No Earthly Connection



No Earthly Connection is a studio album by English keyboardist Rick Wakeman, released in May 1976 on A&M Records. After touring worldwide in 1975, Wakeman retreated to Château d'Hérouville in Herouville, France in January 1976 to record a new album with his backing band, the English Rock Ensemble.

The original LP contained a small square sheet of reflective plastic that could be curved into a cylinder, which when placed on the front cover allowed the viewer to see the cover drawing undistorted and with a 3D-like effect. A barely noticeable thin colourful arc on the cover (see picture) appeared then as a rainbow keyboard about to be played by Wakeman's hands, in consonance with the album's theme of a creation myth based on music.

The album is currently available through Real Gone Music.

Track listing
All lyrics and music by Rick Wakeman.


 * Side one
 * 1) "Music Reincarnate" – 20:24
 * "Part I: The Warning"
 * "Part II: The Maker"
 * "Part III: The Spaceman"
 * "Part IV: The Realisation"


 * Side two
 * 1) "Music Reincarnate (Continued)"
 * "Part V: The Reaper" – 7:34
 * 1) "The Prisoner" – 7:00
 * 2) "The Lost Cycle" – 7:00

Personnel

 * Musicians
 * Rick Wakeman – Mander pipe organ, Hammond C3 organ, 9' Steinway grand piano, RMI Electra piano, Hohner clavinet, Moog synthesizer, Baldwin electric harpsichord, upright honky-tonk piano, Fender Rhodes 88 electric piano, Mellotron, Godwin organ with Sisme Rotary-Cabinet, Systech effects pedals
 * Ashley Holt – vocals
 * Roger Newell – bass guitar, bass pedals, vocals
 * John Dunsterville – acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, vocals
 * Tony Fernandez – drums, percussion
 * Martyn Shields – trumpet, flugelhorn, French horn, vocals
 * Reg Brooks – trombone, bass trombone, vocals


 * Production
 * Rick Wakeman – production
 * Paul Tregurtha – engineer
 * Didier Utard – assistant engineer
 * Toby Errington – crew in France
 * Jake Berry – crew in France
 * John Cleary – crew in England
 * Tony Merrell – crew in England
 * Tony Powell – crew in England
 * Fred Randall – personal manager
 * Fabio Nicoli – art direction
 * Mike Doud – concept/design
 * Chris Moore – cover illustrations
 * Geoff Halpin – logo design
 * George Snow – inner sleeve design
 * Mike Putland – photography