{"product_id":"rick-wakeman-return-to-the-red-planet-vinyl-lp-due-out-17-11-26","title":"Rick Wakeman Return To The Red Planet Vinyl LP Due Out 16\/10\/26","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRick Wakeman - Return To The Red Planet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePlease note this is a pre-order item due for release 16th October 2026\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTracklist:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e1. The Jezero Crater  \u003cbr\u003e\n2. Bowie's Vision  \u003cbr\u003e\n3. Noctis Labyrinthus  \u003cbr\u003e\n4. Noachis Terra (Land Of Noah)  \u003cbr\u003e\n5. Witch Hazel Hill  \u003cbr\u003e\n6. St.Paul' Bay  \u003cbr\u003e\n7. Martian Dust Devils  \u003cbr\u003e\n8. Medusae Fossae  \u003cbr\u003e\n9. The Epochs Of Mars \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt a time when space exploration has moved back to the forefront of human\u003cbr\u003e\nendeavour - with missions to the Moon, Mars \u0026amp; beyond once again capturing the\u003cbr\u003e\nworld's imagination - 'Return To The Red Planet' feels both timely \u0026amp; visionary,\u003cbr\u003e\nrekindling the cosmic spirit that helped define progressive rock's golden age.\u003cbr\u003e\nWhere its predecessor opened the story, this album explores the planet's ancient\u003cbr\u003e\nlakes, vast canyon systems, shifting dust storms \u0026amp; geological epochs, drawing\u003cbr\u003e\ndirectly on the remarkable images \u0026amp; research that have transformed our\u003cbr\u003e\nunderstanding of Mars in recent years, Wakeman immersing himself in planetary\u003cbr\u003e\nresearch, data, \u0026amp; mission reports before a single note was written.\u003cbr\u003e\n\"Once I started looking at the new data \u0026amp; photographs, I realised there was an entirely\u003cbr\u003e\nnew album waiting to be written. There was simply too much more to say about Mars\u003cbr\u003e\n- musically \u0026amp; spiritually - not to return.\" - Rick Wakeman\u003cbr\u003e\nRecorded between August 2025 \u0026amp; January 2026, the project also marks a welcome\u003cbr\u003e\nreturn to full band recording, with all musicians working together at Decoy Studios - a\u003cbr\u003e\ncreative approach Wakeman considers essential to capturing the spontaneity \u0026amp;\u003cbr\u003e\nenergy of progressive rock at its best.\u003cbr\u003e\nThe album is performed by Wakeman's English Rock Ensemble, featuring bassist Lee\u003cbr\u003e\nPomeroy, guitarist Dave Colquhoun, drummer Adam Falkner \u0026amp; vocalist Mollie Marriott,\u003cbr\u003e\ndaughter of legendary Steve Marriott. The album was mastered by renowned engineer\u003cbr\u003e\nSimon Heyworth.\u003cbr\u003e\n\"This isn't just another Rick Wakeman album. It's a bloody good one!\" Simon Heyworth\u003cbr\u003e\n- Producer of Tubular Bells\u003cbr\u003e\nAmong the album's centrepieces is 'Bowie's Vision', a deeply personal homage to\u003cbr\u003e\nWakeman's friend David Bowie, whose fascination with Mars helped shape popular\u003cbr\u003e\nculture's image of the planet. The connection is more than thematic: Wakeman\u003cbr\u003e\nperformed the iconic piano on Bowie's 'Life on Mars?', making this tribute both\u003cbr\u003e\nmusical \u0026amp; autobiographical - a reflection on a shared history, a lasting friendship \u0026amp;\u003cbr\u003e\none of rock's most celebrated recordings.\u003cbr\u003e\nThe music was initially composed as keyboard \"templates\" at Nursery Studios, before\u003cbr\u003e\nbeing expanded collaboratively by the band at Decoy Studios \u0026amp; engineered by Toby\u003cbr\u003e\nWood. Final overdubs \u0026amp; mixing with producer\/ engineer Erik Jordan bring the vision\u003cbr\u003e\ninto sharp focus - from sweeping symphonic passages to intricate rhythmic\u003cbr\u003e\nsequences \u0026amp; haunting choral textures.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Assai Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57985052672383,"sku":"SMALP1356","price":40.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1565\/5653\/files\/0369640e074f420d9ba26ce11b285ec5.jpg?v=1784193871","url":"https:\/\/assai.co.uk\/products\/rick-wakeman-return-to-the-red-planet-vinyl-lp-due-out-17-11-26","provider":"Assai Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}