RELEASED 30.6.2014
NEWLY REMASTERED CD RELEASE OF RICK WAKEMAN’s 1991 ALBUM • BOOKLET WITH FULLY RESTORED ARTWORK & LINER NOTES • REVIEWS IN NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS, "UNCUT”, "MOJO”, "RECORD COLLECTOR” & "CLASSIC ROCK PROG” MAGAZINES • COVERAGE ON RELEVANT WEBSITES & FANZINES Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the release of the official remastered edition of "Softsword”, the album inspired by the life of the English King John and the story of the Magna Carta, recorded in 1991. The album came to life following a commission Rick received to compose music for the finale of the 1991 Dickens Festival at Rochester on Medway in Kent. Rick subsequently adapted the themes he had written for this event and developed them into songs and instrumental pieces. The resulting album featured guest musicians Chrissie Hammond (Vocals), David Paton (Guitars and Bass) and Annabel Blakeney (Gemshorn) and took its title from the nickname given to King John by medieval English Barons. Unavailable for some years, "Softsword – King John & the Magna Carta” has been newly re-mastered and features an illustrated booklet with a new sleeve design and continues the series of official RICK WAKEMAN releases on Esoteric Recordings.
Track Listing: 1. MAGNA CARTA 2. AFTER PRAYERS 3. BATTLE SONATA 4. THE SIEGE 5. ROCHESTER COLLAGE 6. THE STORY OF LOVE (KING JOHN) 7. MARCH OF TIME 8. DON’T FLY AWAY 9. ISABELLA 10. SOFTSWORD 11. HYMN OF HOPE