The Six Wives of Henry VIII (album) The Six Wives of Henry VIII (album) The Six Wives of Henry VIII is the second studio album by English keyboardist Rick Wakeman, released in January 1973 on A&M Records. It is an instrumental progressive rock album with its concept based on his interpretations of the musical characteristics of the wives of Henry VIII. After signing with A&M as a solo artist, Wakeman decided on the album's concept during a tour of the United States as a member of the rock band Yes. As he read a book about the subject on his travels, melodies he had written the previous
Rick Wakeman next album, "Relayer", stressing he could no longer contribute to the material the band were developing for it. Later that day, A&M called him with the news that "Journey" had entered the UK charts at No. 1, the label's first to do so. Wakeman called it "a day I will never forget for as long as I live". "Journey" also reached No. 3 in the US, and earned Wakeman an Ivor Novello Award The album went on to sell 14 million copies worldwide. On 27 July 1974, Wakeman headlined the Crystal Palace Park Garden Party concert, performing selections from "Six