Rock 'n' Roll Prophet

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"){{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r108904|pure_url=yes}}|title=Rock & Roll Prophet Plus|last=Raiteri|first=Stephen|year=2009|work=AllMusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=9 January 2010}} – the only album on which his singing appears besides Rhapsodies, which features his singing on the opening song "Pedra De Gavea".{{cite web|url=http://www.rwcc.com/discog_album.asp|title=Albums|last=Wakeman|first=Rick|author2=Smith, Wayne |work=Discography|publisher=Rick Wakeman's Communications Centre|accessdate=9 January 2010}} Due to his association with progressive rock (being the antithesis of then-popular 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".

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{{cite web|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1995_articles/nov95/rickwakeman.html|title=Rick Wakeman: Cirque Surreal|last=Miller|first=Jonathan|date=November 1995|work=Sound on Sound|publisher=SOS Publications Group|accessdate=9 January 2010}} Bajanor Studios on the Isle of Man, and were mixed by Stuart Sawney. The re-release was mastered at Abbey Road Studios.{{cite web|url=http://www.rwcc.com/title_detail.asp?int_titleID=11|title=Rock n Roll Prophet Plus (1991) |last=Wakeman|first=Rick|author2=Smith, Wayne |work=Discography|publisher=Rick Wakeman's Communications Centre|accessdate=9 January 2010}}

{{Album ratings

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|rev1score = {{rating|2|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000545588|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic review]

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Rock 'n' Roll Prophet has gained largely negative reviews, with comments describing the album as "goofy", "novelty" and "crap".{{cite web|url=http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=rw-rnrpp|title=Rick Wakeman: Rock n' Roll Prophet Plus|last=McGlinchey|first=Joe|date=15 March 2003|work=Ground and Sky|publisher=Prog Reviews|accessdate=9 January 2010}} 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".

AllMusic described the album as sounding similar to the Buggles, with Wakeman corroborating their influence by stating that the album was an attempted spoof. Wakeman's vocals are also described as "serviceable but not strong" – with the instrumentals "not up to [his] highest standards". 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."

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

All tracks composed by Rick Wakeman

1. "I'm So Straight I'm a Weirdo" – 3:54
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

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

• Rick Wakeman – keyboards, vocals, production
• Lilianne Lauber – backing vocals
• Gaston Balmer – percussion

;Technical

• Dave Richards – engineering
• Martin Pursey – executive producer
• Stuart Sawney – engineering (CD bonus tracks)
• Nina Carter - cover photography

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{{Rick Wakeman}}

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Category:Rick Wakeman albums

Category:1982 albums