is of stellar quality. Atmospheric laden interludes and delicate moments emphasizing a more frail mood and atmosphere coexist quite nicely with the more dramatic and flamboyant surges many will first recall when thinking about Wakeman's career as a musician. With several instances of what I'd describe as time typical sounds and movements that automatically dates this recording to the 1970s, at least by those who know their way around music from that decade. This isn't a lost masterpiece of a live performance on all levels though. Even in this remastered form we can easily hear that the audio quality is subpar from what one will expect from a live recording in the modern era, and with distortions, artefacts and noises intruding from time to time. This does give one the impression of being a show that you listen to on a good, old FM radio channel though, so for those who find that a charming feature this will obviously be regarded as an attractive rather than as a detrimental quality to this production.

Conclusion. If you have the desire to listen to a young and vibrant Rick Wakeman with a superb backing band performing live, then this album is certainly a viable option. The sound quality is more of a dual-edged sword here however. It comes with a lo-fi, honest sound quality that will be charming for some and detrimental for others. While the performance that has been captured in this for some lo-fi charm is of a superb quality. Not a live album that can be generally recommended, but most certainly a nugget for those who find such honest live recordings to be a charming feature in itself.

Progmessor: January 2026
The Rating Room