{"product_id":"rick-wakeman-return-to-the-red-planet-2lp-set-vinyl-lp-pre-order","title":"Rick Wakeman - Return To The Red Planet 2LP SET (Vinyl LP) PRE-ORDER","description":"\u003cp\u003eExpected Release Date: 16-October-2026 - This Pre-order will be shipped on or just before this date. Release dates are subject to alteration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTHE EPIC RETURN TO MARS FROM RICK WAKEMAN\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA NEW PROGRESSIVE ROCK SUITE INSPIRED BY BOTH PAST \u0026amp; THE LATEST DISCOVERIES ON THE RED PLANET\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFEATURING LEE POMEROY, DAVE COLQUHOUN, ADAM FALKNER \u0026amp; MOLLIE MARRIOTT\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGATEFOLD BLACK VINYL 2LP VERSION\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing his acclaimed 2020 album 'The Red Planet', Rick Wakeman makes a triumphant \u0026amp; inevitable return to Mars with 'Return To The Red Planet', a sweeping new progressive work that fuses science, imagination \u0026amp; musical virtuosity into one of the most ambitious recordings of his career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt a time when space exploration has moved back to the forefront of human endeavour - with missions to the Moon, Mars \u0026amp; beyond once again capturing the world's imagination - 'Return To The Red Planet' feels both timely \u0026amp; visionary, rekindling the cosmic spirit that helped define progressive rock's golden age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhere its predecessor opened the story, this album explores the planet's ancient lakes, vast canyon systems, shifting dust storms \u0026amp; geological epochs, drawing directly on the remarkable images \u0026amp; research that have transformed our understanding of Mars in recent years, Wakeman immersing himself in planetary research, data, \u0026amp; mission reports before a single note was written.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"Once I started looking at the new data \u0026amp; photographs, I realised there was an entirely new album waiting to be written. There was simply too much more to say about Mars - musically \u0026amp; spiritually - not to return.\" - Rick Wakeman\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRecorded between August 2025 \u0026amp; January 2026, the project also marks a welcome return to full band recording, with all musicians working together at Decoy Studios - a creative approach Wakeman considers essential to capturing the spontaneity \u0026amp; energy of progressive rock at its best.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe album is performed by Wakeman's English Rock Ensemble, featuring bassist Lee Pomeroy, guitarist Dave Colquhoun, drummer Adam Falkner \u0026amp; vocalist Mollie Marriott, daughter of legendary Steve Marriott. The album was mastered by renowned engineer Simon Heyworth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong the album's centrepieces is 'Bowie's Vision', a deeply personal homage to Wakeman's friend David Bowie, whose fascination with Mars helped shape popular culture's image of the planet. The connection is more than thematic: Wakeman performed the iconic piano on Bowie's 'Life on Mars?', making this tribute both musical \u0026amp; autobiographical - a reflection on a shared history, a lasting friendship \u0026amp; one of rock's most celebrated recordings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe music was initially composed as keyboard \"templates\" at Nursery Studios, before being expanded collaboratively by the band at Decoy Studios \u0026amp; engineered by Toby Wood. Final overdubs \u0026amp; mixing with producer\/engineer Erik Jordan bring the vision into sharp focus - from sweeping symphonic passages to intricate rhythmic sequences \u0026amp; haunting choral textures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePraise for The Red Planet (2020):\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"An astonishing return to form...Wakeman at his most imaginative\" - Prog Magazine\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"A richly detailed symphonic rock journey\" - Classic Rock\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWakeman needs little introduction. A central figure during his many years with Yes, he is also one of the most successful solo artists in progressive rock history, with a catalogue of over one hundred albums \u0026amp; global sales in the tens of millions. His career as a session musician includes landmark recordings with David Bowie, Elton John, Cat Stevens \u0026amp; many more, establishing him as one of the most distinctive keyboard voices of his generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis 2LP edition of 'Return To The Red Planet' is presented in gatefold packaging \u0026amp; pressed on black vinyl.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003cp\u003eTracklisting\u003cbr\u003e\nDisc 1\u003cbr\u003e\nSide 1\u003cbr\u003e\n1. The Jezero Crater (06:56)\u003cbr\u003e\n2. Bowie's Vision (05:45)\u003cbr\u003e\nSide 2\u003cbr\u003e\n1. Noctis Labyrinthus (05:28)\u003cbr\u003e\n2. Noachis Terra (Land Of Noah) (06:23)\u003cbr\u003e\nDisc 2\u003cbr\u003e\nSide 1\u003cbr\u003e\n1. Witch Hazel Hill (04:02)\u003cbr\u003e\n2. St.Paul's Bay (06:53)\u003cbr\u003e\n3. Martian Dust Devils (04:53)\u003cbr\u003e\nSide 2\u003cbr\u003e\n1. Medusae Fossae (04:26)\u003cbr\u003e\n2. The Epochs Of Mars (07:45)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Madfish","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57315670131063,"sku":"SMALP1356","price":34.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/0956\/1910\/files\/0636551835619_7B02_7D.jpg?v=1784648300","url":"https:\/\/thejazzvault.com\/products\/rick-wakeman-return-to-the-red-planet-2lp-set-vinyl-lp-pre-order","provider":"The Jazz Vault","version":"1.0","type":"link"}