Rick Wakeman success allowed Wakeman to buy a new home in Gerrards Cross and start a collection of cars, which he rented out through his new business, the Fragile Carriage Company. In late 1971, Wakeman played two notable piano sessions, on "It Ain't Easy" on Bowie's album "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" and on "Orange" by Al Stewart. In the 1972 "Melody Maker" readers' poll, Wakeman ranked second in the Top Keyboardist category behind Keith Emerson. That year, Yes followed "Fragile" with "Close to the Edge". It became their best selling album since their formation
Rick Wakeman fund raising event for a church. Wakeman played the album with Remedios and his band in Caesarea, Israel in the following year as well as the Royal Albert Hall in London. Wakeman recorded "Time Machine", a concept album based on the science fiction novel "The Time Machine" by H. G. Wells, featuring Roy Wood and Tracey Ackerman as guest vocalists. The album was released in 1988; Wakeman intended to record it with an orchestra and choir and put on an ice show, but the idea was cancelled due to lack of funds. In March 1988, Wakeman and Carter sold their