The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
| The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table | ||||
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| Studio album by Rick Wakeman | ||||
| Released | April 1975 | |||
| Recorded | 16 October 1974–10 January 1975 | |||
| Studio | Morgan Studios, London, England | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock | |||
| Length | 44:57 | |||
| Label | A&M | |||
| Producer | Rick Wakeman | |||
| Rick Wakeman chronology | ||||
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| Allmusic |   |
The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is the third solo album from the English keyboardist Rick Wakeman, released in April 1975 on A&M Records. His second concept album, it is based on the legend of King Arthur and various figures and events associated with him. After he suffered from a heart attack, Wakeman started to write the album during his recovery in hospital. Wakeman recorded with the New World Orchestra, the English Chamber Choir, and his five-piece band, the English Rock Ensemble.
King Arthur received mostly positive reviews, though some labelled it a symbol of progressive rock excess. It reached No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 21 on the US Billboard 200. It was certified Gold in the US, Brazil, Japan, and Australia. The album was promoted with a world tour in 1975 that included three shows at Wembley Arena that were performed on ice, the last time it was performed in its entirety until 2016. The album was reissued in 2015 with a simulated Quadrophonic mix, and re-recorded in 2016 with additional parts previously removed from the original score due to time constraints.
Much of the album was written while Wakeman, at 25 years old, recovered from his first of three minor heart attacks at Wexham Park Hospital. After a specialist advised him to stop playing and retire, he ignored it, and wrote "The Last Battle" on the same night.
Upon its release in April 1975, the album peaked at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart and number 21 on the Billboard 200 in the United States. King Arthur became Wakeman's third consecutive gold album to be certified by the Recording Industry Association of America, and was also certified gold in Brazil, Japan and Australia. The album has sold 12 million copies in total.
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