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Ignoring the fiery breath of punk that laid waste so many of his glam rocking peers, David Essex moved into the late '70s on a wave of musical confidence, readjusting his own early teen appeal for a more adult approach, but without ever falling into the prevalent trap of full-on AOR. Imperial Wizard was released in the wake of his biggest hit in three years, "Oh What a Circus" -- performed in Essex's role of Che Guevara in the stage musical Evita. A number three hit in summer 1978, it succeeded a bunch of 45s that had struggled to make the Top 30, but the album proves that its success was not a fluke. Pre-empting the warm, sax-driven moodiness that would soon bring great reward to Gerry Rafferty, Imperial Wizard opens with the smooth "Let It Flow" before drifting into a menacing art-funk vibe ("Call On Me" and the super-rousing title track) that helps dominate the remainder of the album. Elsewhere, Essex even takes on medieval folk song, to firmly establish his all-round musical qualities -- an asset that was to prove of immense importance as the 1980s hove into view. Arguably, the best of his next decade's worth of albums was originally blueprinted here. There are a handful of missteps that prevent Imperial Wizard from truly ascending to the ranks of great Essex albums. But the overall sensation is of a performer who was truly aiming for the long haul, fame and fashion be damned.
© Dave Thompson /TiVo
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Phil Palmer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Freeman, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Herbie Flowers, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Trevor Morais, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra/Member, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Cooper, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Spedding, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Francis Monkman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Cullen, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - David Essex, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kenney Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Laurence Diana, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Hardiman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alan Wakeman, Saxophone, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Maguire, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Butterworth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1979 Mercury Records Limited
Phil Palmer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Freeman, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Herbie Flowers, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Trevor Morais, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra/Member, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Cooper, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Spedding, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Francis Monkman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Cullen, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - David Essex, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kenney Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Laurence Diana, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Hardiman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alan Wakeman, Saxophone, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Maguire, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Butterworth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1979 Mercury Records Limited
Phil Palmer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Freeman, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Herbie Flowers, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra/Member, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Cooper, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Spedding, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Francis Monkman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Cullen, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - David Essex, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kenney Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Laurence Diana, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Hardiman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alan Wakeman, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Maguire, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Butterworth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1979 Mercury Records Limited
Phil Palmer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Freeman, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Trevor Morais, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Lloyd Webber, ComposerLyricist - Mike Batt, Producer - Tim Rice, ComposerLyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra/Member, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Cooper, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Spedding, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Francis Monkman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Cullen, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - David Essex, Keyboards, Vocals, Voice, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kenney Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Fiddy, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Laurence Diana, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Hardiman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alan Wakeman, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Maguire, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Butterworth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1979 Mercury Records Limited
Phil Palmer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Christopher Neil, Producer - Ken Freeman, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Herbie Flowers, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Trevor Morais, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra/Member, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Cooper, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Spedding, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Francis Monkman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Cullen, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - David Essex, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kenney Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Laurence Diana, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Hardiman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alan Wakeman, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Maguire, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Butterworth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1978 Mercury Records Limited
Phil Palmer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Christopher Neil, Producer - Ken Freeman, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Herbie Flowers, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Trevor Morais, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra/Member, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Cooper, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Spedding, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Francis Monkman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Cullen, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - David Essex, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kenney Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Laurence Diana, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Hardiman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Ernest Colyer, ComposerLyricist - Alan Wakeman, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Maguire, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Butterworth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1979 Mercury Records Limited
Phil Palmer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Christopher Neil, Producer - Ken Freeman, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Herbie Flowers, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Trevor Morais, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra/Member, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Cooper, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Spedding, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Francis Monkman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Cullen, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - David Essex, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kenney Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Laurence Diana, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Hardiman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Ernest Colyer, ComposerLyricist - Alan Wakeman, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Maguire, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Butterworth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1979 Mercury Records Limited
Phil Palmer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Freeman, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Herbie Flowers, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Trevor Morais, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra/Member, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Cooper, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Spedding, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Francis Monkman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Cullen, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - David Essex, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kenney Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Laurence Diana, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Hardiman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alan Wakeman, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Maguire, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Butterworth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1979 Mercury Records Limited
Phil Palmer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Freeman, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Trevor Morais, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Batt, Producer - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra/Member, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Cooper, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Spedding, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Francis Monkman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Cullen, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - David Essex, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kenney Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Fiddy, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Laurence Diana, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Hardiman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dymond, ComposerLyricist - Alan Wakeman, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Maguire, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Butterworth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Keith Drewett, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1979 Mercury Records Limited
Phil Palmer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Christopher Neil, Producer - Ken Freeman, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Herbie Flowers, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Trevor Morais, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Batt, Producer - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra/Member, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Cooper, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Spedding, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Francis Monkman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Cullen, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - David Essex, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kenney Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Laurence Diana, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Hardiman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alan Wakeman, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Maguire, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Butterworth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1979 Mercury Records Limited
Phil Palmer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Freeman, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Herbie Flowers, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Trevor Morais, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra/Member, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Cooper, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Spedding, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Francis Monkman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Cullen, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - David Essex, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kenney Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Laurence Diana, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Hardiman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alan Wakeman, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Maguire, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Butterworth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1979 Mercury Records Limited
Phil Palmer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Freeman, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Herbie Flowers, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Trevor Morais, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Lloyd Webber, ComposerLyricist - Tim Rice, ComposerLyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra/Member, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Cooper, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Spedding, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Francis Monkman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Cullen, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - David Essex, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kenney Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Laurence Diana, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Hardiman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alan Wakeman, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Maguire, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Butterworth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1978 Mercury Records Limited
Album review
Ignoring the fiery breath of punk that laid waste so many of his glam rocking peers, David Essex moved into the late '70s on a wave of musical confidence, readjusting his own early teen appeal for a more adult approach, but without ever falling into the prevalent trap of full-on AOR. Imperial Wizard was released in the wake of his biggest hit in three years, "Oh What a Circus" -- performed in Essex's role of Che Guevara in the stage musical Evita. A number three hit in summer 1978, it succeeded a bunch of 45s that had struggled to make the Top 30, but the album proves that its success was not a fluke. Pre-empting the warm, sax-driven moodiness that would soon bring great reward to Gerry Rafferty, Imperial Wizard opens with the smooth "Let It Flow" before drifting into a menacing art-funk vibe ("Call On Me" and the super-rousing title track) that helps dominate the remainder of the album. Elsewhere, Essex even takes on medieval folk song, to firmly establish his all-round musical qualities -- an asset that was to prove of immense importance as the 1980s hove into view. Arguably, the best of his next decade's worth of albums was originally blueprinted here. There are a handful of missteps that prevent Imperial Wizard from truly ascending to the ranks of great Essex albums. But the overall sensation is of a performer who was truly aiming for the long haul, fame and fashion be damned.
© Dave Thompson /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:44:00
- Main artists: David Essex
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 1979 Mercury Records Limited ℗ 1979 Mercury Records Limited
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