Editing Rick Wakeman (section)

===1971–1974: First Yes run, ''The Six Wives of Henry VIII'', and ''Journey to the Centre of the Earth''===
''Fragile'' was recorded in five weeks so the band could resume touring and help finance a new set of keyboards for Wakeman. The album features a solo track written by each member; Wakeman's track, "Cans and Brahms", is an adaptation of the third movement of [[Symphony No. 4 (Brahms)|Symphony No. 4]] by [[Johannes Brahms]] played on electronic keyboards.{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=115}} He called it "dreadful" as contractual disputes between [[Atlantic Records]], who had signed Yes, and A&M prevented him from writing his own composition.{{sfn|Morse|1996|p=29}} Wakeman said he was never credited for his contributions on ''Fragile'', including piano sections on "[[Heart of the Sunrise]]" and "[[South Side of the Sky]]", despite being told that management would sort the issue. He enjoyed the music too much to cause further rifts.{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=117}} ''Fragile'' reached the top ten in the UK and the US, and the [[Fragile Tour]] marked Wakeman's first visit to North America.{{sfn|Wooding|1979|p=73}} During the tour he signed a five-album deal with [[A&M Records]] as a solo artist.<ref name=1991tourbook/><ref name=rockcellar2017>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/2017/01/12/rick-wakeman-interview-piano-portraits-yes-rock-roll-hall-of-fame-david-bowie/#sthash.sKeo1PtR.dpbs|title=Rick Wakeman: On 'Piano Portraits,' David Bowie, Yes in the Rock Hall of Fame and More (Q&A)|publisher=Rock Cellar Magazine|first=Ken|last=Sharp|access-date=16 January 2017}}</ref> The commercial success of ''Fragile'' allowed Wakeman to buy a new home in [[Gerrards Cross]] and start a car collection,{{sfn|Wakeman|1995|p=117}} which he rented out through his new business, the Fragile Carriage Company.{{sfn|Wooding|1979|p=82}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.duedil.com/company/01214548/fragile-carriage-company-limited-the |title=The Fragile Carriage Company Limited |publisher=DueDil |date=2 June 1975 |access-date=5 September 2015}}</ref>

In the 1972 ''Melody Maker'' readers' poll, Wakeman ranked second in the Top Keyboardist category behind [[Keith Emerson]].{{sfn|Wooding|1979|pp=89–90}} That same year, Yes followed ''Fragile'' with ''[[Close to the Edge]]'', which is considered a landmark progressive rock album and features Wakeman playing a church organ and harpsichord. He is credited on the final track, "[[Siberian Khatru]]". Wakeman picked the album as "one of the finest moments of Yes' career."{{sfn|Morse|1996|p=152}} The [[Close to the Edge Tour]] marked the first time Wakeman wore a cape on stage after a fan offered his own for one of the band members to wear. He then had his own made; the first was made of sequins and cost US$300.{{sfn|Wooding|1979|p=85}} The concert film ''[[Yessongs (film)|Yessongs]]'', filmed in 1972 at the [[Rainbow Theatre]], featured his solo spot in the show. Also that month at the venue, Wakeman was a guest musician at [[the Who]]'s orchestral performances of ''[[Tommy (The Who album)|Tommy]]''. He also developed music for the 1972 film, ''[[Zee and Co.]]''{{sfn|Wooding|1979|p=77}}

In January 1973, Wakeman released his debut solo album, ''[[The Six Wives of Henry VIII (album)|The Six Wives of Henry VIII]]''.{{sfn|Wooding|1979|p=98}} It was recorded in 1972 during gaps in touring and recording with Yes, and features members of the band, the Strawbs, and other guest musicians. The album is instrumental with its [[concept album|concept]] based on Wakeman's musical interpretations of the characteristics of the [[wives of Henry VIII|six wives]] of [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]]. The album was previewed with Wakeman performing excerpts on the BBC television show, ''[[The Old Grey Whistle Test]]''.{{sfn|Wooding|1979|p=98}} Much of the television audience that night planned to watch ''[[Blue Movie]]'', a controversial film by [[Andy Warhol]], but it was temporarily banned from being broadcast. Wakeman explained: "It seems most of them, rather than watch repeats, switched over to ''Whistle Test'' and saw my preview of ''Henry'' ... and suddenly it seemed as if the whole country had discovered my music ... it was a tremendous break."{{sfn|Wooding|1979|p=999}} The album reached No. 7 in the UK and No. 30 in the US, and ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' named the record one of the best albums of the year.<ref>{{cite news | title=Music: The Year's Best | date=31 December 1973 | work=Time Magazine | url =http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,910925,00.html | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20081214065014/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,910925,00.html | url-status =dead | archive-date =14 December 2008 | access-date =21 June 2010 }}</ref> At the ''Melody Maker'' readers poll awards in September 1973, Wakeman came out first in the top keyboardist category.{{sfn|Wooding|1979|pp=89–90}}

[[File:Rick Wakeman - Winterland 1974 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Wakeman performing with Yes in 1974. By this time, he had a distinctive look of long blonde hair and wearing capes on stage]]
Yes's double concept album ''[[Tales from Topographic Oceans]]'' was released in November 1973, containing four side long pieces based on ideas from Hindu scriptures in ''[[Autobiography of a Yogi]]'' by [[Paramahansa Yogananda]]. Wakeman had doubts about its esoteric concept, and felt a lot of its music was too experimental which required further rehearsal. He distanced himself from the group, and spent time in the bar at [[Morgan Studios]] and played on "Sabbra Caddabra" on ''[[Sabbath Bloody Sabbath]]'' by [[Black Sabbath]] in the adjacent studio.<ref>''I am Ozzy''. Ozzy Osbourne with Chris Ayres. Grand Central Publishing/Hatchet Book Group. 2009. Pages 160–162. {{ISBN|978-0-446-56989-7}}.</ref> Yes toured the album for six months, playing the album in its entirety which Wakeman also disagreed with. He openly criticised the album to the press, and his growing frustrations culminated in an incident whereby he ate a curry on stage during a show in [[Manchester]].{{sfn|Wooding|1979|p=110}} In 2006, Wakeman clarified that his total dislike of the album is "not entirely true" and recognises some "very, very nice musical moments", but "we had too much for a single album but not enough for a double, so we padded it out and the padding is awful".<ref>{{cite video|people=Wakeman, Rick|date=2007|minutes=1:23:48–1:24:49|title=Classic Artists: Yes. Disc One.|medium=DVD|publisher=Image Entertainment}}</ref>

During the ''Topographic Oceans'' tour Wakeman recorded his new 40-minute work ''[[Journey to the Centre of the Earth (album)|Journey to the Centre of the Earth]]'', based on [[Jules Verne]]'s same-titled [[A Journey to the Center of the Earth|science-fiction novel]]. He came up with the idea in 1971, but shelved the project until ''The Six Wives of Henry VIII'' was complete.<ref name=journeyprogramme>Concert programme for ''Rick Wakeman: Journey to the Centre of the Earth''. 18 January 1974.</ref> After working on the music with [[Lou Reizner]], [[David Measham]], [[Wil Malone]], and Danny Beckerman, which features an orchestra, choir, and a rock band, Wakeman chose to record the piece in concert due to the high costs of a studio.{{sfn|Wooding|1979|pp=11–13}} To help finance the project, he sold some of his cars and "mortgage[d himself] up to the hilt", all of which cost around £40,000.{{sfn|Wooding|1979|p=15}} Two concerts were held at London's [[Royal Festival Hall]] on 18 January 1974 with the [[London Symphony Orchestra]], the [[English Chamber Choir]], actor [[David Hemmings]] as narrator, and a five-piece band formed of musicians that Wakeman played with in a west London pub: vocalists Ashley Holt and [[Gary Pickford-Hopkins]], drummer [[Barney James]], bassist Roger Newell, and guitarist Mike Egan.{{sfn|Wooding|1979|p=13}} A&M wanted to use better known musicians, but Wakeman wanted the album to be known for its music rather than the performers.{{sfn|Wakeman|1995|p=120}} After cutting the album A&M refused to sell it, but as Wakeman was under contract with its US division, a cassette was sent to co-founder [[Jerry Moss]] who liked it and ordered its worldwide release.{{sfn|Wakeman|1995|pp=123–124}}

After touring ''Topographic Oceans'', Wakeman retreated to his Devonshire home. He heard early ideas for Yes's next album, felt he could no longer contribute to the style of music they were making, and confirmed his departure from the band on his twenty-fifth birthday. Later that day, A&M informed him that ''Journey'' had entered the UK charts at No. 1, a first for the label.{{sfn|Wakeman|1995|pp=124–125}} ''Journey'' also reached No. 3 in the US, and earned Wakeman a [[Grammy Award|Grammy]] and [[Ivor Novello Awards|Ivor Novello Award]] nomination.{{sfn|Wooding|1979|p=22}} The album has sold an estimated 14 million copies worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rick Wakeman, six wives and one hell of a party|date=1 May 2009|work=[[The Times]]|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6200354.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508085218/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6200354.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 May 2009|access-date=28 October 2010}}</ref> On 27 July 1974, Wakeman headlined the [[Crystal Palace Bowl|Crystal Palace Garden Party concert]], performing selections from ''Six Wives'' and ''Journey'' in its entirety.{{sfn|Wooding|1979|pp=120–121}} By this time, his excessive smoking and alcohol consumption, a lack of sleep five days prior to the show, and a wrist injury from a fall, took a toll on his health, and he needed morphine injections to get through the performance. Soon after the show, he suffered a minor heart attack.{{sfn|Wooding|1979|p=124}}